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Cheshire Cat Special user Wilmslow, UK 941 Posts |
I recently read that only 1 in 5 USA citizens holds a passport. Is this accurate?
I know that your President had not been anywhere before taking up office. What is the mind-set of those who never set foot out of the US do you think, compared to those who frequently travel? |
irossall Special user Snohomish, Washington 529 Posts |
I can only guess what the "mind-set" of others might be. I think that many people who have never set foot out of the U.S.A. tend to think that our way of doing things is the best way and that the rest of the world needs to catch up to us.
My travels have been restricted to many many parts of Canada, border towns of Mexico and two trips to the Netherland's with one 3 hour layover at Heathro airport terminal #4, so my experience is very limited. My observations have been mixed. One thing that I think is much better here in the states is the quality of our toilet paper (sorry but it's true). The one thing that I liked about the many people that I talked to in the Netherlands is, they think of our Government and the citizens as seperate entities, something that I really don't hear from my friends here. If we are upset with the Government of another country, so often I hear "those darn _______". (fill in the blank with the nationality of your choice). My wallet does not allow me to do the traveling that I would love to do. I do think that travel outside of one's homeland is one of the best educational things one can do. I always hear how we have more freedom here in the U.S.A. but a trip to the Netherland's will show that we don't have as much freedom as we like to think we have. With all I have said, I still Love my country and I would not want to live anywhere else. Iven
Give the gift of Life, Be an Organ Donor.
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andl Regular user Austria 159 Posts |
Quote:
I always hear how we have more freedom here in the U.S.A. but a trip to the Netherland's will show that we don't have as much freedom as we like to think we have. With all I have said, I still Love my country and I would not want to live anywhere else. yeah....netherlands.. a LOT more freedom! ;-)) |
mormonyoyoman Inner circle I dug 5,000 postholes, but I have only 2440 Posts |
Quote:
On 2004-06-29 05:56, aceparties wrote: The two reasons why most (?) Americans don't travel beyond the North American continent have nothing to do with each other, but when added together - make very good sense. The first is cash flow. Travelling over any ocean is more expensive than travelling over land -- and certainly takes longer. The second is the fact that our country is so darned big to begin with. One could spend a lifetime travelling just the "lower 48" (as we call 'em in Alaska) and never see it all. After 49 years of constant stateside travel, I've only visited 32 states - and it's not for want of trying. We've been to Japan, South Korea, Mexico, and Canada -- of which, travel TO & FROM South Korea was expensive, but cost of living was much cheaper (so it sort of evened out). When overseas travel becomes even more affordable -- well, I'll be too old to travel by then.
#ShareGoodness #ldsconf
--Grandpa Chet |
Cheshire Cat Special user Wilmslow, UK 941 Posts |
Do you not find that overseas travel is cheap to buy in the States, over the internet or through TV text sites?
40 years or so ago we in Britain were a 'stay at home' nation with this formidable 'moat' around us that only William of Normandy had ever breached. Then the package holidays started to Spain. We treated it at first as though we were going on an African safari, as apart from dad or grandad having been abroad to North Africa, Europe, Egypt, Burma etc. with a Tommy Gun with a fixed bayonet on the end! . . . we were very ignorant of 'foreigners' and foreign destinations, apart from the 'upper classes' of the day! Now we cover the globe like ants . . . past 8 months we have been to Spanish mainland and also Lanzarote (a dormant volcanic island off the coast of West Africa), and we certainly ain't loaded! |
Wolfgang Loyal user TEXAS 223 Posts |
Quote:
On 2004-06-29 10:24, mormonyoyoman wrote: Absolutely, I can drive 15 hours on the highway and never leave my home state.
"Sure, I do Scotch and Soda in every show. What? You mean there's a trick by that name?"
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Rob Johnston Inner circle Utah 2060 Posts |
I don't have a passport.
If I could travel, I would....but that will have to wait until I get some more money in life.
"Genius is another word for magic, and the whole point of magic is that it is inexplicable." - Margot Fonteyn
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irossall Special user Snohomish, Washington 529 Posts |
In 1991 and 1992 I flew out of Seattle, Washington to the Netherlands, these trips were $500.00 and $550.00 round trip. Today that same trip is closer to $900.00 .
