"We didn't tell you to come to America on holiday."

As far as I can tell, you're basically saying, "I don't see any problem with dismantling the U.S. Constitution ruthlessly, dispensing with the rule of law." So then, we're agreed that you support fascism? If that's what you're saying, then you will certainly find in me an enemy (for whatever that will ultimately mean), but I can at least respect your intellectual honesty in admitting openly what you stand for.

If that's not what you're saying, then what exactly are you saying? You can't simultaneously support the right of the government to cast aside the U.S. Constitution and do whatever it feels like doing and not be a supporter of fascism.

No offense to MadamG, but I always find this funny that Americans think their country is "big."

The US is rather small geographically and many countries (including Canada) are a great deal bigger in sheer area or land mass. Population-wise there are many many countries bigger also and bigger economic blocks as well.

Your absolutely right our country is a silly racist little berg that we would have the audacity to detain and question a middle-eastern appearing gentleman with an Islamic sounding name and look.

City of Manchester: ethnicity
81.0% White
9.1% S.Asian

Well that is just silly. I'm not "basically saying" anything like that. Thats YOUR opinion, YOUR words. I disagree that the Patriot Act is dismantling the Constitution.

And the whole thing on enemies and such is a little dramatic.

I saw a news report on this on TV that said he was sent home because of improper documentation. Homeland security had the level set to the highest during the time this happened. So they needed all the I's dotted so to speak.

I am glad they turned someone back on mear suspision. Frankly I would say the majority of the tax paying Americans could care less if someone is sent home feeling insulted. We dont have to let anyone in just because another country cleared them.

A year ago they would have held this guy for weeks of questioning. People would be outraged how unamerican it is. So instead they send them home now. Which would you prefer to see?

Tell you what, if I ever try getting in your country without proper documentation, feel free to send me home.

Okay, did you read the article?

Here ... key excerpts from it:

"Mr Iqbal said he was also told Asian people needed a special visa." (my emphasis)

"They went through all the suitcases including the children's belongings before telling me I was being sent back because I needed a visa despite having a British passport." (my emphasis)

He did have the normally expected documentation. The reason they gave for turning him back was that Asian people also needed a special visa.

The initial claim made in this thread, however inflammatory in its delivery, was that this was racist. Help me out: how is it not racist? Would it also not bother you if black people were required to have special visas? Perhaps "colored only" terminals to enter as well ...?

My question is, how do we know what he said was accurate. He also claims that the immigration official also told him that "we didn't tell you to come to America on holiday." I can 99 percent guarantee you that the immigration official did not say that. Americans aren't in the habit of saying "on holiday"; we say "on vacation." If the subject of the story tweaked the words in that instance, I'm uncomfortable taking any other of his paraphrasing as gospel.

I say "on holiday"

just sayin'

My question is, how do we know what he said was accurate. He also claims that the immigration official also told him that "we didn't tell you to come to America on holiday." I can 99 percent guarantee you that the immigration official did not say that. Americans aren't in the habit of saying "on holiday"; we say "on vacation." If the subject of the story tweaked the words in that instance, I'm uncomfortable taking any other of his paraphrasing as gospel.

China will own most of the western ”countries” in a few year.. company, buildings.. and more.. They dont need to use an army.. they have already started it.. Money make world spin...

/Tina

My question is, how do we know what he said was accurate. He also claims that the immigration official also told him that "we didn't tell you to come to America on holiday." I can 99 percent guarantee you that the immigration official did not say that. Americans aren't in the habit of saying "on holiday"; we say "on vacation." If the subject of the story tweaked the words in that instance, I'm uncomfortable taking any other of his paraphrasing as gospel.

Patel (Gujarati પટેલ, paṭel) is an Indian Title meaning village head. It is a surname commonly used by Indo-Aryan people (meaning that they are of Aryan descent and/or they speak an Indo-Aryan group language), found mainly in North India (Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat and other North Indian regions). Many Patels have the Persian lordship of Khwajah. It is known to be a very common surname. Many have also changed their surname to Patel in order to help diminish the caste system, which still has effect in India today. It is one of the most common surnames in India and is very common around the world especially in England (First place for frequency goes to Singh). Patels are traditionally found in the states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat in India. Although they live throughout India and, after emigration, throughout the world. The name Patel is derived from the term Patlikh, which means record keeper of crops for each “pat” or portion of royal land. Patels are divided into many branches; the most popular being Leuva and Kadwah, others include vania and Korri. As with other groups in Northern and Western India, Patel was adopted as a surname by many people, as mentioned before. This practice is common in North India, where many surnames originate in an occupation (and often associated caste or social group). Unlike the Bania community known for trading, the Patels are associated with agriculture and are known to own masses of land.

Patels are associated with Businesses, and in the US they are also associated with the lodging industry, and owning numerous hotel and motel businesses. (The Asian American Hotel Owner's Association (AAHOA),some ninety percent of whose nearly 9,000 members are Patels, estimates that they collectively own 18,000 hospitality properties worth some $38 billion in all.)There are also massive numbers who also are employed as doctors, engineers, and pharmacists.

As a surname, Patel is perhaps the most popular and easily identified Indian last name, other than Singh. Unlike many European last names, two random Patels (or two random Singhs) are highly unlikely to actually have any familial relationship.

Other than the North, Patels can notably be found in Central India, Maharashtra as well. While the traditional occupation of farming remains common to Patels, the surname has been modified to "Patil" which is more common in the Portuguese regions of India.

Read this, then tell me your silly little country isn't racist:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/5259264.stm

First, he might have remembered it that way if he's used to saying "on holiday" himself (in fact, I wrote "on vacation" rather than "on holiday" at first while typing this and had to go back and correct myself!). People frequently make small mistakes like that -- that classic little game wherein a message is whispered around in a circle and ends up getting often changed tremendously by the end is a perfect illustration of that fact.

Second, that might actually have been what was said -- some people do, in fact, say "on holiday."

I don't see anything in this one small item that comes anywhere close to discrediting him.

I am not saying it is anything nefarious, but people tend to hear what they want to hear. And if all we have to go on is one person's recollection, that's just a bit too shakey for me.

I don't get it.. so Patel is Aryan?

Like um hitler...

You're just jealous because you didn't get invited into the Master Race.

I for one welcome our new master-race Patel overlords.

A spokesman for Monarch Airlines said: "There were two passengers on the flight who came to the attention of the other people because they were apparently acting suspiciously.

"The flight attendants were sufficiently concerned to alert the crew who in turn informed the security authorities at Malaga airport.