[and My Status as a U.S. Citizen]
by Hénock Gugsa
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In less than a month, I'll be traveling to Ethiopia for the second time in the last 37 years. And if you should know, I've been a U.S. citizen for a quarter century. However, that has not exempted me from receiving the special "treatment" coming-and-going ... and you can safely infer that there's absolutely no way I'll turn into a Patrick Henry in front of ICE. I have to grin and bear it all ... and say to myself, "The terrorists have indeed won!"
Indeed! The last time when I arrived at MSP's International gate, a surly-looking ICE man (?!) made a bee-line toward me and another brown-skinned person while we were still standing in line to go to the Arrivals' processing window. This agent asked to see our passports and inquired where we were coming from. Meanwhile, he never even glanced at the young couple behind me who were white. The questions this man asked were asked of me two more times on the way to retrieving my luggage. I have to take these indignities in stride as I would many things. What was that thing I read somewhere that said: If you shout at the devil, do you think he will shout back at you!
Indeed! The last time when I arrived at MSP's International gate, a surly-looking ICE man (?!) made a bee-line toward me and another brown-skinned person while we were still standing in line to go to the Arrivals' processing window. This agent asked to see our passports and inquired where we were coming from. Meanwhile, he never even glanced at the young couple behind me who were white. The questions this man asked were asked of me two more times on the way to retrieving my luggage. I have to take these indignities in stride as I would many things. What was that thing I read somewhere that said: If you shout at the devil, do you think he will shout back at you!
Happy trails!
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