Home > Reflections > On Imaginary Lines > On Delusion...
On Delusion...
I've told many personal “tales” from my experiences giving examples of the uselessness of this practice from all over the world, trying to establish the fact that visa requirements do almost nothing to make countries more secure. I tried to highlight the irrationality and the injustice of this practice -distinguishing people from others just because of the fact that they were born within certain imaginary lines.
Now... Starting from the quotation “Any attempt to control borders is delusional” from the article in the New Internationalist, I go on... It is delusional to think we (or any other country) are protecting ourselves from harm with visa requirements like hotel reservations which can be cancelled. It is delusional to think we (or any other country) are protecting ourselves from harm with even visa requirements like hotel reservations which have to be paid in advance and cannot be cancelled. It is delusional to think visa processing agents can distinguish and evaluate people when most embassies have started to outsource it to firms like VFS which implies they don't even get to see the applicant in person but they just process papers. It is delusional to think committed criminals cannot get access to fake documents to get visas. It is delusional to think that Americans are protecting themselves from harm with visa requirements given the example of San Bernardino. It is just as much or even more delusional for them to think they are safe and secure with their own people given the fact that they've had to redefine the term mass shootings because they've had so many. It is delusional to think we (or any other country) are protecting ourselves from harm with visa requirements given the fact that there are many ISIS supporters already within Western countries, even from highly educated backgrounds, from among engineers and doctors. It is delusional to think we are safe or can be safe anywhere given the Paris attacks. It is also delusional to think we can make life “secure.” Given the so many personal tales here, it is delusional to even think that visas are there to protect us. In fact, showing they are not even there to protect us from criminals, countries all over the world implement them to extract money from people or use them to exert political power. I mean even Canada... Mr. Charles wrote: “While visiting Detroit last week to investigate real estate opportunities, my friend and I decided to visit Windsor, Ontario since it was just across the river. Turns out, a US citizen with a DUI conviction CANNOT enter Canada for TEN YEARS after the end of probation. We were turned away at the border. Never mind that *I* was the one driving, and it has been 4 years since the conviction. However, we were informed that if we had a "compelling reason" to visit, and paid the $200 application fee, we could possibly visit for the afternoon as planned. My friend and I have travelled the world, including to countries where alcohol is illegal. Yet, we were allowed entry, without visa, every time. What is the point here Canada? Extortion?” This story (or “tale” if you prefer) about the DUI case is a perfect example. It's not logical to prevent a passanger into a country just because he has a DUI (Driving Under Influence) record but let's say that the reason for that requirement was to protect the people of Canada from being harmed by a person with a habit of drunk driving... The fact that he could get in if he paid 200 bucks, shows that authorities do not actually care. Or you may even state that that amount is the “legal bribe price.” I know it is also delusional to think that it is possible to invite an egocentric person to reason when they obviously do not want to understand or see. Especially someone who resorts to personal attack when he cannot come up with anything intelligent to say. Still... Someone else coming here with an open and thinking mind can change views reading these posts. I know there are many people who have fears. I get that and I have sympathy for these fearful souls on a personal level. But I don't have sympathy for their wish to keep propagating this visa violence and abuse on innocents and the poors with the excuse of criminals. I know... People defend the status quo, resist any change. I understand that and I have sympathy for their will to stick to their privileges, nobody really wants to give that up. But I don't have sympathy for their egocentrism, their self-righteousness... They believe that they are entitled and they defend the status quo even if it is so unjust, even at the expense of lives. But of course the lives that are lost (those of the “backwards” countries) cost much less than “their” priceless lives. What else is there to say?... But I'll still say it. If there is anything that would be irresponsible, it's not to open borders, it's to continue this worldwide segregation and discrimination of people according to where they were born, to continue this so unjust practice when it is leading to so much unnecessary suffering and death. |