Well, I’m a post behind. Tuesday got away from me, and by the time I realized I hadn’t posted for the day, it was too late. Sorry about that. But it’s not like you’re waiting with bated breath for Glenn’s next installment.
As I think back on my week, I find myself back at the border crossing to Blaine, Washington on Sunday, creeping along on my motorcycle. It was the beginning of my usual Sunday morning ride, this one heading south to Anacortes. The morning was already hot, and the sun’s rays were beating down, mingling with the heat blasting from my complaining engine. As I sat sweltering in the barely moving line up, I watched with a mixture of longing and hatred as cars whizzed up in the Nexus lane beside me, quickly scanned their passes and were waved on through. Those bastards. I’ve seen this regularly at the airports where now Nexus holders scoot through with their noses in the air, leaving my fellow plebs and I in their dust. They always remind me of French Emersion school parents here in Canada, strutting about as if their kids are in Eton.
Then I remind myself why I do not hold one of those cards. I simply will not volunteer my fingerprints and other personal information just for the sake of keeping my life simple. We are all so caught up these days in speed and ease. We want everything, and we want it now, and we want it with as little discomfort as possible. How often do we consider what we are giving up for this? Are we so trusting in the powers that be? Or are we simply lazy?
We have spoken on a number of occasions in this blog about our desire to simplify our lives, and to reduce the excess and clutter of life. But this is one time where simplicity is not on, at least for me. I’ll take the clutter of people in the line up any day than give up what’s needed for this. An austerity of immediate gratification can only be a good thing. Don’t you think?
Glenn
Wow, Glenn! I can’t believe you just blogged what was in my head! I had to go from Sumas to Abbotsford and back last week. Watching those lucky people in the Nexus lane caused me to have some sociopathic thoughts! Told myself I was gonna look into Nexus. But, also not willing to give even one more piece of information to the government. So, I will sit with the unwashed masses in the long lines and be thankful that I didn’t have to submit to a mind probe.
I don’t often disagree with you Glenn, but having just traveled through San Fran, Charlotte, Chicago and Vancouver with, at times, only an hour between connecting flights, my NEXUS was a true blessing as it enabled me to avoid insane security line ups and customs line ups. Sitting at the Peace Arch border burning 2.5 hours worth of gas, as opposed to driving through in 10 mins is a hard argument to justify. I understand the philosophy of not wanting to “give it all” to Big Brother, but trust me they have it all already. Maybe not the physical finger print or Iris Scan, but the info …. it’s all there in the Big Data Stick in the Sky.
Anyways, we all have our limits as to how much we will wait, how much we will give etc….I have no problem with my fingerprints being out there as this way I’m assured that when my children are fed up with me and bury me in the back yard, I will be id’d, and if I see you in the “pleb” line, I’ll wait for you on the other side with a coffee or a beer, depending on time of day!!!
Happy riding………..