From a distance

[prasad1]

Share:

Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn WhatsApp Email Share Link

This thread is for non-usa haters.
I liked the Lyrics.

[video=youtube;aDSh5wUtXt4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=aDSh5wUtXt4[/video]
From A Distance Lyrics by Bette Midler












From a distance the world looks blue and green,
and the snow-capped mountains white.
From a distance the ocean meets the stream,
and the eagle takes to flight.


From a distance, there is harmony,
and it echoes through the land.
It's the voice of hope, it's the voice of peace,
it's the voice of every man.


From a distance we all have enough,
and no one is in need.
And there are no guns, no bombs, and no disease,
no hungry mouths to feed.


From a distance we are instruments
marching in a common band.
Playing songs of hope, playing songs of peace.
They're the songs of every man.
God is watching us. God is watching us.
God is watching us from a distance.


From a distance you look like my friend,
even though we are at war.
From a distance I just cannot comprehend
what all this fighting is for.


From a distance there is harmony,
and it echoes through the land.
And it's the hope of hopes, it's the love of loves,
it's the heart of every man.


It's the hope of hopes, it's the love of loves.
This is the song of every man.
And God is watching us, God is watching us,
God is watching us from a distance.
Oh, God is watching us, God is watching.
God is watching us from a distance.

 

[Raji Ram]

S! The lyrics are GREAT!!

But, from nearby?? (just kidding)

P.S:

From a distance the world looks blue and green,

This song is about the world, I guess...

 

[prasad1]

S! The lyrics are GREAT!!

But, from nearby?? (just kidding)

P.S: This song is about the world, I guess...

You can always increase the font size. LOL and then you can see from distance.ray2:

 

[Raji Ram]

You can always increase the font size. LOL and then you can see from distance.ray2:

Very true, dear Sir!

That is what is said usually, when I learnt advance music from our Guru Prof. Dr. S. Ramanathan.

The notations I write - I am an expert - will be visible even for the mAmis sitting in the third and final row! :thumb:

P.S: I maintain this BBB - bold, blue & beautiful - font, so that people can read form a distance and know that the post is from me!!! :lol:

 

[manoharkumar]

This thread is for non-usa haters.

Dear prasad Sir,
GM. I dont understand why in many a place you mention USA-Haters, Non-USA haters? Do you really feel that so many anti-usa are here? I donr think so. Every country has its own charm, greatness, legacy, uniqueness, tradition, culture, history, colours, mountains , rivers, plants, animals and what not?. Given a chance anybody would like to visit the otherside of their place of domicile. All are not lucky enough to travel to the different part of the world, so why shoud there be haters?. May be the hate as you call is against certain policies or views of the people & govt of that place. Thats all i feel . Correct me if my opinion is wrong.
BTW the lyrics are really beautifull as you have mentioned. Cheers.

 

[prasad1]

Dear prasad Sir,
GM. I dont understand why in many a place you mention USA-Haters, Non-USA haters? Do you really feel that so many anti-usa are here? I donr think so. Every country has its own charm, greatness, legacy, uniqueness, tradition, culture, history, colours, mountains , rivers, plants, animals and what not?. Given a chance anybody would like to visit the otherside of their place of domicile. All are not lucky enough to travel to the different part of the world, so why shoud there be haters?. May be the hate as you call is against certain policies or views of the people & govt of that place. Thats all i feel . Correct me if my opinion is wrong.
BTW the lyrics are really beautifull as you have mentioned. Cheers.

The Taliban or Al-quida hate innocent people of various country just because other are more successful than them. Similarly there are some in this site, who will start jumping up and down if one appreciates anything other that TBs.

 

[C RAVI]

Dear prasad Sir,
GM. I dont understand why in many a place you mention USA-Haters, Non-USA haters? Do you really feel that so many anti-usa are here? I donr think so. Every country has its own charm, greatness, legacy, uniqueness, tradition, culture, history, colours, mountains , rivers, plants, animals and what not?. Given a chance anybody would like to visit the otherside of their place of domicile. All are not lucky enough to travel to the different part of the world, so why shoud there be haters?. May be the hate as you call is against certain policies or views of the people & govt of that place. Thats all i feel . Correct me if my opinion is wrong.
Cheers.

:thumb:

 

[Raghy]

The Taliban or Al-quida hate innocent people of various country just because other are more successful than them. Similarly there are some in this site, who will start jumping up and down if one appreciates anything other that TBs.

Sri. Prasad, Greetings.

