Total hogwash! Have you left your brain ashore?

The article never mentioned "non-English speaking," it mentioned "Slovenian
nationals," which I take to imply non-US-citizens. While documentation does not
require knowledge of English, it absolutely requires US citizenship. The poster
described a situation where, if true, people are fraudulently claiming to be US
citizens to gain some protection of traveling under a US flag.

I never suggested boarding boats based on the linguistic abilities of the crew;
on the contrary, I was suggesting checking out boats that were flying a US flag,
nominally claiming to be US citizens.

Frankly my comments were a bit sarcastic, because I doubt the practice mentioned
is widespread. However, if it is common, it should be stopped because it does
not bode well for those of who legitimately travel under the US flag.







"Geoffrey W. Schultz" wrote in message
7...
In the article which prompted your response it was stated that US
flagged vessels are being operated by non-English speaking individuals.
From your statement it appears that you want to US coastguard to board
these vessels based upon their language and potentially sieze them.
Most people would call this "racial profiling."

There's nothing in the US consitution or US Coastguard documentation
regulations which requires anyone to speak English. I know plenty of
Croation people who are US citizens who do not speak English. Sending a
Coastguard cutter to harass non-English speaking individuals, who may be
well within the law, seems to be a poor idea. As someone who cruises 7+
month per year out of the country I can assure you that the US has a
poor enough world image as it is.

-- Geoff

"Jeff Morris" wrote in
:

I'm not sure what your problem is - why shouldn't the USCG be able to
board a US flagged ship? Why would this offend others around the
world?


"Geoffrey W. Schultz" wrote in message
7...
"Jeff Morris" wrote in
:

However, being a US flagged vessel means that it can be boarded and
searched anywhere in the world by US authorities. Maybe we should
send a cutter to the Adriatic to help close the budget deficit.

Another fine example of American thinking on how to make friends
around the world! Then again we're doing a great job with our
current policies.

-- Geoff