Sajjad Bhai put it best when he commented on this incident (see post title).

Mr. 10% is now Mr. 110%

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So I was assigned by my company which does Identity Management (which I recently joined) to do some Identity Mapping for a Canadian company. So last Tuesday I flew into Buffalo, rented a car and attempted to cross the “Peace Bridge” to enter into Canada. At the Canadian border I was asked to pull over and visit the immigration booth inside. I presented an email from my company which contained all the details of my business in Canada. After after about 45 mins of a clueless Canadian border patrol officer sifting through some documents on NAFTA I was told that I needed “a letter of introduction” from the company which was expecting me. I told them that a colleague of mine was already here, and I was asked to assist him in finishing the project. My colleague even called their supervisor and tried to reason with him. They told me I had to go back across into the US and try again in the morning. This was around 12 midnight and of course I could not obtain the letter at that time.

So as I pull into the booth area and inform the US border patrol that I was asked by the Canadians to come back tomorrow with a letter. Next thing I know a second border patrolmen is standing by my passenger window and asks me to turn off my car and step out. So I do. He then proceeds to take my cell phone away from me. So I have no cell phone or documents with me. They have all my papers and my phone. I am asked to come inside where someone asks me to explain what I’m doing at the border. They tell me to sit and wait while they “process me”. After a hour and a half I am asked to enter a separate area where I am questioned by an ICE agent. ICE is a new division of DHS (Department of Homeland Security). The ICE agent was very respectful. He asked me many personal questions about my marital status, education, employment, former employment etc. I used to be employed by a religious non-profit, an Islamic Religious non-profit. So he asks me about what they do. Then he continues to ask if I was ever approached by extremists in the community. Or if I have any ties to any radicals, extremists or terrorists. I tell him about the mainstream approach we take and that we are the opposite of any of those things. He asks me if I ever make any donations overseas. So I answer all his questions. Then he finally says I can go. So I was at the Canadian border for 1 hour and then at the US border for 2 hours. By the time I found an available hotel in Buffalo and found something to eat for my fast the next day it was 3 AM.

This is a Must hear show Brian Lehrer did today yesterday on Wnyc. I wanted to call in and make the point that the public sector consists of both the government as well as non-profit agencies. Non-profits help cover ground that the government fails to reach. Many times non-profits refer people in need to government programs and resources that are not well announced. For someone like Giuliani who was our freaking mayor should know the importance and role of non-profits and community organizers. Pahlin and Giuliani want to seek the highest political offices but are unaware of who the government partners with to help the people. Then again these people aren’t looking to help anyone but themselves for a power grab.

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I just saw the video they played at the Republican Party Convention which was filled with 911 imagery. Fear mongering is not going to get them to the white house. Most Americans are tired of that garbage. The rejection of Rudy Guiliani’s bid for the Republication nomination is proof that running on a 911 ticket will not get you there.

The last few days the impression that I (as an independent) have gotten of the republicans is that of power hungry, greedy, selfish, non-diverse, close-minded ignorant…. bs etc. I can go on and on.

There’s been over 300 arrests this week of protesters who have been charged with felonies. What was being American all about again?