Just back from the States. My overwhelming impression is that the country has become more paranoid. Everywhere I turned, every time I tried to buy anything, even with cash, people asked for my phone number or birthdate. When I refused to give them, people reacted suspiciously, as if they had just realized I was an ex-con. Then, worse, they found out I lived in France. (I saw several "Boycott France" bumper stickers this summer.) "You speak English pretty well," I heard about fifty times this summer. "That's because I'm American," I said. But I live overseas--even after 9/11-- and not in an English-speaking country. I practically felt the horns sprouting on my head.
When I tried to mail some books to myself back in France, I was told I had to give a U.S. address as the sender. I said I didn't have one. "You have to have one to mail a package," the post office employee said. "I don't see why," I said. "What about tourists? They're not allowed to use the mail?" The post office employee said, "It's to prevent terrorism. Otherwise how would they know where the package came from?" "The postmark tells where it came from!" I said. "Well, these measures have been taken to keep us all safer," the post office employee said. "I personally feel happy that there are steps being taken to prevent terrorism." So I just made up an address, on the lines of 123 Maple Street, Pleasantville. America is safer now.
Hi !
A real terrorist would - without any doubt whatsoever, of course - furnish her/his real address when mailing a terrorist package, right ? Ca coule des sources. (smile)
One wonders indeed about some of the really strange stuff going down in the USA. (sigh)
L'Amerloque
Posted by: amerloque | 10 November 2005 at 15:20