Comments on: Author Peter Watts Beaten & Arrested at US/Canada Border

By: Joesketeer

Joesketeer — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:36:36 +0000

This is such a horrible thing to happen but as an American, I can't say I'm surprised. Our police brutality rates have skyrocketed, and this case, as horrible as it is, will hopefully shed light on the disgusting tactics of police stations across the country, who slap the charge of assault against an officer to save their own asses on a fairly regular basis. Please let Peter Watts not go to jail, this would be a horrifying enough experience and I can't imagine such an individual like himself having to spend his days with prisoners...I say this as an America...Screw you, American border patrol!

By: Ed Chan

Ed Chan — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 00:50:20 +0000

Few years ago I went through Niagara Falls by train. I went to USA with an employment letter and a Canadian passport. The US Home Land Security border guards turned me back to Canada on the spot. Before I could return to Canada, they asked me to fill up a form that required 4 generations (my children, myself and my wife, my parents, and my grand parents) of personal details. The US wanted the names, dates of birth, addresses of home and work, medical conditions, etc. It took me 2 hours to fill half of the information they wanted, because the other half information I simply did not know. Of course, mug shot, and finger printing were part of the treatment. The guards told me all those information would be entered into US Home Land Security database, so I better filled the form carefully. The guards took my cell phone right away when I tried to contact my employment agency for help. I learnt real quickly not to offend them in any way, otherwise I was sure I would be ended up like Peter in US jail that day or they would point their guns at me.

The irony was that there was a big poster in the US border guardhouse. It reminded the guards "you are the face of USA, smile and be helpful to the visitors entering USA."

Anybody doubts Peter's misfortune, maybe he should get a taste of the US Home Land Security border guard’s hospitality, get a real feel about being violated, then he probably won’t side with US border guards so fast.

By: John Gesang

John Gesang — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 11:59:01 +0000

It is becoming fairly common in the U.S. for anyone who is assaulted by the cops to be charged with assaulting the cops. You don't have to cross any border for it to happen. All you have to be is the wrong skin-shade, speak with any sort of "un-American" accent, or ask the reasonable question "What's going on?" Above all don't project a "bad attitude." Too many cops here are on hair-trigger alert, and it isn't their job to keep the peace anymore--it's their job to keep you utterly docile. Approach them with anything less than sheep-like solicitude, and you're asking for it. Or maybe these guys just had some bad donuts earlier in their shift.

Is it okay to start calling them pigs again?

By: PH

PH — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 19:39:05 +0000

Here is a link to the article http://www.detnews.com/article/20091212/METRO/912120401/1409/METRO

By: PH

PH — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 19:37:18 +0000

This was also mentioned in the Detroit News.

By: Mike J.

Mike J. — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 06:40:57 +0000

The story is also in The Globe & Mail, Canada's national newspaper:

Canadian sci-fi writer Peter Watts arrested during border inspection

Both this article and the one in The Toronto Star are heavily weighted to comments from representatives of the US border/customs guards, painting Watts as "aggressive" and "noncompliant," claiming he "choked" one of the officers. The Star article quotes from Watts's blog post(s), while the G&M only paraphrases; otherwise, neither article has comments directly from Watts or his representative(s). Unfortunately, this makes the situation feel like the US authorities are "controlling the narrative" (so to speak) at the moment, at least in the "official" public media ... the blogosphere being a different public media, of course.

Hmm ....

By: MIke J.

MIke J. — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 06:21:57 +0000

This story has now received some attention in The Toronto Star, one of Canada's (at least, Ontario's) major newspapers:

U.S. border guards arrest author Peter Watts

By: Mike From Cincinnati

Mike From Cincinnati — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 03:45:56 +0000

>>Bush is out of power and so is his party.

Thank goodness! But the effects of his time as our leader will linger for many years to come. Its naive to think otherwise, regardless of your political beliefs.

But yes, I agree, lets put the blame where it should be, on the guards who overreacted to having their authority questioned, not on the president.

>>I'll never forget what my father told me about police officers: you treat them like any other man with a gun.

Great advice!

By: Chris Meyer

Chris Meyer — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 03:02:26 +0000

Wait…Canada? Really guys? Terrorists come on planes or from Mexico. Canada is too baked in their own pot smoke and hippie juice to do that.

On a more serious note, helping a friend move to Nebraska is a noble cause, as Nebraska is all that is American! But I have absolutely no bias towards that wonderful State.

By: Edward Milewski

Edward Milewski — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 20:49:40 +0000

Been to the States a couple of time many years ago. No experiences like that. On a more recent trip ( several years ago) your border guards wanted to see into my empty trunk. Smiling I complied. No Problem. However, since 9-11 large parts of your country or people in power seem to have gotten paranoid. These kinds of stories dissuade me from ever wanting to go there again.

Not that my country is all that much better or anywhere else really. We have a long way to go to achieve a peaceful world.

By: Scott Shaffer

Scott Shaffer — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 15:04:56 +0000

I'll never forget what my father told me about police officers: you treat them like any other man with a gun.

By: Andy

Andy — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 12:11:44 +0000

Makes me glad I 'just' had a gun pulled on me for the henious crime of trying to be a British Citizen and enter the states via a port on Lake Erie. (My crime was being unable to stand in direct sunlight when it was over 40c and moving towards shade after being given permision by one border gaurd, but not the one who told me to stand in the sun and wait for an hour, and it was under Bush Snr's watch if that is relevant.)

Whilst I agree with what Dino said, don't aggrivate people with authority. It does seem that the reaction of these border gaurds is way out of line with Peter's alleged actions.

By: Luke Shea

Luke Shea — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 09:18:50 +0000

The people in power are the ones responsible. PERIOD.

I'm no fan of Bush or Obama, but I think you're going a little far. Call me crazy, but I'd say the guys who, you know, *punched him in the face* are responsible. This doesn't have to be about politics. Being a jerk is a non-partisan activity.

Anyway, enough of such silliness. I wish the guy the best of luck and am sorry I am too broke to contribute to his cause, currently. Here's hoping that not only does he get out of the ridiculous charges against him, but that the goons who beat him up are removed from the position that allows them that authority.

By: Joshua Corning

Joshua Corning — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 06:07:16 +0000

Do you really believe that in the 11 months since Obama has taken office that there has been some kind of shift in border policy

If he wanted a shift he would have done it.

Do you truly believe that this has nothing to do with 8 years under BUSH?

Bush is out of power and so is his party.

I think you have confused me with someone who gives a crap about your right-wing/left-wing politics. The people in power are the ones responsible. PERIOD.

By: Mike From Cincinnati

Mike From Cincinnati — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 05:56:47 +0000

>>Welcome to Obama's America where citizens of our Nato ally and NAFTA parter are beaten at our boarders while our leaders fly to copenhagon to figure out how to tax us for breathing.

Obama's America? Are you seriously going there after reading this? Do you really believe that in the 11 months since Obama has taken office that there has been some kind of shift in border policy, that we then hired new border guards, then trained them in this new "to hell with your personal rights and freedoms" policy you allude to and that THEN this beating occured? Do you truly believe that this has nothing to do with 8 years under BUSH? Talk about walking thru life with blinders on.

NOW, with that said, DONT get out of your car when pulled over, DONT demand answers, DO get back in car when ordered to. The guards wildly over reacted but really, this is common sense stuff here. What you should do is simply put your hands at 10 and 2 on the steering wheel and wait for them to approach (do not reach for wallet, do not reach into glove compartment, dont even unbuckle your seatbelt). Any action that might make someone who is carrying a weapon nervous is an action worth avoiding.

Hope all works out and charges are dropped.