Aug 23 2010
Issues Involving The Native Iroquois And Their Illegitimate Passports
Once again, U S passports are the subject of the news. This time, it involves an entire lacrosse team. Heres the story: The top-ranked Iroquois lacrosse team were traveling to England in order to participate in the World Championships. However, when they were leaving, they were denied because of their Iroquois passports.
While other team members were from Canada and the United States, this team of Iroquois Native Americans is members of the Iroquois Nation. The Iroquois Nation has been issuing their own passports to call attention to the Iroquois culture and heritage. Since they did not have an American or Canadian passport, they were denied entrance into the United Kingdom and could not compete. They were saved at the last minute by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who issued a one-time waiver for the team so they could reenter the United States but the United Kingdom did not validate this waiver.
There are several opinions surrounding this incident and this situation. There has never been a time in history when the threat of terrorism has been greater. Additional restrictions are being implements to improve national security in all nations around the world. The Iroquois passports do not contain the standard anti-fraud devices that are present in other regularly issued passports which make it easier for them to land in the hands of a criminal or terrorist and be used successfully if restrictions were not implemented on them.
Those closely affect by this ruling feel singled out and prevented from expressing pride in their heritage. For years, the Iroquois passports have been acceptable for international travel and they dont understand why that should change now. They feel they are being alienated from the rest of the world and do not want to change their traditions or customs related to passports.
And yet another side of the argument claims that this is just another attack on the Native American identity. They feel that the Iroquois, ironically enough the creators of the game of lacrosse, are being taken for granted and subjected to this discrepancy because of their native heritage, and that forcing them to get a United States passport quick is demeaning to the culture. This is where the coach of the team stands. He feels that they are being trapped in a corner where they either must abandon their Native identity or be forced to forfeit a chance at the National Championship title for a sport they themselves invented a thousand years ago.
Certainly, new passports are very important documents. They are so valuable that they are often stolen or forged and counterfeited so it is important that all safeguards available are used concerning their issue and use. It is offensive to these native Americans to realize that every year, convicted sexual offenders and murders who have served their time are permitted to get passports but the Iroquois passports so rich with heritage and culture are considered void causing them to have to get a passport quick. There is certainly a lot to consider here but our national security and that of other nations must always be our prime motive regarding this issue.
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