"Expensive" is subjective but for me at the time this cost was pretty cheap. Today that same cost would be very expensive because I am a single parent with a 7 year old daughter and I am lucky to keep enough gas in my car to make it to my next paycheck (let alone keeping my car in good mechanical condition). I think travel today is not too expensive if you plan at least 6 months ahead and pay in advance, good deals still exist. Just spend some time and check things out on the Internet, something will surely show up. Iven
Give the gift of Life, Be an Organ Donor.
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Ellen Kotzin Loyal user UPSTATE, NY 280 Posts |
I have traveled out of the country to europe etc...but it's easier for you guys with the Europasses and the closeness of the countries, it's like us(NY state) driving to maryland or florida.
To fly to cali from NY takes almost 7 to 8 hrs, same time as NY to france/england. The US is HUGE, and it is expensive to travel overseas. Especially australia, hawaii and beyond. I would love to travel more, and probably believe most people have not traveled because of the cost and proximity (or lack of). Isn't Texas the size of France? Ellen |
GlenD Inner circle LosAngeles, Ca 1293 Posts |
So ???
We're here already!
"A miracle is something that seems impossible but happens anyway" - Griffin
"Any future where you succeed, is one where you tell the truth." - Griffin (Griffin rocks!) |
Dr_Stephen_Midnight Inner circle SW Ohio, USA 1555 Posts |
I have a passport...but have had no call to use it yet.
Steve
Dr. Lao: "Do you know what wisdom is?"
Mike: "No." Dr. Lao: "Wise answer." |
redstreak Inner circle A.K.A David Kong 1368 Posts |
I've left the country twice, once to England, and once to France and Italy only a month ago. So yes, I have a passport, as do everyone else in my family.
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ed rhodes Inner circle Rhode Island 2885 Posts |
Quote:
On 2004-06-29 11:19, Wolfgang wrote: Yeah, I used to have a car like that!
"...and if you're too afraid of goin' astray, you won't go anywhere." - Granny Weatherwax
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Chrystal Inner circle Canada/France 1552 Posts |
Although I'm not from the US but Canada I always found it exhasperating that a trip across Canada is far more expensive than travelling to Europe.
I have to agree tho' that travelling gives you such a better perspective on life on our planet. You realize and see differences but also remain awed that despite that we are all basically the same. I'm lucky that I've travelled to over 25 countries so far and always come back with the feeling "There's no place like home". I think the more you travel even if to other States you open up your eyes a little more about the world around you. You meet people that from different socio and economical backgrounds and hopefully are able to have some common ground. In the US I've travelled from the Pacific Northwest all the way across to Nantucket, been to third world countries like Haiti, and visited a lot of European countries. Yet, I still have to travell across my entire country..go figure? :O |
ursusminor Elite user Norway 443 Posts |
[quote]On 2004-06-29 07:06, irossall wrote:
I think that many people who have never set foot out of the U.S.A. tend to think that our way of doing things is the best way and that the rest of the world needs to catch up to us. [quote] That is the image some of you leave behind, yes. [quote]One thing that I think is much better here in the states is the quality of our toilet paper (sorry but it's true). [quote] I can recommend the Norwegian variety! But then, that is a question of habit/taste... [quote]The one thing that I liked about the many people that I talked to in the Netherlands is, they think of our Government and the citizens as seperate entities, something that I really don't hear from my friends here. If we are upset with the Government of another country, so often I hear "those darn _______". (fill in the blank with the nationality of your choice). [quote] There IS (in my experience), a difference, yes. [quote]My wallet does not allow me to do the traveling that I would love to do. I do think that travel outside of one's homeland is one of the best educational things one can do. [quote] Agreed on both accounts! Quote:
With all I have said, I still Love my country and I would not want to live anywhere else. Make that three accounts! Bjørn
"Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them
pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing happened." - Winston Churchill" |
sourcerer Regular user Netherlands 175 Posts |
Well, yes, The Netherlands are free compared to other countries I guess, but it seems they're working dilligently on breaking that down
Though, yes I do believe we kinda manage to see the people seperate from the government ruling the country they may live in, but I think that's kinda universal and not so much something specific to The Netherlands? Once you get to know more people (and internet has made the world a lot smaller in that respect) you see the individuals behind the country, which you didn't before. Once you know enough nice Americans (French, Polish, Russian, whatever people) you realize they're also just kinda human. "If we are upset with the Government of another country, so often I hear "those darn _______". " Well, I think the media has a huge hand in that. I hope that thinking individuals still make their own choices. LOL, nuff politics...not allowed! Off to polish my wooden shoes.....Kaj |
Samuel Catoe Inner circle South Carolina 1268 Posts |
As one who did not until recently have a passport, here goes. I have never been one to want to travel. I travel now only because my girlfriend wants to. She is the reason I have been to San Francisco, Canada, and Niagara Falls. She is the reason I will probably go to England. The only place I have really wanted to see is Japan.
