Everybody need a passport ? I don't know. I'm Canadian, well into my '60's and I recall life in the 1950's and '60's. My family used to go to the states from May till September. We stayed at a state park, pretty well all July and August, except for my dad who was working.
As a result of all this time with Americans I grew to love America and Americans. In fact I've figured I've lived in the USA for about 18-20 months during my life. As a Canuck who lives close to the border, I can't imagine how we could have better neighbours than America and Americans.
We never had passports, back in the '50's/60's, etc. Just a stop at the border and in we went. But that was the way things used to be and as some say, we are now global citizens and our old world in North America (Canada/USA) is not as isolated and IMO, pleasant as it used to be. Things have changed and unfortunately in some aspects, not for the better.
It was like that till 9/11 and then things in life, at the border, changed radically.
I understand why, but it still bugs me that a small group of thugs...who were not from North America... have been an engine of change....and not a good one.
Was it right to make passports as a necessity to go across the border ? I don't know.
But I do wonder why we (US and Canada) didn't make this a requirement...if it was so important... starting with either WWl or WW ll....much bigger conflicts.
BTW, yes now I have a passport and have had one for the past decade. The reason I have it, well just in case I have to cross boders of any other country, in the world.
If you are getting a passport for the first time, you need to fill out out forms, get signatures, then wait for process by the feds and approval. That takes time. Time you may not have, if you have to go out of your country, quickly.
So although they cost a few bucks...it's not a whole bunch, if you figure cost per year. A passport is.... or could be.... handy to have in this modern world.
Maybe nowadays having a passport is the same as having a cell phone or a computer. Things that 30 years ago, weren't part of our 'life kit', but maybe now are.
As a result of all this time with Americans I grew to love America and Americans. In fact I've figured I've lived in the USA for about 18-20 months during my life. As a Canuck who lives close to the border, I can't imagine how we could have better neighbours than America and Americans.
We never had passports, back in the '50's/60's, etc. Just a stop at the border and in we went. But that was the way things used to be and as some say, we are now global citizens and our old world in North America (Canada/USA) is not as isolated and IMO, pleasant as it used to be. Things have changed and unfortunately in some aspects, not for the better.
It was like that till 9/11 and then things in life, at the border, changed radically.
I understand why, but it still bugs me that a small group of thugs...who were not from North America... have been an engine of change....and not a good one.
Was it right to make passports as a necessity to go across the border ? I don't know.
But I do wonder why we (US and Canada) didn't make this a requirement...if it was so important... starting with either WWl or WW ll....much bigger conflicts.
BTW, yes now I have a passport and have had one for the past decade. The reason I have it, well just in case I have to cross boders of any other country, in the world.
If you are getting a passport for the first time, you need to fill out out forms, get signatures, then wait for process by the feds and approval. That takes time. Time you may not have, if you have to go out of your country, quickly.
So although they cost a few bucks...it's not a whole bunch, if you figure cost per year. A passport is.... or could be.... handy to have in this modern world.
Maybe nowadays having a passport is the same as having a cell phone or a computer. Things that 30 years ago, weren't part of our 'life kit', but maybe now are.
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