I have no desire to visit USA even as tourist. I have crossed US ports many times in transit while I worked in Canada. Everytime my experience was just bitter. Just because I was born in India and I have brown skin, always I was treated like a terrorist. Funny thing is, my passport is Australian. Once in Housten, while in transit one very 'smart' immigration officer asked.. " how did you obtain an Australian passport?".... Most often they counter check with Australian mission... in that instance after sidelining me for about 20 minutes, this officer inside said to me.. " welcome to USA sir! you may stay up to 90 days without renewing this entry visa!"... I said to him " why? Why would I enter your country after getting this kind of welcome? or are you sending me in for more ill treatments inside by other Americans? Thanks. i am in transit. I will not visit your country".

Al-quida may hate innocent people; so do American immigrant officials hate any male with a beard ( even if it is trimmed) born in India travelling alone. I honestly hate to travel throughany American port.

Cheers!

 

[manoharkumar]

Dear Raghy Sir,

I can understand your feelings. We do come across such things happening in USA.Even Dr.APJ was made to go thru the checking even though he was our President. But would not you like to see the great nation as such?
It so happens that even if we have not seen a person in our life we form an opinion just be reading about him or hearing from some one him, either positive or negative. That form the base for our hate or love. Even without seeing or meeting world hates lot of people(like, osama or gadaffi etc).. I did not have any hate or like for Elam Tiger Prabhakaran.But on hearing his death i felt so moved..i do not know why, but i could not eat well for two or three days. i have made it a point not to hate anybody...let me see if i can continue to do so and spread love instead of hate?

In your place anybody would take the same decision what u have taken. மதியாதார் வாசல் மிதிக்கவேண்டாம்?

Cheers.

 

[Raghy]

Dear Raghy Sir,

I can understand your feelings. We do come across such things happening in USA.Even Dr.APJ was made to go thru the checking even though he was our President. But would not you like to see the great nation as such?
It so happens that even if we have not seen a person in our life we form an opinion just be reading about him or hearing from some one him, either positive or negative. That form the base for our hate or love. Even without seeing or meeting world hates lot of people(like, osama or gadaffi etc).. I did not have any hate or like for Elam Tiger Prabhakaran.But on hearing his death i felt so moved..i do not know why, but i could not eat well for two or three days. i have made it a point not to hate anybody...let me see if i can continue to do so and spread love instead of hate?

In your place anybody would take the same decision what u have taken. மதியாதார் வாசல் மிதிக்கவேண்டாம்?

Cheers.

Dear Sri. Manohar Kumar, Greetings.

As you mentioned, the treatment given to the Ex- President of India shows the arrogance of the immigration officials in the thin cover of 'security'.

At one time at Honolulu, i bluntly said to the official " you would only suspect decent citizens in transit like me! but would roll out red carpet for real terrorists!".. He didn't like my comment... and I didn't like his treatment given to the 'Indian born' either! What can they do? deny me entry to USA? Who cares? I was only in transit!

I know it is a beautiful country. but I don't like to go through the ill treatment by the immigration officials. I was born in India and i refuse to take it if someone thinks I can be ill treated for that.

I had lot of online friends from USA. In 2006 whe I was depressed in a big way, these persons used to contact me everyday to cheer me up. That was a forum of very open minded people.. I mentioned about my hatred towards their immigration officials to them too. I don't hate anyone off handedly; only after getting ill treated few times by the US immigration officials I started hating any US ports. Otherwise I don't want to 'hate' anyone.

Cheers!

 

[biswa]

The US is is not alone in the world when it comes to rude immigration officials. Australia is known to be one of the worst when it comes to racist behavior. Both my sister traveling with family and my 73 yr old dad on a different occasion were subjected to the high-handed behavior of Australian officials (including secondary screening).

Come to think of it, even Indian immigration officials can be rude, specially to Indians.

 

[Raghy]

The US is is not alone in the world when it comes to rude immigration officials. Australia is known to be one of the worst when it comes to racist behavior. Both my sister traveling with family and my 73 yr old dad on a different occasion were subjected to the high-handed behavior of Australian officials (including secondary screening).

Come to think of it, even Indian immigration officials can be rude, specially to Indians.

Sri. biswa, Greetings.

I am sad to hear about the ill treatment your sister had to endure by Australian officials in Australia. There is a strong grievance procedure in place in Australia. I suggest you to lodge a grievance about that incident, please. You will get justice for that.

Cheers!

 

[tbs]

Sri. Prasad, Greetings.

