Photographs by Jim Wilson/ The New York Times
SYMBOLS The theme of the new United States
passport is “American Icon.”
Posted on 04/29/2007 4:23:43 AM PDT by Pharmboy
Photographs by Jim Wilson/ The New York Times
SYMBOLS The theme of the new United States
passport is “American Icon.”
SAN FRANCISCO
WHEN I went to collect my newly minted American passport, I discovered that it came with a radically altered design that included sheaves of wheat, the rather large head of a bald eagle plus the flag wrapped around my picture. And that was just one page.
snip...
The new passport, in the works for about six years, incorporates the first complete redesign since 1993. Given new international standards for post-9/11 high-tech security features, which transform the document into an “E-passport,” the State Department decided it was time for something completely different.
snip...
New passport bearers in San Francisco seemed divided.
“It’s very patriotic,” said Cynthia Yacur of Folsom, Calif., relieved to receive one just days before leaving for Greece. “Cool pictures. An eagle. A bison. Nice. Every page is different. I like it.”
Another Californian, Candace Serona, was less convinced.
“It seems to represent an idealized version of a country that is far from ideal right now,” she said, adding that the most positive thing was that at least the images embedded over her photograph hid some wrinkles.
Perhaps the ultimate judges will be border guards.
Rick Davis, a retired NBC News correspondent, said he recently handed his over at Syria’s Damascus International Airport. The officer fingered it at length, gaping at the many pictures.
Finally he said haltingly, “You are a diplomat?”
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Typical government waste of time and money.
The private sector could have revised it in 6 hours and no cost.
Only the Old Gray Whore could find a patriotic design controversial. Puke.
I think though, (based only on television portrayals), that while I waited for the foreign agent to stop glancing suspiciously up at me while flipping through the pages, I'd have a demeaner of pride as opposed to perhaps one of anxiety.
Kinda' like when you see the cop put his lights on in your rear view mirror ... if you HAVE been speeding, your heart beat goes up and etcetera ... but if you know you're not in violation of anything, your confidence level is almost arrogant when he comes up on the window and asks for your license and insurance papers.
Sometimes, I think it is required to be an Ugly American rather than a proud milquetoast.
It’s not bad. The visas are perfectly visible against the images on the pages. One big difference is that the covers are stiff, like boards, where they were flexible before. Also, it says you are not supposed to get it wet, which will be a challenge for me when travelling.
It appears to me that Candace needs to move to a country with a pretty passport that is more in line with her political views.
6 years to redesign and incorporate security features? It’s a passport, people, get it and use it when you travel. No big deal. I guess the wife and kids got some of the “old” ones last year.
Good humor always has the ring of truth...
Oh no, we have to redesign it immediately someone from San Francisco doesn't like it. After all, they do represent middle America. /s
I left that quote in to show 2 things: 1) how the lefties so hate America and 2) what the NY Times deems worthy of putting in an article like this. Yecchh.
I wouldn’t line my bird cage with the NY Times, I couldn’t bear the smell of the puke. (Think PETA would picket my house?)
I received this new passport a couple months ago and yes, it is beautufil! 2 dem and 2 pub quotes (jfk, lbj (!) and TR and Ike), a Washington and Lincoln quote and non-presidents: MLK, Dan Webster, quote inscribed on the Golden Spike uniting the first railroad, inscription from Decl of Independance and a few other folks I don’t know. Anyway, great job.
our kids have the new passports, they had to get new ones
for our trip last month. ours are the older versions, they
had not expired yet. they are nice and very colorful.
the problem is not the passports, its all the darned
security checks! entering germany, we were amazed at how
quickly the lines went through passport control and were
off to claim our baggage. coming back, through frankfurt,
it was a different story...ugh!
bags were scanned at the counter...and contents completely
examined.
passport check # 1
on to the general security post...wanded, shoes examined,
carry on’s completely examined, passport check #2
then on to the next check stop for flights to the u.s.
again, wanded, shoes examined, carry on’s completely
examined, passport check #3
at this point, my frustration limit was met after 3 hrs of
checks with 4 kids in tow, i asked why we had to do this
all over for a 3rd time. i was told by the security
officers it was required by .... the u.s.! our country
required a seperate, additional, security check for all
passengers going to the u.s. the security checks with the
general population of travelers was not acceptable.
They don’t want you getting it wet so that it’s easier to read the chip with all your identifying information (rather than opening it up and looking at it).
SSN, picture, fingerprint images. Your identity is all now on a passive chip, ready for reading by anyone you meet with a scanner. (which can be replicated for a relatively small fee)
Serona isn’t necessarily a San Franciscan. If you’ll note, Yacur is from Folsom, but went to San Francisco to collect her passport.
Thanks for the clarification, living in the Northeast I can find California on the map but have no idea where most cities/towns are located.
“but have no idea where most cities/towns are located.”
Doesn’t matter; they’re all located on the lip of Hell.
I'll take your word for it. ;-D
About 5 seconds in the microwave should fix that.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.