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Whale-ista
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Posts: 2009
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Location: San Diego
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Mood: Sunny with chance of whales
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Might be time to brush up on your US history/civics lessons...
Sharing as an FYI for anyone who might need to renew their passports sometime soon, after living outside the US for a while.
I'll post a brief note from near the end: "All citizens living abroad may be subject to informal investigation due to heightened security measure in
the USA before final submission of new passport requests."
This was posted on Facebook today by Joel Kenneth Minor who applied to renew his passport in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. He claims he was asked
the following questions and had this conversation with a State Department employee:
UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE: on the previous interview post yesterday.
Let me start by saying. We all know the government can get and see pretty much whatever they want to about is online. So there is no reason to hide
anything in this interview. Below is the questions and answers as close to the same order as I can remember. I have put a * next to the questions i
found strange and concerning. I will then follow with my thoughts. Like before in the original post above.
Q. Is your name Joel Kenneth Miner?
A.Yes.
Q. About 6 to 7 questions about dob. Social security number. Place of birth. Mother and fathers name. Basic info for identification purposes. (No
issues here.)
Q. Are you or any of your family member followers of the Islamic faith?
A. I have a brother who is a wounded veteran and practices Islam.
(This question is only slightly concerning but not enough for me to worry as there was no follow up about which brother or his name.)
Q. Did you vote for President Donald J. Trump?**
A. I do not wish to disclose my ballot selection at this time.
Q. Do you recognize President Donald J. Trump as the legal and authorized leader of the executive branch?***
A. I recognize him as the President chosen via electoral college to represent the U.S.A.
Q. Are you an Islamic sympathizer?
A. What do you mean?
Q. Do you believe the U.S.A is a Christian nation?***
A. Our country was founded on securalist beliefs that all men can worship how they choose without fear that the government will impose any one belief
on it's people.
Q. When did the USA obtain indepence?
A: we delcared independence on July 4th 1776 and obtained it after defeating the British Empire in the Revolutionary war in 1783 with the Treaty of
Paris. (Suprised look on his face. I love history)
Response: 1776 would have been fine.
Q: who leads the executive branch of government?
A. The president.
Q. Who is in charge of the legislative branch?
A. Congress
Q. Who leads the Judicial branch?
A. The supreme court.
Q. Who was the 1st president of the United states?
A. George Washington.
Q. Who was president during the Emancipation Proclamation?
A. Abraham Lincoln.
Q. Do you think a Muslim should be allowed to be President?***
A. Yes, if they meet all the requirements under the Constitution and obtain the votes.
Q. Do you believe that the USA is in a holy war with Islam?***
A. No but i think the government is using war and fear to increase corporate interests.
Q. Have you ever been arrested in protest of the US government?***
A. I have never been arrested in protest.
Q. Do you think the US should build a wall to protect our borders?**
A. Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses, yearning to breathe free.
(Gives a small smirk)
Q. If you were called to war would you answer?
A. I would support and defend the constitution of the United States of America.
Q. What is your religious affiliation?***
A. I refuse to answer at this time.
Q. Would you ever stand in protest of the US government or its officials?***
A. I will protect my nation against all enemies both foreign and DOMESTIC.
(Chokes in a laugh with a small cough.)
Q. Did you leave the USA to avoid legal action against you?
A. No
Q. Do you think Islam is a threat to the USA?****
A. No
Q. Do you consider yourself a patriot?**
A. I will defend my country and its people from any regime or government that shows its purpose is to deny or remove the individual freedoms so many
have died for. Be they foreign or domestic.
Q. Do you have anything you would like to add?
A. I love the USA. I did not choose to leave out of hate or anger or fear. I chose to take advantage of the freedom being a citizen of such a great
country affords me. I chose to travel, explore the depths of my spirituality, expand my knowledge and career and move forward on a life i choose
because of the freedom my country has. I will always love my native land and i will always support equality and justice for all.
(He nods)
Interviewer: slides a memo over which reads. All citizens living abroad may be subject to informal investigation due to heightened security measure in
the USA before final submission of new passport requests.
Pulls memo away.
Me. Sir this is not the same....
He cuts me off. Mr. Miner we all have a job to do don't we. No need to cause any problems. Your passport should be available for pick within the next
3 weeks. Have a good day.
Me. You too.
We shake hands and part.
There were some other questions intermittently about all the visas and stamps in my passport. Why i was requesting extra pages. A couple more about
work history and my military service but none that i think need to be added here. Thoughts below.
..........................................................
Overall I found the interview to be more about why i left, why so many places traveled. Basic questions about identity and some intense history of the
US government similar to what immigrants have to know for citizenship requests.
The questions about donald trump, immigration, war and my religion definatelu rubbed me the wrong way. Based off the previous memo compared to the new
one and the random placement of some of the questions (almost as of catching me off guard woudl reveal some hidden truth ) my gut tells me that this
is all a little fishy. I don't know if any of these investigative interviews will lead to any negative impact towards citizens or if it is just weird
questions mixed in with what i would find totally acceptable concerns for a citizen living abroad. It is almost as if donald trump got an interview
form for citizneship and added his own questions in order to boost his ego.