I have no desire to visit USA even as tourist. I have crossed US ports many times in transit while I worked in Canada. Everytime my experience was just bitter. Just because I was born in India and I have brown skin, always I was treated like a terrorist. Funny thing is, my passport is Australian. Once in Housten, while in transit one very 'smart' immigration officer asked.. " how did you obtain an Australian passport?".... Most often they counter check with Australian mission... in that instance after sidelining me for about 20 minutes, this officer inside said to me.. " welcome to USA sir! you may stay up to 90 days without renewing this entry visa!"... I said to him " why? Why would I enter your country after getting this kind of welcome? or are you sending me in for more ill treatments inside by other Americans? Thanks. i am in transit. I will not visit your country".

Al-quida may hate innocent people; so do American immigrant officials hate any male with a beard ( even if it is trimmed) born in India travelling alone. I honestly hate to travel throughany American port.

Cheers!

hi raghy sir,
i can understand your pain....this very common in UK/USA/AUSTRALIA too...i heard many times...when you travel in British Airways/

Quantas....they treat differently based on your skin color/language too....im not supporting USA.....மஞ்சள் காமாலை உள்ளவனுக்கு ...பார்த்ததெல்லாம் மஞ்சள் ....அது மாதிரி தான்....

 

[Raghy]

hi raghy sir,
i can understand your pain....this very common in UK/USA/AUSTRALIA too...i heard many times...when you travel in British Airways/

Quantas....they treat differently based on your skin color/language too....im not supporting USA.....மஞ்சள் காமாலை உள்ளவனுக்கு ...பார்த்ததெல்லாம் மஞ்சள் ....அது மாதிரி தான்....

Sri. TBS sir, Greetings.

The treatment by US immigration officials is not just my personal feeling. I know what is the usual treatment. I received it so many times in Australia. That's why I could pin point the arrogance so easily. Only once I did not have to go through such treatment in LA. I actually stopped to thank the official for not being rude to me although I was born in India! he also accepted the norm in such adverse behaviours. No, I was not imagining. I am sure others i this forum may have gone through similar experiences; only I am vocal about it.

My wife really like to go to USA for a holiday. But she doesn't want to go through the ill treatment at the immigration either.

My experience in canada was very nice. Once my wife visited me in Toronto; she was on her own. When the immigration official learned she was on her own, my wife said she was made welcome and was promised all kinds of assistance.

I went to Australia in 1990. Went to a large town known for racisim. I was made welcome; that official gave as much information as possible to get settled. Offered more help if required. When my wife and son came few months later, one of the immigration officer was pushing the trolly with my wife's luggage when she went through customs.

In Australia a portion of the population may harbor racist attitudes but not the immigration officials. In USA the population are just great, like I said I had many online friends... but the immigration officials were mostly arrogant.

Cheers!

 

[tbs]

Sri. TBS sir, Greetings.

The treatment by US immigration officials is not just my personal feeling. I know what is the usual treatment. I received it so many times in Australia. That's why I could pin point the arrogance so easily. Only once I did not have to go through such treatment in LA. I actually stopped to thank the official for not being rude to me although I was born in India! he also accepted the norm in such adverse behaviours. No, I was not imagining. I am sure others i this forum may have gone through similar experiences; only I am vocal about it.

My wife really like to go to USA for a holiday. But she doesn't want to go through the ill treatment at the immigration either.

My experience in canada was very nice. Once my wife visited me in Toronto; she was on her own. When the immigration official learned she was on her own, my wife said she was made welcome and was promised all kinds of assistance.

I went to Australia in 1990. Went to a large town known for racisim. I was made welcome; that official gave as much information as possible to get settled. Offered more help if required. When my wife and son came few months later, one of the immigration officer was pushing the trolly with my wife's luggage when she went through customs.

In Australia a portion of the population may harbor racist attitudes but not the immigration officials. In USA the population are just great, like I said I had many online friends... but the immigration officials were mostly arrogant.

Cheers!

hi raghy sir,
sometimes USA is better than india....even in india ....we get same ugly treatment from immigration officials in india too...

i had experience in ottawa, canada too...i was there for some years in canada too...but canadian approach is different from

USA...

