News No Longer Safe To Travel To America?

[ms spock]

I am not interested in the politics that are going on.

I am bewildered though that given an American is 12,000 times more likely to be killed by a gun by another citizen than be killed by a terrorist, that the construction of a Muslim ban was for other purposes rather than vetting people? The refugees already had a two year process of four interviews and multiple background checks so there was already a series of documented and comprehensive checks in place.

Now one of our most beloved authors, Mem Fox, has been detained and treated so poorly. She is a national treasure!

Dead Link Removed

I was going to go for some training this year to America but have been advised that given my background of political activism that it would not be wise. I also have members of my extended family who are middle Eastern in appearance and are Muslim. I was thinking it was an overreacction until I saw what they did to Mem Fox.

The place where Mindfulness was created is in the States. So it would be a really solid place to go to for training as a Mindfulness Teacher. As a result I was going to go for some training this year to America but have been advised that given my background of political activism that it would not be wise. I was thinking it was an overreacction until I saw what they did to Mem Fox.

Is it no longer safe to go to America?

 

[ladee]

IMHO... Its as safe to come to the United States as anywhere else. Probably more safe than many countries.

 

[Friday]

I would question the use of the word 'safe'.

Shocking? Absolutely. To the degree that the executive order has been rescinded.

However, even if it were still in place, being detained -in public- for 2 hours? With the worst case scenario -which isn't what happened- one of being sent home? I hardly would classify as unsafe. Expensive, yes. If one arrived after 10+ hours on a plane and several thousand dollars, only to be sent back home to Australia, after 2 hours, also infuriating. But dangerous? Unsafe? I don't see it.

 

[Kintsugi]

I agree with Friday, however... if I were not an American, I would really not want to come here at the moment. :bag:

 

[BlueOrange]

I would question the use of the word 'safe'.

I think it depends pretty heavily on where you set the threshold for 'safe'. The headline "Man with gun seen in vicinity of school" is an actual Australian headline. In the US, people get angry when the police shoot unarmed kids. In Australia, people get angry when the police shoot someone who is attacking them with a knife at the moment that the shooting takes place.

I've felt nervous about the US for some time. I don't have conflicted feelings about it right now, I'm just not going.

 

[joeylittle]

Is it no longer safe to go to America?

It's a dicey proposition if you are specifically from a country that is on the 'ban' list, hold a passport from a country on the list, or have recently spent significant time in a country that is on the list. I say dicey not because it's unsafe, but because it might be a big waste of money. We don't seem to totally have our act together at the moment, in re: how the TSA is handling executive orders in light of current court rulings.

Mem Fox was on an expenses-paid speaking trip, and would receive an honorarium; thats the kind of visa situation that honestly could have been a problem for anyone a year ago, and is nothing to do with the current political climate here. Visas relating to work or remuneration are prone to be examined much more fully. I was detained going from the US into Canada (for a job), and my paperwork was all good; it was just one of those days, I have no idea why they kept me.

So, I don't think safety is much concern. There may be inconvenience - the same as being pulled at random to have your luggage searched is inconvenient, but it's something we all live with now. Making sure you are traveling on the right visa, that's important. But otherwise - I don't think there's anything besides more red tape.

 

[Virtues]

The refugees already had a two year process of four interviews and multiple background checks so there was already a series of documented and comprehensive checks in place.

First let me correct a few things. 1) It was not a Muslim ban; it was a ban of ALL persons regardless of religion traveling from 7 countries: Syria, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Sudan, Yemen, & Somalia. There are SEVERAL other Muslim majority countries that this travel ban did not affect. 2) Our vetting process is very effective from countries that have a well kept recorded history of their persons and it is made available to us (criminal history, phone records, bank records, etc, etc, etc...) this is not the case in the pre-mentioned countries. We have little to no information to screen. I remember when I was in Iraq we implemented the first biometric iris scanners as a means of tracking people known to have taken part in any type of terrorist activity, but it was very much in the infantile stages when we retrograded.

The media has been in a frenzy. They have put every type of negative spin on this that they can. Instilling fear and hate and bigotry, but what they are reporting is false news. The truth in the matter is that unless you are traveling from or through any of the above listed countries there is no reason to be concerned.

 

[Zurrealx98]

Safety is relative to who you are. The color of your skin. Your religion. Your socio-economic status. It's not the total Armageddon situation some make it out to be, but it's not an Eden either. Not as safe as some European and Asian countries but not as dangerous as many other....

 

[Zurrealx98]

First let me correct a few things. 1) It was not a Muslim ban; it was a ban of ALL persons regardl...

Except it is a Muslim ban... That fascist cheeto of a president himself said that priority would be given to Christian Arabs. And the number of terrorist attacks commuted by individuals from those nations is zero. The middle eastern countries not on the banned list are all countries that the government has ties with or that trump has bussiness ventures in. Saudi Arabia is one of the most corrupt and tyrannical governments in the world (just ask the Yemenites) but the US continues to bed them. Not like the reasons for that aren't obvious enough. Don't dare try to make this sound less oppressive than it is. Our vetting process is intensive enough as is. Turning away innocent civilians trying to escape the clutches of terrorists is a crime against humanity.

Meanwhile the US will continue to bomb the shit out of middle eastern nations, knowing full well that innocent civilians will be killed. But that's okay because they're just collateral damage right? check your bias

 

[Virtues]

Except it is a Muslim ban... That fascist cheeto of a president himself said that priority would be...

Your whole post had about as much intelligence and could be summed up by your first sentence! "Fascist Cheeto" Strong Argument!

 

[Friday]

Please keep this thread on-topic. The OP has stated she has no interest in the politics of the situation, much less completely different situations, nor a political debate.

 

[GrayOwl]

Good points all.
Please, lets not quibble or pick nits.

I can add little of substance to what Friday or others have said.

All things and places are relative. If the conference were being held in Syria or Columbia, I would likely not go. The people of the United States have not changed simply because we elected an outspoken bully to lead us. Our society and our rules make this place a country of many aspects - most of which can be navigated with great safety and security. Like any country or city though, there are many places one should not venture; slums, drug areas, you know the gig.

As with any journey, a good guide, in spirit and in person is invaluable. One who can steer you through customs and quirks and keep your path toward mindfulness on it's track along routes that provide safe journey and contribute to that quest.

I think there are resources and persons within this website, who would support and advise you as you travel. I, for one, should I know that you were arriving from overseas on a long journey, would take time from work and life to meet you at the airport, or any public place of comfort to yourself, and offer my tips and advice on how and where to proceed in a manner that is safe and secure and to your liking. I could also supply you my phone number should you get in a pinch. I would consider it an opportunity to enrich my life and understanding while at the same time being of service.

I think there are others here who know the geographies of our nation and could assist as you visit. Our nation is a place of truly amazing people and places - and if you rank it against all other places on earth, it is probably one of the safest per capita of any. For every 1 person in our country that buys in to this philosophy of fear and prejudice, I think there are 10 who are sickened by what they see and are working hard to compensate for the foolish fears that are being stirred up.

As with all travels, using a guide that knows the lay of the land and can steer you around the more dangerous areas, and can inform you of customs so you don't stand out, is wise. If you think this course of study would serve you, I would most definitely plan and prepare. It sounds exciting.