The 9/11 Effects on Human Rights around the World
There's always a warning when expressing our basic rights: the right to talk, the right to think; the right for reason; the right for want and so on and so forth.
The BIG question is: when did those rights become privilege? If we abide by the law being implemented in our country, those rights can be limited and can lead us to imprisonment if we abuse it.
I remember in high school on the subject about Social Studies, we were taught about the importance of human rights. It was officially incorporated by the UN (United Nations) General Assembly on December 10, 1948 - proclaiming the day as International Human Rights Day.
Massive killing, extra-judicial cases and all that problems on human rights violations abound in our time.The BIGGEST turning point was the apocalyptic 9/11 where all aspects of life around the world changed.
The repercussion of it can be felt around the world, the change of mankind's outlook on human rights.
The word 'trust' started to have a double meaning among Americans. The trauma is still going on. I felt that many of them become aloft with transient workers who are staying in their country or just passing by through the commercial vessels discharging and loading cargo at the US ports.
Personally, when issues like the aftereffects of 9/11 were tackled by US port personnel, there's a prominent hatred that are building whenever our cargoes came from the Middle East. The Al Qaeda (headed by Osama bin Laden) and other terrorist groups were always the point of discussion.
As a sailor, I've seen the situation of people in Iraq when we went there in 2004. Reactions vary among the locals because many ethnic groups want to be free from Saddam Hussein's rule while the extremists continue to destroy the development being offered by the Allied forces.
Back in the US homeland, the US Coast Guard started to impose the new regulations of the ISPS (International Ship and Port Facilty Security Code) to strictly watch for any breach of security that pose danger to the nation.
ISPS started in 2004. It is the amendment promulgated by 196 countries that are members of International Maritime Organization (IMO) to the SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) Convention. The 9/11 effects started to spread around the world through the maritime sector.
And I experienced some of it.
Other 9/11 effects
Aside from the health issues plaguing New York residents, I also want to share with you about the treatment of US airport personnel to all passengers visiting, working or just transitting in the homeland.
Once our commercial plane touched down the tarmac of US airport, passengers will be ushered to the arrival section. After retrieving one's luggages, passengers will be ushered by US Customs officers to the exit lane after inspecting and reviewing their passports and other documents.
For us, sailors who used to join our assigned commercial ships at US ports, the necessary documents are always required plus the passport and seaman's book.
"Are you here for business or pleasure?" It's the usual question that you should answer promptly. You can joke about it but custom officers are serious about it.
- I just noticed that our Muslim brothers and sisters are on separate lane. Sailors, as well ,are on different lane, so that the processing of arrival requirements will be faster. the rest of the passengers will occupy the regular lanes.
During the pre-9/11 days, US Customs are less strict about the arrivals of many passengers at the airport. But after 9/11, the usual scenes at the airport have different interpretation now.
Have you ever experienced that all your luggages are opened at the airport?
2. Look, most of the sailors have cartoon boxes when they are already going home for vacation or after finishing their contract onboard ship. One time, at Miami airport in 2003, our cartoonite boxes (as we call it) were opened by Miami airport customs personnel; some of them were Filipinos who already acquired their citizenship in the US. When they didn't find anything suspicious, they just left us hurrying to close our boxes with packaging tapes and try catching our next flight on time.
3. Liquids are strictly prohibited when boarding the plane. You can never bring bottled water or even toothpaste when you are checking in to your next flight. You have to leave, even the bottle of wine you bought from the Duty-Free shop inside the airport. Or even your perfume. Not a chance! You can never hand carry it; better put it inside the luggage you weighed in while the purser handed to you your plane ticket.
4. Taking photographs in the US or in some parts of the world are not the usual..1,2,3...CHEESE! There's always a caution not to take pictures while at port or the sensitive areas of the homeland, like bridges, markets and other public places that can be used by terrorist for massive attack. One time, our Greek captain was so enraged with the oiler that he took out the compact video tape from the seaman's video-camera, then broke it infront of him (to serve as an example to other sailors).
5. Ship's inspection is treated seriously these days; with proper documentation on it. Aside from the short and longterm surveys, the ships' security measures are part of ISPS Code. We can never go ashore if it's already alert level 2. You can never joke about drugs. It might trigger an unannounced Drug Inspection onboard ship (like what happened to us in Texas city port in 2007). Underwater survey should be conducted before departing from port.
Investigation on 9/11 aftermath are still going on, especially the people affected. There's a deep wound still waiting to be healed.
I've heard the news from a distance, but those who experienced the 9/11 chaos upfront; various negative emotions were released (trauma, apathy, hatred) and will continue to affect us when dealing about human rights.
The event was a clear human rights violations at a huge scale, including the invasion of US sovereignty.
They're still talking about it; as we do here on HubPages.