Teen Banned From US For Barracking Obama

So much for freedom of expression: yet another 'liberty' that has vanished on both sides of the Atlantic in the "war against terrorism" that was intended to preserve our fundamental liberties.

Hang on, is that Plod smashing down my front door.....

How did he get President Obama's email?

I'd like to send him an email myself. Message would be along the lines of "you're doing a good job considering the amount of right wing morons out there making life harder for all of us...".

Anyways, that British lad now knows not to 'dis a POTUSA.

quote:

Originally posted by James L:
How did he get President Obama's email?

Through the White House website, no doubt, which gives contact details.

I wonder how many of us could get ourselves banned, if we really tried?

Serve him right. Why should anyone have to put up with abuse?

quote:

Originally posted by graham55:

quote:

Originally posted by James L:
How did he get President Obama's email?

Through the White House website, no doubt, which gives contact details.

I wonder how many of us could get ourselves banned, if we really tried?

Want to start a trend ???

quote:

Want to start a trend ???

Think I'll start it by accusing him of being a Tony Blair clone ... hang on, though ... he might think that's a compliment.

quote:

From teen banned article:
[QUOTE]Joanne Ferreira, of the US Department of Homeland Security, said there are about 60 reasons a person can be barred.

I wonder how a person can be unbarred, sent a polite apologize-mail?

It's still an awfully sad indictment of the spirit that prevails in the USA in these twitchy times.

If a President can't take this sort of (non-threatening) abuse, he sure as sh*t shouldn't be sitting in the main chair in the White House. What the hell would he do if people were to accuse him of incompetence? Some of you Yanks that subscribe here may be able to help, but it's all looking a bit screwed up!

Worrying as f*ck, if that's the way things are going.

G

quote:

Originally posted by graham55:
So much for freedom of expression: yet another 'liberty' that has vanished on both sides of the Atlantic in the "war against terrorism" that was intended to preserve our fundamental liberties.

Hang on, is that Plod smashing down my front door.....

"The individual sent an email to the White House full of abusive and threatening language."

We have the right/liberty to free speech. We do not have the right/liberty to threaten anyone. We have the ability to disagree about anything. Get on a soap box and yell it as loud as we can and we will. We can not at the same time threaten someones life or impede on their personal liberties.
I can burn the American flag on my front porch. However the person who disagrees can not imply or otherwise suggest harm. Once you cross that line your own freedoms will be taken away.

"Right wing morons"
Watch the American news channels come November. I have this feeling that those "morons" will be making changes based on their RIGHT to vote.

Kindly- It is not POTUSA. It is simply,POTUS.


Yanks-
The term is thought to derive from Dutch settlers in the 1600's referring to the English colonials as 'Jan Kees' which entered our language with the spelling 'Yankees,' as that is how it would sound in Dutch.

So, to whom are you referring? Just those who came from England or the whole?



"It's still an awfully sad indictment of the spirit that prevails in the USA in these twitchy times."


Graham55- I do agree the world we live in has changed. You have an interesting view and opinion.
regards,
Marc

Some ten years ago, I sent an email to Bill Clinton during his last couple of weeks of presidency. I did it through the whitehouse's website. The email, though professional and polite, might have been "unwelcome" as I expressed my disappointment in Bill Clinton's failing to reach piece in the middle east. I was 19 at the time.

Post September 11, I'd never consider sending any email to the whitehouse that is not 100% "cheer leading" in character. In retrospect, I see how much of an open and liberal mindset was needed to accept my email. Sadly, the same freedom window doesn't exist anymore.

Regards...

graham55

"If a President can't take this sort of (non-threatening) abuse, he sure as sh*t shouldn't be sitting in the main chair in the White House. What the hell would he do if people were to accuse him of incompetence?"

Would you be wiling to share the content of the email in question? You appear to have read it.

Put the shoe on the other foot.
If someone from the US sent Mr. Blair a threatening message would he be received with open arms there?
Hard to say what was in the message, but it must have been really bad or really specific to get the attention of the authorities.
You can imagine there must be a lot of people that feel the POTUS or other world leaders would benefit from reading their well-considered advice...
David

quote:

Put the shoe on the other foot.
If someone from the US sent Mr. Blair a threatening message would he be received with open arms there?

You mean David Cameron?

Typical America, over reacting and making mole hills into mountains.
Surprised they didn't smoke him out!

Freedom of speech and the free world is a myth...as we all know...

quote:

Originally posted by Stephen Tate:
Typical America, over reacting and making mole hills into mountains.
Surprised they didn't smoke him out!

Freedom of speech and the free world is a myth...as we all know...

Have you read anything published by the media? Have you read your own newspapers? Have you watched t.v? Have you had a conversation in a public area that contained a negative view on your own leadership? Have you overheard one? Do you have the right to vote? Is your home or office bugged? Do you have seedy individuals following you everywhere you go?
"As we all know"
LOL!!

"Typical America, over reacting and making mole hills into mountains."


Not one American has died since 9/11 due to another attack. Our government(sp-would not fix.I put n and it puts m) has been on the offense and has done a terrific job. Is it because there has not been any terror in our midst that anything we do is an over reaction? I do not think so. Keep mowing the grass to see what's below.
You want to see a reaction? If there were another attack, the American people would demand a certain retaliatory response that would make your head spin.And-And! Your government(sp-would not change) would ride along with it.

Our president deserves to be safe. He never read the email and he didn't make the decision to ban the gent.The secret Service and the F.B.I. did. If you cross that line, no matter where you lay-you will lose your freedom.

Here's another way of looking at it - would you not expect a similar response if a vitriolic e-mail was sent to the personal e-mail address of Her Majesty?

