where are your papers?

     We have all seen this in old movies--particularly World War II movies--a soldier or guard stops everyone and demands that they identify themselves. Many Americans think this is terrible, but in most other countries the citizens are more used to the idea. They all have to carry identity cards of some kind, and may be asked to show them to a police officer or some other government official. When people in other countries move to a new town, they may present themselves at the mayor's office or town hall, where they will introduce themselves and offer letters of recommendation ( from their former employer, or from business or personal connections).  This is strictly a voluntary custom--it's the way the people who introduce themselves at the town hall think life should be. They are not used to the idea of anonymity, and would be uncomfortable with the idea of moving from place to place as a complete unknown.
     The debate over proposed laws requiring voters to identify themselves (which they already have to do when asked)  should lead to a broader discussion of identity cards--what kind of identity cards people should have, and under what circumstances they should have to produce them.