 

[prasad1]

The rude behavior by immigration officer is common to Human race. Power corrupts and cultivates arrogance.
But the thread was about the song, please read the lyrics and listen to the song. We can always bitch about our experience with rude immigration, customs, police, and security officers later.:focus::focus:

 

[kunjuppu]

as one who travels out of canada often, i can relate to this thread.

i agree that usa officials are among the most rude. generally. it depends on the country i think. i go out of toronto airport, and you find most of them pleasant. wishing you a happy flight and stay. and many a times we get a smile, particularly from the men. it may be because they dont feel 'threatened' by canadians. yes, for canadians, going to usa, the u.s. immigration is done in canada itself. so that once we land in usa, we go out just like domestic passengers.

i have heard that the usa officers in chennai are rude, as a rule. more intent on refusing than issueing the visa. i have had the same experience, the first time, i applied for canadian visa, in 1973, in new delhi. the guy was a bastard. i had to seek help from a highly placed uncle who could pull strings with the canadian embassy, and get my visa. so no one ever believe, that influence never works. it is all, about whom you know

contrast to this in frankfurt, i am never asked any question. they just stamp my passport, and verifying it with their machine. only one incident stood out, and this was in the early 2000s when sri lankan conflict was at its height. the from chennai flight, when it landed at frankfurt, was halted out in the open field, and the officers came in to verify. all the white goes left first, with perfunctory checks. those with e.u. passports just waved it, and were okayed in. the coloured folks, we were asked for our passport, and my canadian one, was checked with a portable microscope, and then i was let in. i remember being angry, but there were lots of sri lankan tamils claiming refugee status. and the germans were trying to control the flow, i guess.

the most polite ones are in london england. about 30 years ago, when self and mrs K were going to london for the first time, as a couple, and mrs K still had her indian passport, the officer queried us for about 1/2 hour about our life in canada and such. it was such a polite interrogation, that my wife did not think anything about it, till i told her, that the english do a good job of 'screwing you', so well, that even the victim 'likes' it. nowadays i pass by london about 3 or 4 times, in transit, and always, within 30 seconds i am out.

japan, another polite but very racist. i was in narita, in transit with a whole day wait. we decided to check out. all the japanese went off first (separate lanes). the whites went .we were asked to wait. all left was a sri lankan buddhist monk and myself. i was with my children and all with canadian passport. about 4 officers gathered, and with the polite bowing and smiling, went through like with a toothcomb over all my luggage. then he showed me pictures of marijuana plants and other drugs, and asked me if i was carrying it. my older son was old enough to realize what was happening. but i politely answered and at the same time, since these guys english was bad, was narrating to my son, about the japanese racism.

back in narita, the buddhist monk had even rougher time than us. if i recall, they were not even that polite to him, even though he had the monk habit, and japan is a place where buddhism is respected (!).

this flight incidentally originated at bangkok. there were 6 lanes for japan airlines. the last one a bit away from the other 5, but the local airport officials assured me that indeed this was a JAL lane. there was also a JAL board. we stood first there. none of the japanese who came after us, joined us, all opting for the other 5 lanes, quite long. then the whites came, and after enquiring with me, joined our lanes. once the whites joined, immediately, the japanese jumped queue and stood behind us i had the chance to show my children, japanese prejudice and racism first hand here

returning canadians at toronto airport, in the 70s, through 90s. always complained, there was different treatment for whites, as opposed to coloured. i can vouch for that. i returned from a daytime usa business trip. all my colleagues were let through, and i had to go for inspection, where the guy was upset with the officer who sent me there, and apologized to me. but the queries even now, are probing, except more polite, because when you land in toronto now, you would find there are many indians and chinese as immigration officers. most of these are part time university students, with minimal training. white women are the most reserved, though there are exceptions. older white men, generally are friendly.

i have had only good experiences (mostly neutral) from indian customs. though i have seen them give heck to some returning NRI from gulf areas.

i think, with fair confidence, the above generalization holds true. atleast from experiences so far. all depends on the passport you carry.

 

[amala]

I'm soo in a rant mood today . I want to take this opportunity to rant about my wonderful fellow passengers. What is up with them anyway? Indian passengers in my experience tend to misbehave alot more on the flight. A heck of a lot more especcially when intoxicated and especially the ones not from the south, east or west . Some years ago i had to travel alone from KL to Hyd (direct flight). This was my first time travelling all alone for my cousins wedding and my parents had left earlier. I took a book with me and all that. I ended up sitting on an empty 4 seater in the middle and the next aisle to mine were this group of loud men from the land of plenty rivers lol. The staring and the grief i got was so annoying. It got worse after they had drowned in whisky. I only thank the lord almighty that i didnt understand a word of what they were saying! Sadly for them they probably thought i did. The poor stewardess got it worse though.

Another annoying moment. When we were returning from our said trip, this loud Telugu guy and his family were somehow given special treatment just because he had an American passport (so yeah i guess passports matter alot). They jumped the queue much to the anger of everyone else. The ironic thing is this guy and family was totally unpolished, crude, total lack of finesse and the kind who even after spending a gazillion years in Swiss finishing schools would think etiquette was French food!

