With all the talk of how to deal with Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Libya and others, I was wondering on the following idea:
Canada, in collaboration with other countries, establish an English-language pasport, a French-language pasport, and an Esperanto-language passport that only members of such renegade states could apply for. To get the passport issued, they'd need to pass a test in the applicable language. This test however would not be a language test alone, but more a test in the language, which would include questions on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and possibly other questions of international law. Like any other passport, it would be a five-year passport.
We might make some exceptions though. For example, any dependent under the age of fifteen would be exempt from the test, though in that case the passport would expire on his fifteenth birthday. If he wants a five-year passport, he'd need to pass the test like any adult. Those who are deaf or blind, or otherwise cannot take the test might also be exempted, in which case a medical note would have to be included in the passport ascertaining those parts of the test he was exempted from.
All those carrying this passport would be given the full rights and responsibilities of citizenship in any country that recognizes these passports, for as long as their home countries continue to be considered renegde states.
Anyone from these countries would simply not be allowed to enter Canada without that passport, and their own national passports would simply not be recognized.
Under such a system, these states would find themselves in a bind. Should they refuse to allow their citizens to apply for these passports, then they'd be to blame for their citizens not being able to travel, and their citizens would thus turn their anger towards their state. Should they allow these passports to be issued by foreign embassies within thei borders, then of course their citizens would be exposed to new ideas. And owing to the advantages of having these passports, it would be difficult for many to resist. Needless to say, these new ideas are bound to have an influence over these countries over time.
Any ideas on this?
Canada, in collaboration with other countries, establish an English-language pasport, a French-language pasport, and an Esperanto-language passport that only members of such renegade states could apply for. To get the passport issued, they'd need to pass a test in the applicable language. This test however would not be a language test alone, but more a test in the language, which would include questions on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and possibly other questions of international law. Like any other passport, it would be a five-year passport.
We might make some exceptions though. For example, any dependent under the age of fifteen would be exempt from the test, though in that case the passport would expire on his fifteenth birthday. If he wants a five-year passport, he'd need to pass the test like any adult. Those who are deaf or blind, or otherwise cannot take the test might also be exempted, in which case a medical note would have to be included in the passport ascertaining those parts of the test he was exempted from.
All those carrying this passport would be given the full rights and responsibilities of citizenship in any country that recognizes these passports, for as long as their home countries continue to be considered renegde states.
Anyone from these countries would simply not be allowed to enter Canada without that passport, and their own national passports would simply not be recognized.
Under such a system, these states would find themselves in a bind. Should they refuse to allow their citizens to apply for these passports, then they'd be to blame for their citizens not being able to travel, and their citizens would thus turn their anger towards their state. Should they allow these passports to be issued by foreign embassies within thei borders, then of course their citizens would be exposed to new ideas. And owing to the advantages of having these passports, it would be difficult for many to resist. Needless to say, these new ideas are bound to have an influence over these countries over time.
Any ideas on this?