Chances are if the same teen wrote said e-mail, there'd be serious problems - and it doesn't demonstrate good common sense, either.

POTUS is a nice guy (met him in Chicago ages ago before he became a US Senator) and generally gets short shrift by those who don't understand what a risk it is to have universal suffrage as the foundation for representative government....

We cherish our freedom of speech and freedom of action. But this doesn't entitle us to be rude and discourteous to anyone without consequence.

So, this chap sends an abusive E-mail, Obama says, "Fine, but guess what? You don't get to come to our country" And the problem with this is...?

"Freedom of speech and the free world is a myth...as we all know..."



Sorry this is late. Made breakfast for family.

This forum exists solely because naim believes in freedom of speech. Well, sometimes..

Christ, Marc, if that's what you truly believe, you're a seriously scary (and scared) person.

To get back to the topic: either the US authorities (who banned a drunk teenager for life) overreacted, or the UK authorities (who declined to arrest the drunk teen) underreacted. I wonder which authority got it right?

Incidentally, in these days of self-serving leaks, I can only imagine that the e-mail hasn't appeared because it's not really threatening. (Which would, of course, match the UK Plod's response.)

Graham

quote:

Originally posted by David Dever:
Here's another way of looking at it - would you not expect a similar response if a vitriolic e-mail was sent to the personal e-mail address of Her Majesty?

No, not at all. I imagine that Her Majesty would laugh off the drunken ramblings of a silly young man. I can't imagine MI6 getting involved.

It pains me to say that some of you Yanks are quite extraordinarily up your own arses! How the f*ck was your President endangered, FFS?

quote:

Originally posted by graham55:
Christ, Marc, if that's what you truly believe, you're a seriously scary (and scared) person.

To get back to the topic: either the US authorities (who banned a drunk teenager for life) overreacted, or the UK authorities (who declined to arrest the drunk teen) underreacted. I wonder which authority got it right?

Incidentally, in these days of self-serving leaks, I can only imagine that the e-mail hasn't appeared because it's not really threatening. (Which would, of course, match the UK Plod's response.)

Graham

Graham-

It's ok. You don't get it.
I don't expect you would. I am not going to go up and back on this. There is no middle ground.
Being scared? You're damn fruiten right I am. Scary? Hell yes. When I need to be.
It is none of my business how others live. It is none of my business what others believe. Everyone is entitled to serve,worship,and play the way they want. Tell me you believe I should not eat meat. Ok. Tell me I worship the wrong god.Ok. Tell me that the way we live as Americans is the worst thing that ever happened to this world and I should face east 4 times a day to pray. Fine. Tell me you want to build a house of worship 300 feet from where 3000 of my fellow countrymen and yours were murdered. Fine.
Do not-I mean do not impede on my rights. Period. Once you cross that line. I will become anyone's worst nightmare. This is not a time for idealism-this is a time for a full court press on all that may change your and my way of life.

This little puke did something that was at the least stupid. Fortunately our government is on top of even the tiniest little piece of B.S..

If you think your M6 has not put individuals on the list? I feel you may be incorrect in your assumption. Your Queen,P.M.,and our President have layers of redundant protection.
Why? To protect your way of life.


Raise your voice. Fine. Raise an arm to change our way of life? Cut it off.

All this is and may become of it is minutia.

Time to turn on the HiFi
Take care and best to you,
Marc

quote:

No, not at all. I imagine that Her Majesty would laugh off the drunken ramblings of a silly young man. I can't imagine MI6 getting involved.

It pains me to say that some of you Yanks are quite extraordinarily up your own arses! How the f*ck was your President endangered, FFS?

I doubt it would be her decision to "laugh off" any threat, rather, she would be unaware.
Since none of us know the contents of the communication, nor the unreported circumstances this is all conjecture.
None of this hit our local media so far as I'm aware.
You can't seriously think that a threat to the leader of a nation should be ignored altogether?
I won't, for a minute, say that the people in charge couldn't have over-reacted.
But being drunk does not excuse the behavior in any case.
David

Totally off thread - but now I find out that I have met two people who have met the current POTUS.

And both people have had good words to say about him.

Marc,

You're beginning to sound as if you might be insane. I don't know if this will concern you at all, but I thought I'd mention it.

On a more specific point, the young man involved has certainly done something a bit stupid - although I can easily imagine why he thought the American authorities would shrug it off - but in what sense has he 'raised an arm to change your way of life'?

It's the lack of perspective that makes you and your government look somewhat foolish here.

quote:

Originally posted by David Scott?:
Marc,

You're beginning to sound as if you might be insane. I don't know if this will concern you at all, but I thought I'd mention it.

On a more specific point, the young man involved has certainly done something a bit stupid - although I can easily imagine why he thought the American authorities would shrug it off - but in what sense has he 'raised an arm to change your way of life'?

It's the lack of perspective that makes you and your government look somewhat foolish here.

Insane?
Not concerned.

The kid raised enough attention to meet certain criteria. Thus putting himself in a category of individuals who may not travel here.
Don't know what was on the email. Don't care. Obviously enough to merit his position.

"It's the lack of perspective that makes you and your government look somewhat foolish here."

Perspective?
We may look foolish to you over there. We do not have the same perspective here or lack there of.


I really believe that while there has been no attacks the world believes that we should be benign. It is an over reaction because there is no threat. If there is an actual attack of some kind- then there was not enough foresight or reaction to the individual or group.
This is a no win win situation. The world will try to understand the steps that the US has taken to keep us fat Americans safe? Think not.

Enjoy your day.
Marc