Let me try to put things into perspective for you 121553, There is no excuse for being treated rudely by an agent. However in my co workers defense.............. Ever since 9-11, our job became even MORE impossible. I have had more people than I can count say to me, " why are you asking me that?" or my personal favorite, " Do I look like a terrorist to you?" My response is always " YES!" How in the hell should I know what a terrorist looks like? And lets not just say any Middle eastern looking male. How about Timothy McViegh? Did he look like a terrorist? Appearances to me don' t mean squat. I once arrested a man 4 years ago, that was dressed to the 9' s and could have been a top exec to Bill Gates, He was #11 on the US Marshalls most wanted list. So, the way a person looks does not mean much to any of us. So there is no horse pooh!
Are you starting to see it from my stand point? We are in a position where for the protection of our great country that we can TRUST NO ONE! Let me go on, We work on average 3-4 sixteen hour shifts a week, So we are sleep deprived, hungry and miss our familys. 16 hours shifts are VERY hard on one' s emotional health. And then we get people who think that the less info they give us the better. Let me tell ya, That is a sure fire way to get pulled into secondary inspection! Because we are thinking " what is he hiding"
Some times it is not even what you say or how you say it. We are trained observers in human behaviour. The non verbals speak louder than what you say. Smart a$$ remarks to a Customs agent on either side of the border will only cause you more grief. I will bet that in your place of employment that you have also met some real a$$holes!?
I am not attacking you here brother I really am not. I look at you as a brother in the sport that we so dearly love. So the next time you meet an agent that is not so pleasant to deal with, you might ask that person when the last time they went hunting was
I just want you to be better informed into how I see " life on the border"
Be well