Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
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.
Filed under: United States
Reader Comments (Page 10 of 10)
Chris Apr 22nd 2007 5:30AM
People: no one sees your passport but you (because you have to protect it) and the people who look at the cover and let you through because THEY can spot a U.S. passport a mile away. The VISA stampers go straight to the VISA pages, stamp, rarely even look up, and away you go. Try actually traveling outside the U.S. and see how it works. It's different when you travel to Israel and/or Saudi Arabia (except during high terror alerts), but everywhere else, they see the front and wave you by.
Barry Peterson Apr 22nd 2007 8:44AM
I've been reading these comments all night long.
In a worst case scenario, the government has redone artwork to stimulate the kind of chatter we've mostly been reading.
One person encouraged us to Google RFID -- a chip that they put into the passport.
If we are not diligent on protecting the integrity of the use of RFID chips, allowing only general identifying data and an encoded photograph, and if our society continues along its path of relying on technology to the point of accepting most of what THE GOVERNMENT ;-) does, we run the risk of putting our citizens in jeopardy of being tracked -- and worse, identified as having been somewhere at a certain time. Again, this is a worst case scenario.
Carrying it a little further, for those of you who may be interested in the problem of potential conspiracies to undermine a person's good character, to alter evidence, and with the thought that a person may be "set up" by someone who may alter a chip's data, or because the chip may be used to track an individual in a way that is contrary to our Fourth Amendment rights, we have reason for concern.
As is, our telephone calls are available on lists kept by some of our telephone companies. Our whereabouts can be tracked by our use or abuse of action on our credit cards, and the ubiquitous "card key" keeps track of when we enter a controlled area.
So, the new passport design may become a problem to our liberties by those who abuse our privacy, as may be detected by the type of data suggested in this post.
Of course, I am a fan of science fiction and futuristic stories...and my mind ever-wanders. Barry.
Bran Apr 22nd 2007 6:03AM
It is a bit flashy but the concept is understandable. I happen to think the design should be toned down a bit because its kind of a radical change. I absolutely love this country and wouldn't mind having this design (provided the Statue of Liberty is on it somewhere (I'm a New Yorker) lol). But on the other hand I do understand the sentiment that loudly declaring "I'm an American!" may be offsetting to people who are travelling in a country where its citizens may not be fans of ours. I wouldn't want to put myself in an unnecessary, uncomfortable, or potentially dangerous situation either...
Brian Apr 22nd 2007 6:07AM
Also, forgot to say, I have travelled to many places in my life and have never really encountered any problems because, like Chris said, they usually do just stamp you and wave you on. I don't think anyone working at an airport or something would really want to expend the energy to mess with someone because of their country. But I do see where reservations about it may come from.
Rachelle Apr 22nd 2007 7:21AM
Instead of fooling around with something like this, why don't they actually do something about the amount of illegal immigrants coming into the United States....like put the army at the Mexican border. And another thing, it's time these stupid American politicians stop being so politically correct by kissing the rear ends of foreigners who hate us anyway.
Chuck Apr 22nd 2007 7:33AM
Hey #97 if you so glad to leave USA don't let the door hit you on the A++ on the way out
dave Apr 22nd 2007 9:24AM
Truth is, foreigners know we are Americans [they are looking at our passport!]. So we should be proud and not self-effacing. Trying to appease others doesn't work. I like the design, but viewing this on a faint computer screen, the beak looks like the Grinch's head on a draped chicken looking to the right! Trying holding your finger over the eagle's eye.
Barry Peterson Apr 22nd 2007 8:53AM
Hi again! I just learned that I must confirm that I have made a comment berfore it is published.
That said, when I confirmed, I didn't confirm in the order that the responses were authored.
Sorry for the confusion.
Barry
Tom Nichols Apr 22nd 2007 6:49PM
I think we have a lot to be proud of and no more to be ashamed of than any other major power. I'm not embarrassed by the flag or Mount Rushmore and, yes, we do own the Moon as we got there first. We're not going to force anything on the rest of the world because of that, but I hope we're not going to be ashamed of that achievemnet. Liberals/Anarchists like Justin Glow and a bunch of these responders hate everything about America, what it stands for, its history and its legacy, all of which many of us are proud of. I don't hear condemnation of the French Revolution, Nazi Germany or any of the other attrosities of history, but whatever America is doing now or has ever done is cast in a negative light by these people. Why don't you all just go somewhere else? I would gladly pay your airfare out of here, with the promise that you will not return.
Tom Nichols Apr 22nd 2007 6:53PM
You watch too much CNN...we are hated by dictators and socialists. The shop owner, the farmer, the factory worker, they love us. I travel the entire world all the time...where have you been lately?
Tom Nichols Apr 22nd 2007 6:59PM
Barry, you're such a snob. I can understand you not wanting to stand out when you travel...you know noone is going to like you. Maybe you should wear a disguise...
Ben and Jerry Apr 30th 2007 11:33AM
My wife and I received our new U.S. passports. We are wondering what the significance is or use of the red stars are on the left side of the photo. We have friends who have a differing number of these stars. Does anyone know what they mean?
jules May 1st 2007 12:08AM
blah
Haiku May 1st 2007 3:49PM
Saying that you show your pride in your country by loving the design of this passport is like saying you show your love of women by reading Playboy.
The US is a serious, important country founded on serious, important ideas. Shouldn't our passports have a little more ... gravitas?
If you love the pictures, wear a T-shirt with them when you travel!
Jeremy Barton May 7th 2007 7:33AM
Well I have both US and Australian Citizenship. I have just received my new Australian E-Passport and I can say the AU passport is nowhere near as neat and patriotic and just overall more presentable than the new US Passport. I live in Sydney, and I am so proud that I have dual citizenship. You people in America think that the world hates you... SO WRONG.. they DISLIKE the Bush Administration and its policies not Americans. Australians love americans. I think the only race' that hates americans are French (because we are better than them) and people of Middle-Eastern origin (for obvious reasons). And any other race that dislikes Americans do so purely because they are envious and jealous of the USA and its citizens.
BE PROUD OF BEING AN AMERICAN. I CAN GUARANTEE YOU THAT HALF OF THE WORLD WOULD LIKE TO SWAP PLACES WITH YOU AND BE BORN OR BE A CITIZEN OF THE LAND OF THE FREE!!!
josie May 20th 2007 4:09PM
I don't like the fact that people who got their passports renewed last year still have 9 years until they have to get tracked and that I am first generation. I don't like fascism and I don't like having to carry a tacky uber-patriotic truckstop- looking piece of crap around the globe with me that emits all my personal information forcing me to share that information with people that I do not *choose* to share it with. It should be *my choice* to hand over my passport to the proper authorities, not someone else's choice to randomly scan me on the street, possibly stealing my identity and most private identifying information. I think this passport is a total invasion of my rights as an individual covered as it is with a bunch of lame-ass quotes about a "God" I don't believe in and "Freedom" that is completely in danger from this administration, the uneducated Bible-thumping and "my country right or wrong" people in this country and the RFID chip in the passport itself. I am seriously pissed off about it.