Is the passport the weird part or always carrying something to identify yourself weird?
Because I'm always carrying a wallet, with identification in the US; which I must be able to show to certain agencies at any time.
Which agencies and for what reason? There is no general obligation of US citizens to carry identification or even to provide your name to authorities unless you are reasonably suspected of a crime.
I sat in the back of a police car for a hour while they researched everything about me.
Again, there was no No U-Turn sign. I was simply suspected of something, of which the police never informed me of.
That was the day I learned I always needed my license, for apparently any reason, in the US. Even if you're white.