Like cattle herded in for the kill, going to the United States Embassy for a visa is a demeaning experience. Once upon a time when the embassy was at its Oxford Road location, one could easily make an appointment online and run past the long lines - that was the benefit of preparing.

Now with its new location in Liguanea, persons are made to stand in the hot sun in long lines for a chance at a little slip of paper. Prior to going to the embassy I was under the belief that with an appointment getting a visa should not be a problem. It was then my shock to discover that those sweat-filled lines was my destination.

Persons stood arguing at the fact that carefully-thought-out time schedules were messed up by waiting in the merciless sun for everyone to see.

With the huge building that is the U.S. embassy, one would think the owners would have taken into consideration the comfort of their customers. After paying a $US100 just to apply, one deserves at least some shade.

PURPOSEFUL DISREGARD

The lack of cover implies a purposeful disregard of Jamaicans by the embassy - as if to say they want to come into the 'hallowed' walls of America - so let them stand in fire.

As if that wasn't bad enough, once you enter you are moved from place to place to await your slaughter and put through the drill. Nail files, nail clippers, anything metallic is considered a deadly weapon.

However, according to one man outside chanting tales of destruction, it is America we should look out for as the bar-codes given to us on each application is the 'sign' of the coming. "The end is near, yuh see dis code it tells yuh what blood type you are and how much hair deh pon yuh head!" he shouted.

At the end of the day getting a visa is just a matter of raffle and dip, a seemingly random selection of who they deem fit - not given on need or otherwise.