My lack of travel has nothing to do with anything other then lack of any reason to do so. If I have a reason to go somewhere, I'll go. But I rarely go somewhere just to see the sights. Even my trip to Niagara was on the way to a convention in Toronto.
Author of Illusions of Influence, a treatise on Equivoque.
PM me for details and availability. |
JJDrew Loyal user Arizona 221 Posts |
The U.S. is extremely self centered, not necessarily because of the desires of the inhabitants, but in large part due to the selfcenteredness of its media. I got my degree at a university in Italy (rare thing for an American to do) and was amazed at the contrast in the media. As just a few examples, even local news broadcasts there regularly report on events in other countries. Many news broadcasts in the U.S. don't even mention occurrances in other states, let alone other countries. (I don't remember the last time I heard a story about Canada on the American news, and Mexico is discussed only as it relates to illegal aliens coming across the border).
Very few foreign movies make it into the theatres in the U.S. This may be partly because the U.S. is home to Hollywood, which churns out enough films to keep moviegoers happy, but contrast this with Italy, where there were usually five foreign films in the theatre for every Italian film. Happily, this seems to be changing. It is also in the interest of the U.S. government to keep American citizens ignorant of conditions in other countries. The brilliance of American propoganda is that though this country is very much a police state, its citizens are generally convinced that they have the best living situation and the most freedom of any country in the world (One need go no further than the aforementioned Amsterdam to realize that such an opinion is nonsense). The news generally only reports on conditions in other countries where things are much worse than here. They talk about people starving to death and dying of aids in some countries, and women being treated like second-class citizens in other countries, but rarely talk about countries where people live normal happy lives. The resulting impression is that the U.S. is the only country where a normal happy life is possible. It's akin to being afraid to step out of your house because the news only ever reports rape and murder until you think the majority of humanity is out there to victimize people. (My mother is like that, scared of everything). Those Americans who leave the U.S. quickly realize that this impression is completely inaccurate and that the world is a wonderful varied place (sure the TP in Italy isn't as good, but it's nearly impossible to find proper mozzerella here. These things balance out), but many are too frightened or disdainful to visit anyplace else. The internet is also doing much to counteract such ideas. You can find a website from another country without even trying, and look at the variety of representation here in the Café. Being able to communicate with people from other countries is something many Americans rarely had the opportunity to do until the internet came along. Personally, the only foreigners I encountered growing up were people who had chosen to live in the U.S. rather than their home country, which is not a normal cross-section of the other country's population. Obviously huge numbers of people who are born in other countries choose to stay there. It is with this group of people that the internet allows us to interact. My sister, who has never left the U.S. could easily get in touch with an Australian who has never left Australia. It's pretty amazing when you think about it. While cash flow and physical size are also major components of the equation, many Americans have the money to travel around the United States and could afford just as easily to go to other countries, but choose not to. In Australia either after High School or College, it is customary for young people to take time out of their institutional education and travel to various parts of the world usually for a period of 6 months to a year, getting a different sort of education. I met a very large number of Australians in my travels who were traveling for this reason. I think it would be terrific if America, and indeed every country, developed a similar tradition. (If I ever have kids, they will certainly be encouraged to follow this pattern). |
Cheshire Cat Special user Wilmslow, UK 941 Posts |
Thanks for such a lengthy response JJ. Do you not think that what you may consider to be a police state is in fact just the vast law abiding majority defending itself against a dangerous minority? UK is considered a police state by those who seek to undermine and divide, but the rest of us accept what has to be done. Do you believe a Country the size of the US could survive living the Amsterdam way?
I frequently read the excellent NY Times and yes, quite inward looking (apart from the closeness to "mother" Britain since 9/11). Yes, Australian kids do have a great view of the world. |
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