Living My Passport Dream

How do you view your country’s passport privilege?

“Blessed are the curious, for they shall have adventures.”  (Lovelle Drachman)

My American passport running valid from 2021 – 2031 resonates for me as not only legitimate proof of my identity but also confirms my birthright freedom to travel. For clarity, my passport booklet boldly states on the opposite side of my photo ID  page after the words “We The People”…..secure the blessings of liberty for ourselves” in reference to the  exalted preamble section of  The U.S. Constitution. In leafing further through he document, I notice historic  quotes from individuals lauding the American spirit of how liberty should reign in our country. Notice a couple of these inscriptions below.

“The cause of freedom is no the cause of a race, sect, a party, or a class. It is the cause of humankind  the very  birthright of humanity. “ (Anna Julia Cooper)

“The principle of free government adheres to the American soil.” It is embedded in, immovable, as mountains.” (Daniel Webster)

So, I wonder about the urgency to make best use of the passport as freedom of speech, press, and assembly and other legalized rights Americans enjoy seem confusingly under attack in this country now?  Simply put, I fear out of the ordinary custom checks that might require legal reference to this document that international travelers must hold in their hands. What happens if one makes the wrong impression with an overzealous  border guard? What right would an agent have to forcibly search the contents of traveler emails or social media postings?  Could such an official detain a passenger without need to tell them the charges? So hold on to that passport. It might be the best  protection you own against any such abuses happening. 

I  can make no guarantee that now’s the right time to undertake overseas adventure. But Ruth and I have decided to once again exercise our time tested  freedom to travel abroad by booking a ten day Rhine River cruise in November. In doing so, both of us look forward to adding several more official stamps to our extensive passport collection without unnecessary delay.  For as you can tell in the photo collection below, we’ve obtained plenty of practice worldwide in obtaining passport clearance in the past when needed. 

Source Links:

https://blog.library.in.gov/a-not-so-brief-history-of-the-united-states-passport/

https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/law/passports-united-states