Overall i think we should be cautious and pay attention to what we are asked and how we respond but i find this more amusing now then disheartening.
There were even moment where it was obviius the interviewer was as shocked as i was by some of the questions he was asking. I dont think this is a
witch hunt (yet) and i think as more people exeperience these types of interviews my hope is that the silly non pertinant questions will eventually
find their way out.
Be careful and continue to educate ones self.
\"Probably the airplanes will bring week-enders from Los Angeles before long, and the beautiful poor bedraggled old town will bloom with a
Floridian ugliness.\" (John Steinbeck, 1940, discussing the future of La Paz, BCS, Mexico)
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WhackAMolE
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Posts: 121
Registered: 1-6-2014
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"Q. Do you recognize President Donald J. Trump as the legal and authorized leader of the executive branch?***"
This does not pass the smell test. Fake news. If it happened to your brother in law that's one thing. If it's just something someone posted on
Facebook I don't believe it. Not with those questions.
"Q. Do you consider yourself a patriot?**"
Come on, man. That's a troll post. If I'm wrong I'll say so. Any evidence this is for real?
"Q. Who was president during the Emancipation Proclamation?
That's like one of those videos where they ask random people about US history. Jay Leno Jaywalking type stuff. The average person has no idea. This
post is a fake.
[Edited on 2-2-2017 by WhackAMolE]
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BornFisher
Super Nomad
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I went red flags all over this too. If this is real, I`m stunned.
Fake news I bet!!
"When you catch a fish, you open the door of happiness."
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
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Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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Facebook link, please
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Whale-ista
Super Nomad
Posts: 2009
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Location: San Diego
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Mood: Sunny with chance of whales
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Here is the link:
https://www.facebook.com/joel.k.miner?fref=nf&pnref=stor...
I didn't post a FB link in the initial post since some people have commented they don't like to visit FB pages. I was trying to make it easier to read
his story.
As I noted: it's an FYI.
\"Probably the airplanes will bring week-enders from Los Angeles before long, and the beautiful poor bedraggled old town will bloom with a
Floridian ugliness.\" (John Steinbeck, 1940, discussing the future of La Paz, BCS, Mexico)
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karenintx
Senior Nomad
Posts: 538
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Facebook...Falsebook...Fishbook
The biggest "False News" contributor.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
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Location: Punta Banda
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Total beer bar BS.
"YOU CAN'T LITTER ALUMINUM"
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Rainer
Junior Nomad
Posts: 65
Registered: 1-16-2007
Location: Las Cruces, NM
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Those questions for RENEWING your Passport?
Total BS.
I could see SOME of those questions for visa applicants.........
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Bajaboy
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4375
Registered: 10-9-2003
Location: Bahia Asuncion, BCS, Mexico
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Might be time to delete this thread
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motoged
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6481
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Better do it right away....don't want folks to think this might be happening....
Don't believe everything you think....
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chuckie
Elite Nomad
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Canadians have to sign in blood...
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motoged
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6481
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Ah, yes...the American way....
Don't believe everything you think....
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BajaBlanca
Select Nomad
Posts: 13212
Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
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OMGosh How crazy if it were true.
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TMW
Select Nomad
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Location: Bakersfield, CA
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Interesting
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danzanti
Newbie
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A sad testament to the current state of affairs that we need to pause and wonder if this is fake news.
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David K
Honored Nomad
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... and if you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor...
???
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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 19275
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
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Mood: Hot n spicy
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Did YOU lose your doctor?
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Barry A.
Select Nomad
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I did, and then could not find another-----------none of them wanted to tend to those on Govt. programs including Medicare, ObamaCare, or Medical. I
FINALLY found one that would take me, but not my first choice by a long shot. It was pretty crazy there, for a few months without a doctor.
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motoged
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6481
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Location: Kamloops, BC
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David,
Who lost their jobs? Do you have any evidence to back that up?
And while you are at it, what personality traits and administrative skills has your guy impressed you with?
Don't believe everything you think....
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paranewbi
Senior Nomad
Posts: 913
Registered: 4-15-2011
Location: San diego
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"Who lost their jobs? Do you have any evidence to back that up?"
YES but I won't out them by name as I don't have their permission...
Several acquaintances did not exactly lose their jobs they just had their hours from full time cut below the 32 hour threshold for insurance
requirements on the employer. And then when they went for a second job because they couldn't live on the reduced hours they were only offered such as
6 hours (Walmart) or a required 30 hours. The result is several of my friends work 3 jobs (none providing insurance thus money out of their pocket for
such) or work 60 plus hours to maintain their life style (of course that raises their wage and requires a greater percentage of the insurance they
purchase paid for).
On the other hand...my friends who own small businesses (Donut shop, Construction, etc.) cut the hours of their staff and hired more PART TIME
employees to cover the hours cut for staff all to avoid the unaffordable position of providing insurance which essentially would come from their
paycheck (profits). Their own workload increased under this because now they handle more employees to do the same amount of work.
Does that answer your question?
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