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Design of New U.S. Passport
Well, there it is -- a new design for U.S. passports. Let me be the first to say that it looks pretty damn ugly, and not because it's got Dick Cheney's mug on it. (OK, it's not him ... but still!) Honestly, I thought this was a joke when I first saw it. According to the U.S. Department of State's website, the design will "reflect the varied landscapes of our country and each page will include a quote reflecting the hope and success that is the United States of America."
Sample pages include images of Mount Rushmore, bald eagles, the Liberty Bell, the moon, and other things American. I forgot we own the moon.
Anyway, I think it's pretty ugly. But it does "incorporate updated security features," so I guess not all is lost.
Check it out.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 10)
James Apr 1st 2008 3:21AM
I'm a proud American. It is just the passport's design that I am embarrassed by. And some of the presidential quotes are simply trite and boring. The US Government could have done a much better job of designing it.
Amerigo Vespucci Oct 29th 2008 10:03AM
I am proud to be an American, proud to be a man, proud to be white, proud to be the son of rich parents, and proud to have the size where it matters. These are all my personal accomplishments, so I am proud to be proud of them.
People who do not like the new design and publicly say so should all move to France or its neighboring countries like Iran or Sweden. God knows I'm a tolerant person, but as every good American I am sickened by freedom of speech where I see it used inappropriately.
Abroad, every true American used to be plainly distinguishable as such by his enormous obesity. Now the unpatriotic scrawny dildos will at least be identified as Americans by their passport immediately. But of course you nay-sayers don't even look at these aspects, you're too obsessed with being anti-American, living in your own tiny world, not seeing the bigger picture. And I would proudly die if Osama bin Laden captured me because of my passport and gave me an anthrax enema.
God bless this great country and smite its foes!
vivi Apr 24th 2009 3:02PM
I don't care how it looks as long as it works for me. I'll understand better people were angry if the government required us to tattoo our American citizenship with designs somewhere on our bodies. But a passport ? There's plenty of people who would gladly have an American passport no matter how it looks like as long as they have their freedom and opportunities that they don't have in other countries. Some people like it, others don't. Not everyone will be happy with everything. I don't see the big deal but that's just me and my opinion.
zilla Apr 24th 2009 3:19PM
My friend who is now living here from Uganda says that she can't wait until she becomes a citizen and gets the passport with new design representing freedom and liberty that she didn't have in her country. She says she fought hard to get here and that passport will remind her of her struggles, lost, sacrifices, and gains. She is sad and can't understand how some Americans have little appreciation and much dislike of the new design. I told her, some people just have it so good that they don't see the whole picture and others think they have it so bad that they look for anything to load off their feelings on about their country.
David May 15th 2009 2:59PM
I don't care if it had a picture of Ronald McDonald's on it as long as it helps me get around and back to my home sweet home. I love USA .. woohooo !
Ken Apr 30th 2009 3:02PM
One thing most people here are missing:
How will stamps look admist this colorful pastry of over-zealous nationalism.
Okay, here's my entry stamp into Frankfurt, Germany. You can't really see it because the stamp is black and it's stamped near the Liberty Bell. Oh, and here's my stamp entry from my land crossing from Shenzhen to Hong Kong. You have to look hard again because it's stamped in the black spot of the Moon.
And my dual national Japanese passport? It's plain and simple: White! Easy to see all stamps when you entered and when you left.
fernando Sep 28th 2009 9:31PM
so does it have a chip that plays the national anthem when you open it.
Kristi Apr 16th 2007 5:46PM
It is indeed extraordinary. In a "Hey, look what I purchased at the interstate truck stop souvenir store!" kind of way.
Seriously - not only is it poorly designed and unattractive, but do we need such an overload of flashy Americana on a document that we might be taking into countries where we Americans are not... well, let's just say not necessarily so popular?
Sigh.
Peter Apr 16th 2007 10:04PM
They should have embedded a sound chip and speaker, which loudly proclaims over and over again: "American coming through, please stand back..."
Lynlee May 31st 2007 4:28AM
They did a great job on this passport. It is so much nicer. It reminds me of how Americans united after 911 with their car flags etc...Too bad everyone went back so quickly to knocking everything.
Silly Me Apr 20th 2007 8:26PM
They should have embedded a sound chip and speaker, which loudly proclaims over and over again: "American coming through, please stand back..." Which exactly is what they clandestinely did exists w/o your permission given them. All new passports contain hidden within themselves, an embedded RFID chip,so small can't be seen, yet continuous broadcast 24/7 all your personal history exists as secretly encoded data listed amongst other things. Google RFID chips for fuller story. Must see DVD; America:Freedom to Fascism!
Janet Apr 20th 2007 8:55PM
I have to agree with those posters who commented on safety abroad. I am very proud to be an American and I love our country, however, when I am somewhere outside our borders, I would prefer not to brandish an alert to all who are within eye shot, some of whom may indeed not be fans of America. It is not a pleasant thought, but we have made enemies in various places around the world. I guess it is silly, but a movie I once saw about hijackers who took up passports looking for Jewish passengers comes to mind. It wasn't for anything remotely good either. Ummm...torture, murder, etc. all because of their nationality and heritage. As melodramatic as it sounds, I can easily see something like that happening. I think I prefer the simple black with gold lettering. At least that way, it is not like holding out a poster proclaiming citizenship. I prefer to vacation without such drama.
Dyan Apr 20th 2007 8:55PM
Justin, (writer of this article),
If you're an America hater then I can see you not liking the new design. I see these all the time, working at the airport and I think they're great. They say "I'm proud to be an American." I guess you're not. You don't deserve how good you have it here.
Melissa Apr 22nd 2007 11:18PM
I'm just wondering how much it costs to print this, and if the price for a passport went up to fund the ink! Our tax dollars at work!
scotty Apr 20th 2007 8:56PM
You are right about the movie FREEDOM TO FASCISM It can be seen at the web site freedomtofascism.com It is a MUST for all Americans to see.
Proud American Apr 20th 2007 8:56PM
The new design is great..we need more outward and visual signs that we are proud to be Americans...not ashamed of it as too many are today. Worried about your passport tipping others off that you are American? How ridiculous...I travel extensively to other countries and I can usually spot an American instantly by the way they dress let alone how they talk...a much bigger give away than a passport.
Justin Glow Apr 20th 2007 9:01PM
Hey now, I'm allowed to dislike a particular design -- ripe with excessive symbols of America or not -- and still be proud of my country, thank you very much.
Copper Apr 20th 2007 9:04PM
I seriously doubt that if we have an eagle, American flag or Ben Franklin on our passports, it would matter. I think that the people around the world who do not like Americans are able to tell that we are AMERICAN with or without showing our passports!
I happen to love the new look. I only wish I had renewed my a bit later, so I could have the new style!
Dean50322 Apr 20th 2007 9:09PM
Justin (editor)
you should get a new passport...travel to France...and stay there...America would not miss you
Daniel Belvedere Apr 21st 2007 12:48AM
I'm due for a new passport soon myself, though I shall not likely use it for a long while yet. This one I find to be a bit garish, though strongly executed. I've seen (and tend to prefer) traditional American symbols displayed in a less overpowering, yet still bold and evident manner. I do feel that a passport, as the most common U.S. federal document seen abroad, should exude a certain dignity, as is appropriate to a country of such a proud heritage as ours. Without asserting that this current design lacks all dignity, I would have executed it differently, had I experience enough to do so.