I have been a legal and productive professional who has been a swiss immigrant for the past 8 years. I travel globally for my work, and the recent executive order to detain persons with a valid work visa at airports who were returning to their families and homes struck a chord. Details like country of origin and country of residence aside, I am just like many of the people held without access to legal council, water, food, or explanation in the US airports this past week. There is no rational justification for treating people that way without reasonable suspicion that person was up to no good.

Without going into a rant on the topic, which disturbs me on a very deep level because of the family and friends I have back in the States who are affected by the current state of affairs, I am concerned about reciprical attitudes or treatment as I travel internationally for work. I am concerned that my blue passport with the eagle on it will further impact people's first impression of me through no fault of my own, since I did not choose what country to be born in. I am pretty sure I do not want to get into heated political debates with people, and I am pretty sure I need to continue to travel around airports and continents to be effective at my job. At 49, it would not be an ideal time to seek a new line of work.

Does anyone have any suggestions or pointers on how to avoid confrontations and difficult situations which may arise if the trend of irrational actions that annoy/anger/provoke other nations by my government at home? It has already been difficult to sort out a lack of access to much of the swiss financial consultants and banks, as many do not want the business of American clients because of our Government's heavy handed behaviors with the FACTA laws. I see the current actions as highly likely to exacerbate the situation.

I do not expect everyone on the planet to welcome me with open arms, and I would not fault others for having a diminished opinion of Americans. I am more than willing to be pleasantly surprised, but barring that, does anyone have any pointers on how I can avoid/deal with any situations driven by current political events? I know many people in the cities of Switzerland are from all over the world, and some may be from countries who have done stupid and embarassing things, even if not on the grand scale my country of origin is presently pushing out there. How should I handle this?

Blame the American people and American politics of the last 30 years. Let people know that it has been the continue failing of administrations since Reagan to address domestic issues that has lead to an increasingly polarized electorate who feel their needs aren't addressed.

While those things may be true, will blaming people and governments get me out of a real jam?

I think you're trying to create a situation that will rarely arise, if at all, to be honest.
I'm originally from the UK, and not one person has given me a hard time because of the Brexit vote.

No, but an extraordinary number of people take the pi##

Not even had that to be honest, but some have asked my opinion about it.

I've had one, my OH's 78yr old aunt in Athens. It wasn't fun.
At least Trump hasn't stuck his dick in a pig's head yet, as our last PM did (allegedly).

I think the vast majority of people recognise this is one man and his slithy tove cronies and not the American people as a whole. Whilst GWB's administration may have caused some anti-American sentiment in some places, all I see now is pity / empathy for dismayed Americans. I know that my OH has been comparing Trump's ideas with the likes of one of the Papandreous in Greece and some of the apartheid leaders he grew up with in SA, and has spent a good deal of time talking to his American friends.

You should be rightly be proud of your nationality and your country without being approving of it's current administration or held accountable for it.

You should keep a supply of Swiss chocolate in your pockets. Every time you have to show your passport, slide one between the pages.

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What real jam exactly?

Strawberry

Take elocution lessons from a Brit, do not wear a Stetson, keep very quiet in public, smile, nod & mutter Brexit from time to time.

So, let me take a wild guess here, you're either from Cali, namely SanFran or the East Coast, NYC or Connecticut. The whining does definitely sound SanFranish but the vociferous desperation makes me think of NYC.

Grew up in NJ suburbs of NYC, worked for some years in Cali... I am admittedly whiny, vociferous and presently there is a bit of desperation, perhaps unwarranted, creeping in.

I realize my concerns are probably silly and real problems are unlikely to come up. Does not stop my wheels from spinning sometimes though. I am plain old embarrassed that my country is treating its visitors, many of whom were invited, so poorly.

There are numerous threads you could add you whining to - why did you choose to start a new "me me me, look at me, my worries are genuine, me me me, whiny whiny whiny, me me me" thread?

Proudly wear this button

To be honest, on some of those threads I've lost track of precisely what we're whining about.

Fixed that for you, stick with the red wine!

I had just one goal - to annoy Dodgyken ever so slightly.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

Bless - you think that annoyed me. You are confusing "annoyed" with "bemused".

I do enjoy Americans reminding the RoW why they are so loved.