General @ Wednesday February 09, 2005 07:52 am by WunderKraut
On the way home from work yesterday, I was listening to NPR’s “All Things Considered” when they mentioned that coming up was a story on asylum seekers and how they are being abused, not by their home country, but by the US.
I rolled my eyes and let out a groan. “Not another prison scandal”, I bemoaned, “Come on guys, get it together and stop doing this.” So instead of changing the station, I waited for the story to be aired.
They began by saying that Congress has tasked some organization since the 1990’s with ensuring that asylum seekers (for religious, political, physical oppression reasons) were getting fair treatment by the US. The “reporter” then said something to the effect that these people have risked their lives and fled oppression, only to be abused in the land of freedom. Of course then they go into that after 9/11 asylum seekers have undergone greater scrutiny. After all, how do you know if someone is a terrorist intent on killing thousands or just a political refugee? I thought that made good sense. Good for them.
Then they began talking about the awful terrible abuse that these poor people have had to endure. I waited on pins and needles saying over and over again “Please no naked human pyramids. Please no naked human pyramids”.
Here it is: people seeking asylum have to be investigated, and then brought before a judge to determine whether they are allowed in or are deported. During the time they are being investigated and while waiting for their hearing, they have to —-brace yourself—– remain behind bars! GASP! This was explained that many would simply disappear into the US and never report to their hearing if they were not jailed. The “reporter” goes on to say that they have to wear uniforms, they have to lie around all day with nothing to do, and they have to use the bathroom in front of other people. The horror!
Then the report ended. I was shocked. Where were the naked human pyramids? Where were the pictures and stories of forced masturbation? Where were the stories of physical abuse? Of Rape?
Come on people, get a grip. Let me get this straight. We do not know if these people are terrorists. We then investigate them and we have to lock them up because if not, then they skip out and are never seen again. Explain what is wrong with that? I know some would say the vast majority of these people are good and decent people who are fleeing real persecution, but some may be really bad people. You don’t know until you investigate them. I wonder who is more apt to stick around and show up for their hearing: the good honest people or the terrorists. Hmmm…. geee… I don’t know.
It was one of the most misleading stories I have heard on NPR in a long time. And that is saying something. All I can say to the Homeland Security people is: Keep it up. Don’t hurt anyone, but check them out thoroughly before you let them free to roam my streets.
UPDATE: Oh my God. It is worse than I thought. I have read the Executive Summary of the Governments report and they barely mention the jail or jail like facilities. The majority and I do mean the majority of the report deals with procedural issues. Somebody needs to crack some skulls over at NPR. Michelle? Powerline? Anyone?
4 Responses to “Reason #3,458 Why I Hate NPR”
Great Blog!!
I feel the same way about NPR. Its amazing how they can find ways to “blame” every problem in the world on the United States. I want to turn to a different station but sometimes just cant. Sort of like driving by a car accident. You dont want to look but have to take at least a peek. I think Diane Rehm drives me nuts the quickest. All her screwy ideas and
that cackley voice. On another note, I have enjoyed reading your blog and especially your writings. They are right on the money. I have been telling people that if Gore had been elected 9/11, a recession, and the Enron and Worldcom problems would have all happened. I really liked your writing on Iraq. I dont write about it on my crummy blog for much the same reasons you haven’t. Anyway, great blog and good luck.
Iceman 1955, thanks for the show of support. Best line:
Go check out his blog here
Yes i am also guilty of listening to NPR. I like the way they speak in hushed tones, regardless of the topic. I usually don’t make it very far into their ‘news’ reports though. Seems i have absolutely no problem in turning the dial and finding some good ol’ country music. Toby Keith rocks!
Thanks, i like to hear a good npr rant. I am actually guilty of donating to my local station. I must admit I do enjoy some of the work done for them. I found out a good progressive hard rock band that I really wanted to like had a new album, and its really good. npr played a good, long song during the review. I hate most of the world music they review, but they do play quite a bit of Leo Kottke (an amazing acoustic guitarist). Anyway, i listened to the story from feb 8 off their website and agree abuse is too strong a word. What you imagined in your mind was more like torture. I thought about a friend of mine who moved with his wife and dog to Hawaii(lucky devil). he is not very internet literate and he needed my help to navigate the websites concerning the importation of animals to Hawaii(they are very strict about it, and rightfully so). The old system had domestic animals located in quarantine for like three or four months. The friend had said “I dont want to abuse my dog like that”. To their credit they had a new system in place to streamline the process. With the help of several trips to the vet here on the mainland, and correspondence with Hawaii, he and his wife left with their dog the day they arrived in Hawaii. Back to the refugees. I would not call it torture, abuse, perhaps bureaucratic mistreatment. I don’t doubt that in most cases we could do much better. We could take some of the money we are wasting on homeland security (not that i think real security is a waste, but our spending in this matter is similar to the war on poverty) and improve this bureaucracy. I would like these folks to be treated as well as my friends dog (willingness to improve and better quarters, not same day release). *takes deep breath*
p.s. Read part of your bio, what do you think of our chances if we had followed Patton’s advice and tried to push the Russians out of eastern European states?