Bob in Iowa
Casual Observer
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I am sure that everyone will breathe just a little bit easier, and will sleep a whole lot better after reading this, knowing that Homeland Security is diligently watching out for us all. Personally, I haven't felt this warm and fuzzy since Tom Ridge issued official advice for all of us to stock up on duct tape and plastic sheeting in order to protect against potential chemical and biological terrorism.
My wife, Ritsuko, and I have lived here in eastern Iowa for the past 24 years, and, as one would expect, we have had Iowa driver licenses for the same period of time. Friday was my day off from work, so I decided that since our licenses expire next month, that I would go ahead and renew mine today. It is a simple process -- one goes into a state office in town that serves a multitude of functions such as driver license issuance, property tax collection, and vehicle registration. It is really a pretty streamlined operation where the front desk clerk determines why the customer is there, issues a number, and directs one to the appropriate area where the customer waits until the number is called.
I walked in, told the front desk clerk that I was there to renew my driver license, was asked to show my license, then I was given a number and told which monitors to watch for my number to appear. I waited maybe two minutes, then proceeded to the license renewal counter, verified my information, took a quick vision test, paid $23, had a mug shot taken, signed the form, and received my new license that is good for the next five years. In less than a total of ten minutes I was on my way.
Since I was in town, I stopped into Ritsuko?fs office and told her about how easy it was to get the renewal. Since she didn?ft have any appointments for a while, I agreed to stay there and answer the phones, while she took off to get her license renewed. A little while later, I got a call; it was Ritsuko calling from her cellphone telling me that she needed her green card in order to renew her license. ?gYou?fre shi*ing me?h; ?gI?fm not shi*ting you -- it?fs a Homeland Security thing.?h
OK,?h I told her -- ?gtry it again next week, and take your passport and green card with you.?h As I waited for her to return to the office, I couldn?ft help but wonder how they would even know that she is not a citizen. Her first name is Japanese, but her last name is of British origin, and one of which there are a few in this area, and she has been on file as a licensed driver for many years now.
When she returned, I asked her how they even knew that she was not a citizen. She looked at me like I was crazy for asking and said. ?gThat?fs the first question on the form you fill out at the front desk. Don?ft you remember? You were just there.?h
Helloooo -- can you spell racial profiling? I wasn?ft given a form, and neither was the man in line in front of me. All right, I am a caucasian male in my mid 50?fs, and I don?ft have a foreign accent, but that doesn?ft necessarily mean that I am a citizen now does it? The man in front of me looked to be of African descent and spoke with an American accent, but how would one know that he is really American?
Is it just that Middle Easterners and Asians are the primary targets that are currently in the crosshairs of the central scrutinizer (ever listen to Frank Zappa?). Maybe, if this is such an important issue, then everyone should be not only given the form, but also required to prove their citizenship or residency prior to being able to renew their driver license. What if I wasn?ft a citizen, was given the form, and lied about my citizenship. Am I less of a threat? heh heh heh ... less of a threat than what? you ask. Why a middle aged lady Chiropractor of Japanese citizenship who has been living in this country for almost 27 years, and who is responsible enough to renew her license before it expires, of course.
Don?ft you feel safer now?
My wife, Ritsuko, and I have lived here in eastern Iowa for the past 24 years, and, as one would expect, we have had Iowa driver licenses for the same period of time. Friday was my day off from work, so I decided that since our licenses expire next month, that I would go ahead and renew mine today. It is a simple process -- one goes into a state office in town that serves a multitude of functions such as driver license issuance, property tax collection, and vehicle registration. It is really a pretty streamlined operation where the front desk clerk determines why the customer is there, issues a number, and directs one to the appropriate area where the customer waits until the number is called.
I walked in, told the front desk clerk that I was there to renew my driver license, was asked to show my license, then I was given a number and told which monitors to watch for my number to appear. I waited maybe two minutes, then proceeded to the license renewal counter, verified my information, took a quick vision test, paid $23, had a mug shot taken, signed the form, and received my new license that is good for the next five years. In less than a total of ten minutes I was on my way.
Since I was in town, I stopped into Ritsuko?fs office and told her about how easy it was to get the renewal. Since she didn?ft have any appointments for a while, I agreed to stay there and answer the phones, while she took off to get her license renewed. A little while later, I got a call; it was Ritsuko calling from her cellphone telling me that she needed her green card in order to renew her license. ?gYou?fre shi*ing me?h; ?gI?fm not shi*ting you -- it?fs a Homeland Security thing.?h
OK,?h I told her -- ?gtry it again next week, and take your passport and green card with you.?h As I waited for her to return to the office, I couldn?ft help but wonder how they would even know that she is not a citizen. Her first name is Japanese, but her last name is of British origin, and one of which there are a few in this area, and she has been on file as a licensed driver for many years now.
When she returned, I asked her how they even knew that she was not a citizen. She looked at me like I was crazy for asking and said. ?gThat?fs the first question on the form you fill out at the front desk. Don?ft you remember? You were just there.?h
Helloooo -- can you spell racial profiling? I wasn?ft given a form, and neither was the man in line in front of me. All right, I am a caucasian male in my mid 50?fs, and I don?ft have a foreign accent, but that doesn?ft necessarily mean that I am a citizen now does it? The man in front of me looked to be of African descent and spoke with an American accent, but how would one know that he is really American?
Is it just that Middle Easterners and Asians are the primary targets that are currently in the crosshairs of the central scrutinizer (ever listen to Frank Zappa?). Maybe, if this is such an important issue, then everyone should be not only given the form, but also required to prove their citizenship or residency prior to being able to renew their driver license. What if I wasn?ft a citizen, was given the form, and lied about my citizenship. Am I less of a threat? heh heh heh ... less of a threat than what? you ask. Why a middle aged lady Chiropractor of Japanese citizenship who has been living in this country for almost 27 years, and who is responsible enough to renew her license before it expires, of course.
Don?ft you feel safer now?
But luckily, because of my job, I am not required to renew my license until I step back on US soil...so even if I work here for 30 years, I won't have to renew it until I visit the States again!