I’m a threat to the national security of two countries, apparently: Canada and the US. Slowly step away from me. Last weekend I took a break from my normal routine—a vacation day, as normal people call it—and drove up to International Falls, just because it’s there. I thought it might be fun to cross the border into Canada and just see what’s there, just because.
Well, border security folks don’t like “just because” as a reason for visiting someplace. The Canadian border agents pulled me aside for “identity verification.” I’m not sure what that means, but of the dozens of folks who passed through the border around the same time, I was the only one chosen for the honor. I’m not sure what the problem was. I know who I am and my passport says the same thing. It wasn’t a long wait, maybe ten minutes, but I still found it annoying and perplexing that the Canadians found something in my profile that flagged me as a potential threat meriting a closer look. Do they know I don’t like hockey, Labatt, or Celine Dion?
The US/Canadian border from Fort Frances, Ontario
With my mood deflated, I just spent a couple of hours checking out the Canadian counterpart to International Falls, Fort Frances, which consisted mostly of climbing the 33-meter-tall tower on the riverfront and looking for pretty views of Rainy Lake. After my tepid explorations, I started the trek back to Grand Rapids to end my vacation day. When I got to US border control, though, I was again flagged for closer scrutiny. Apparently, I don’t give myself enough credit for how threatening I can be. This time, it was clear that besides “verifying my identity,” I was going to get a full-body cavity search—of my car, anyway.
Part of the problem may have been my response to the question: “What was the purpose of your trip to Canada?” I didn’t really have a purpose; I didn’t have a list of things I wanted to see. I just wanted to look around, out of curiosity. So I told the border agents “I was just being a tourist.” I could have lied. In my experience, law enforcement types want a specific answer to their questions; they are taught that vague answers make a person suspicious. So maybe I should have said “I came to purchase cheaper Canadian pharmaceuticals and bring them back to the US for resale.” Actually, that probably would have made things worse. But at least it would have been specific.
While I was sitting in the waiting area and trying not watch the agents search my car (I didn’t want to look nervous; they might have wanted to search my cavities next), I asked one of the agents if there was a problem with my passport, since the Canadians had picked me out for closer inspection, too. He said that I was probably singled out because of the number of stamps in my passport. This was shortly after his observation that most of the stamps in my passport were from Central and South America.
It’s true. I have a lot of stamps in my passport. That’s because I like to travel. The last time I checked, it was still legal to travel outside of the US. My last passport had a lot of stamps from Europe and Asia. But this one has a lot of stamps from Central and South America because that’s where I’ve traveled recently.
**Road more about northern Minnesota in Road Tripping Along the Great River Road, Vol. 1 and the Headwaters Region Guide. Click the link above for more. Disclosure: This website may be compensated for linking to other sites or for sales of products we link to.
The agent didn’t say it directly, but he implied that the reason I was singled out is because of those stamps from Central and South
International Falls, MN: The end of the line
America. You may not have noticed recently, but the countries in Central and South America are currently in the crosshairs of the War on Drugs. I probably didn’t help my case by visiting Canada for two hours and not offering a specific reason for being there, but ultimately it was probably those stamps that got me the extra special attention.
My visit with the US border agents lasted longer than the one in Canada, probably more like 20 minutes, but, in that time, most of the joy was sucked out of my vacation day. Honestly, my experience wasn’t all that bad, but I found it deflating for what it represented.
Our country is devolving into a security state where “safety” trumps liberty. Our fears are being exploited. The War on Terror and the colossal failure called the War on Drugs have merged into a single War on Liberty. And no one gives a shit, except for the folks who are making money and holding onto power because of it.
I know there are people who are willing to give up much of their freedom to feel safe. I’m not one of them. Life has risks. Deal with it. By giving up your freedom, you are merely exchanging one set of risks for another—the risk of physical harm for the risk of living a soulless life.
When an individual is flagged as a potential risk for being well-traveled and having a sense of curiosity, something has gone very wrong. We can no longer pretend that we (Americans) can ignore the rest of the world. An Indian company is about to open a new iron ore mine in Minnesota’s Mesabi Iron Range. A Finnish company owns the paper mill in Grand Rapids. Those are just two obvious examples from a rural part of northern Minnesota. The world is getting much smaller, and we need to encourage Americans to travel to remain competitive and to explore where we fit in.
I worry that all the added security at border crossings and airports will do the reverse and discourage Americans from getting out and seeing what’s there while doing little to make us any “safer.” Yes, we need security, but those efforts need to be more invisible and less intrusive, so grandmothers and infants aren’t getting shake-downs at airports and travelers with a sense of curiosity aren’t presumed to be criminals.
I’m still curious about the rest of the world and will travel regardless of how ridiculous and discouraging our security efforts get. I may even try my luck crossing the Canadian border again in the near future. I just hope other Americans who are less obsessive about travel will do the same.
Today’s Bad Decision: Crossing the border. See above.
© Dean Klinkenberg, 2011
Community-supported writing
If you like the content at the Mississippi Valley Traveler, please consider showing your support by making a one-time contribution or by subscribing through Patreon. Book sales don’t fully cover my costs, and I don’t have deep corporate pockets bankrolling my work. I’m a freelance writer bringing you stories about life along the Mississippi River. I need your help to keep this going. Every dollar you contribute makes it possible for me to continue sharing stories about America’s Greatest River!
Great postings, Dean.
Yes, we can’t have curiosity go unquestioned here in the U.S.!
But as you know, it isn’t just here. When I was in Turkey I had a cab driver get me the few miles from Izmir to the ancient ruins of Ephesus. He told me he would wait for me. I told him not to as I would be a long time. He insisted he would wait, thinking I couldn’t possibly be that long. I had all my painting gear and told him I would be painting for hours. He scrunched up his face, paused for a beat and said, “Why?” Rhetorically.
When I came out about six hours later, there he was.
I’m just now catching up on your fascinating and absorbing posts. I especially agree with your discussion in “Crossing the Line”, having had the same reaction MANY times (not just to Canada but even WITHIN the US!). Wonderful work.
Admit it, you are kind of, well, scary. The thing that makes this more sick is the fact that their efforts to keep bad people or things outta here are futile. Nice post.