This is an important film - a bit loose, but worth seeing if you doubt the obvious encroachments into civil liberties of the last few years.
Maybe the board's fairly empty through fear. We're all traceable - and who needs four s's on their boarding passes?
Bugged the hell out of me that she put an R into Goebbels' name. Made her seem like she was new to paying attention to history, like most people who use the Nazis for every argument. Gurbols?
Pronoucing Goebbels' name in this way is quite common.
shareWell well well.... I have been having problems flying into and out of America with custom agents. The first time I had this problem was flying into SeaTAC airport 30 Nov 1999. I was visiting my parents who needed their computer upgraded for Y2K. I was questioned some 45 minutes after landing. The smartly dressed man who was the best-dressed man in customs.... He looks at me and did not flinch and when I started to pass him to leave the nothing to declare line he called me over. He knew my name before seeing my documents. After 20 minutes of harassment I asked for his supervisor. He explained that he had no supervisor here at this location. When I finally got out of the customs area my mother asked why I was the last to arrive from my flight. I explained about the questioning. My parents and I thought this was odd as I have been living in England since 1985 and this was my second trip home as it were. Never been arrested - had many speeding tickets but that was when I was young in the US Army. BTW I hold two Honourable Discharges and a medal for Valour. I now always carry that medal in its presentation case for these small people to view that once I did something remarkable and honourable. By the time we got to my parents house I found out that the night I was sleeping flying over the Ice Cap from London Heathrow protesters ripped up McDonald’s. This was the G8 summit meeting and Mayor Parks allow peaceful protests. Since that trip I have had very bad luck on all my flying in and out of America. The last one was so bad at SFO international that they made me late for the plane. Remember I have to be there at least 3 hours before an international flight. I was made to look like a terrorist. Every item in my carry on was rubbed with its on special cloth and ran through a machine. You should have looked at other traveller's eyes when they watched me being searched and interrogated.... I was so late that British Airlines employees were yelling at me to run to the gate. By the time I got to the gate nobody wanted to slow me down as they only looked at my boarding card and passport. They did not even touch the boarding pass. Point is that I have both parts of the boarding pass. When I got on to the plane they shut the doors fast and everyone on board started clapping. The steward found me my seat and my new neighbour said that we missed our take off slot because of me and they shut the doors quickly to get back in the queue of lottery of the take off slot timetable. I was then asked if I was late getting to the airport. I said no and explained how deeply I was searched. Everyone seemed surprised. 6 months later I saw this movie. I raced to my desk where I still had that boarding pass. I do indeed have the boarding pass that bears the dreaded "SSSS" stamped 4 times and one of the "SSSS" had a punched hole from the Custom Inspector showing that they did their job. I now know why I have troubles flying as I am on the no fly list. Why? I served 6 years in the US Army. As I said I have two honourable discharges, a medal with a "V" Device (V is for very *beep* Stupid) and a good conduct medal with an oak Leaf Cluster (won twice). What has made me enemy of the state? Whilst in University I joined the "Viet Nam's Vets Against the War". My gripe was I spent 59 days in a VA hospital and almost lost my left foot, as VA Hospitals don't have doctors rather have interns. My Intern made a sever mistake that almost cost me my foot. He said he was sorry and I realized how tired he was and that he was a man as he came to me to apologise not me seeking it. Nevertheless that mistake took me from 1 week in hospital to 59 days and major surgery. I kept the foot but was angry as I thought this young man was a doctor. We were lied to again. After leaving the hospital I joined up for University. It took 4 months before I received my first GI Bill benefit check for full time school. This made me angry because it was clear that we were never expected to collect on our GI Benefits. So I join the "Viet Nam Vets Against the War" to protest against the abuse and roadblocks that are put in a already stressed out Vet to quit school and not receive our entitlement. I marched in 6 years of Veterans Day Parade whereas our group were the only Vets there present that were marching although we were denied a Parade Permit. So we marched on sidewalks next to National Guards, Reservist (in those days these people did not serve in War) ROTC students both high school and University. You see we were the only veterans there on Veterans Day except for those who were watching the parade. We received press with TV crews and those of us with medals on our chest were invited to tell our story on camera and in the newspaper. Did we not earn our right to Free Speech by serving? Well People like I said I have had a few speeding tickets that is it. So why do I have the "SSSS" on my boarding pass. Thank you Naomi, for telling me the answer to the "why", I am delayed in customs. Naomi has more balls and sack them up than the chicken customs agents who say they know nothing and just following orders. When these agents find in my carry on my presentation cases for my medals their tunes sort of change. You can almost see that they want to respect the man as they respect the medals but the "SSSS" tell them I am a terrorist. Go figure. Any wonder why I live outside of America for the last 26 years this December (2009)!?!?!?
IceHappy