The Canadian - USA border is an interesting phenomena. First of all, our border is the oldest and longest unguarded border in the world. I think that speaks volumes of the great friendship and trust there has been between these countries. BUT...there have been some problems with this. As Rob pointed out, its easier for terrorists to come to North America through Canada and then they can easily hop across our friendly border and enter the big cities of the USA. Should we blame Canada for this because they are not as careful in their openness to foreigners OR should we blame the USA because they are assuming its a "friendly Canadian" crossing the border. What do you think?
posted by barry-eh @ 11:54 AM
7 comments
7 Comments:
Probably both sides are to blame. Canada does need to be more careful about who she lets in. At the same time, the US also needs to check carefully at the border. Either way, I think it's actually more Canada that needs to pull up her socks in this case unfortunately...
wow.. i just went through the lyrics of the South Park song "blame Canada".. (not that i actually watch that show) but i heard it once and laughed my head off.. Sometimes it feels that over the top though.. I'd like to post a link here though of a news story where the US was slack in catching a man who just committed a crime in Canada and actually brought the weapons he used to kill his victims back across the boarder - so the "slackness" happens on both sides, but i think the side most vocal is the US..
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4072746.stm
A border is two ways. And I am sure that you can always find an example of someone sneaking across and committing a crime on the other side. And as for the article in question--how were customs agents supposed to mind-read and detain just anyone who was trying to get into or out of the country? That doesn't show "slackness" just the fact that there are thousands of crossings each day. And the man in question was a US citizen, too...
So I really just don't see how that shows the US is just the same as Canada in this case. I don't think it is. But tell me, would you really want to have borders similar to those in Korea, in the Middle East, etc. where there are guns and fences and minefields? The open border is something that allows us a bit of freedom--which isi the point of it all. How much freedom do we give up for safety? An age-old question.
In this case--I do feel that Canada is much more lax in their security. However, that is also due to a few more liberties really, as well. Exceptions are not the rule. And really, both sides do very well...and we are catching people on all our borders. There are just more that come into the US through Mexico and Canada than straight from overseas because of our NAFTA and friendly relations. And honestly, it is a reality that I don't think we should crack down too hard on--do we want walls and strip searches all the time to get across the border?
Um.. if a guy has a bloody weapons in the vehicle that he is bringing across the boarder and the guards don't catch that even after having searched him and questioned him for 2 hrs.. i think that's what you could call slackness. I'm not being argumentitive, just pointing out that the US is not always 1:0 at getting the "bad guys".. Plus the statement must be made that if "terrorists" are getting in to the US from the CDN boarder - it is the US customs officers who are letting them in - When you pass from the Canadian Side to the US Side you are greeted by US customs officers - not CDN ones.. So if the terrorists are getting through it is "technically" your own fault :)
They confiscated the weapons--and also explained that chainsaws could be rusty versus bloody. There is definite reasonable doubt there. Think about it if you were on the border doing it. Honestly.
And yes, technically it is our fault for letting terrorists over the border. I never said that was not the case. However, you want us to have a closed border--one with strip searches, and super long lines to cross, etc? That is the point--you give up freedom's for security. In any case--this is just a manifestation of it.
I think we all sometimes need to think about it as if we were the person there, in the case--the instance. Are you positive, or am I positive, I would know a rusty chainsaw from a bloody one? Me--I don't really know the last time I looked at a chainsaw long and hard--so no, I can't say I would. Yes, there are forensics out there to determine it. But how much money do we spend, how many people do we train that are then on call?
That's all I'm saying--it isn't even really that Canada is doing a worse job...but they are allowing more personal freedom's than the US. Thus, more terrorists can get through their checks. And then use the US/Can border--which yeah, if we let them in, it is our fault...but again, what sacrifices you want?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11016787/
just thought I'd post a link of something working on the border...not letting people cross. Cause there will always be exceptions.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11016787/
just thought I'd post a link of something working on the border...not letting people cross. Cause there will always be exceptions.
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