Sigh! Travelling was wayy better in them days where only some could fly as opposed to now what with budget airlines and all, everyone can fly! Frankly these days getting on a plane is like taking the bus. The poshness of it all has vanished!

PS: The snooty bit was tongue in cheek, albeit only just so. I still think budget airlines are the bane of us classy travellers and the beginning of the end. Its becoming like the French revolution these days

 

[amala]

Australian immigration is really good to Malaysian and Singaporean Indians though. Nobody ever gets any grief. Only once my mum who signed that she was not carrying raw food was given a talking to because she was in fact carrying raw cashew nuts and urugai for my sister in Perth at that time. The guy asked her if she could read and write English and when my father tried to intervene he told my dad am i talking to you? lol But other than that, my sister herself has extremely positive opinions on Aussies and their immigration.

Unfortunately Indian passport holders especially if youre from the Punjab i've heard have a very hard time with the immigration and most of the times they are asking for it. Never be too proud or act uppity. Many times I've seen how they treat their own stewardesses like their housemaids. I doubt white stewards and stewardesses will put up with it. We should learn to respect them and their job. That is key. Just because we've paid for the seat, it doesnt mean we are allowed to torture them and harass them.

 

[kunjuppu]

amala,

here is a funny story for you.

a relative of mine from new zealand got the hots for our sambhar vengayam (shallots). which is not available in new zealand.

her brother was visiting her, and she told him to get a couple of kilos. which the dutiful brother did. inspite of warnings from his fellow countrymen and also on the entry form. sure enough, on landing in auckland, he denies any fresh food, and the sniffing dogs (beagles i think) caught him out. i think, in retrospective, he himself had misgivings, but was poo poo'd by his sister.

he spent the next 24 hours in custody. too angry and embarassed to hoot. whatever fine he had to pay, he is not telling. as he carried a singapore passport, i think, he had less hassles. had it been an indian one, i dont know if he would have been sent back.

talking of forbidden goods, we took a bag of banana chips (they make them good here, better than india). on landing in sydney, i dutifully told the officer about it, etc..it being a dry fried food et al. he thanked (!) me for my honesty (?) and suggested that i drop it right in front of him in the garbage. it was so golden and yummy looking 4 lbs of banana chips, i had a sneaky suspicion, this guy was going to grab it and take it to his home

i have heard of indians being hassled by usa customs. pickles and vaththals thrown out. my uncle (who was very ritualistically religious) came with a few small idols and a spatikam. the customs guy was flummoxed by this odd shaped article, and would not believe my uncle's explanations. it was only after an hour of isolation, and intervention from his boss, that he was let through. this happened in boston, about 20 years ago...

overall, i think customs officers have become wiser with exposure. though exception still may be saudi arabia - any of our God pictures or articles, is thrown out mercilessly. still.

 

[tbs]

hi
i like to my experience in USA immigration...i used to carry my saligramam with me always , ...whenever i go to india....once

i was coming from india...the usa immigration officials...i had indian passport....the officer specialised in indian products at washington dc...

he asked me abt saligramam...i told every thing....only problem was i had tulasi leaves and malligai poo in my saligramam box....

he told me to remove tulasi leaves and malligai poo...i did...then he allowed carry my saligramam...i never had problem....

everything based on our own behavior and understanding the law of the land....

 

[prasad1]

hi
i like to my experience in USA immigration...i used to carry my saligramam with me always , ...whenever i go to india....once

i was coming from india...the usa immigration officials...i had indian passport....the officer specialised in indian products at washington dc...

he asked me abt saligramam...i told every thing....only problem was i had tulasi leaves and malligai poo in my saligramam box....

he told me to remove tulasi leaves and malligai poo...i did...then he allowed carry my saligramam...i never had problem....

everything based on our own behavior and understanding the law of the land....

I agree with your post.
But we also set a pattern for people like us, it is human nature to profile (I know it is wrong). So a bad apple spoils the whole basket.

 

[amala]

surely I'm not the only one here with stories about my fellow passengers?

 

[tbs]

surely I'm not the only one here with stories about my fellow passengers?

hi amala garu,
i used to travel to india either by KLM/BA.....i never had problem with fellow passengers....i had once travelled by AIR INDIA

from Dubai to chennai...i had similar problem....becoz indian flight...indian passengers....india air hostess....so the problem

is also indian...typical indian problem....all kinds of things.....i like British Airways to chennai from London....i had nice experiences

with fellow passengers....