VTMBH Article: Body
Bordering a farmers field on the U.S.-Canadian border, near Quebec, is a small gas station which has done business for many years. The gas station lies on the American side, and it has an entrance that is only on the American side, and has always attracted Canadians with its low prices.
Last month, an Arab Canadian, who lives near the gas station and has been using its services for many years, pulled his car in, as was his habit. This time he was arrested by the police for illegal entry into the United States. He has been in detention ever since. His family and the Canadian authorites are working to get his release.
If you go to this gas station today, it still feels like nothing has changed along the longest undefended border in the world. Canadians are still buying gas at this station, many assuming that it lies in Quebec, or not caring at all.
A Canadian citizen in transit through New York was detained and deported to Syria because that is the country of his birth. Both these cases were discussed by Foreign Minister Bill Graham with Secretary of State Colin Powell, who was in Ottawa on a recent visit.
I believe such incidents will continue to happen because American authorities are not paying attention to human rights and are focusing on racial profiling.
People in the Pakistani community who are moderate, secular and believe in human rights must project their community in that light. Otherwise the extremist image will remain the dominant image for Americans of people who are of South Asian and Middle Eastern origin.
Last month, an Arab Canadian, who lives near the gas station and has been using its services for many years, pulled his car in, as was his habit. This time he was arrested by the police for illegal entry into the United States. He has been in detention ever since. His family and the Canadian authorites are working to get his release.
If you go to this gas station today, it still feels like nothing has changed along the longest undefended border in the world. Canadians are still buying gas at this station, many assuming that it lies in Quebec, or not caring at all.
A Canadian citizen in transit through New York was detained and deported to Syria because that is the country of his birth. Both these cases were discussed by Foreign Minister Bill Graham with Secretary of State Colin Powell, who was in Ottawa on a recent visit.
I believe such incidents will continue to happen because American authorities are not paying attention to human rights and are focusing on racial profiling.
People in the Pakistani community who are moderate, secular and believe in human rights must project their community in that light. Otherwise the extremist image will remain the dominant image for Americans of people who are of South Asian and Middle Eastern origin.