So this is outside of my usual posting but I was struck by something I read in the news yesterday and so it's something that I feel is worthy commenting on.
One of my biggest pet peeves has always been some of the behaviors of a portion of U.S. tourists. And while I probably haven't always been on my best behavior at all times either while being in foreign countries, one of the most bothersome things is when people from our country travel to other countries and either a) do something that displays their ignorance of foreign affairs and/or b) spends the majority of their time indulging rather than trying to integrate and learn about the culture and country in which they are traveling.
Case in point: Cameron Diaz had to issue an apology to the Peruvian people after wearing a bag on her recent trip that contained an offensive message. In this case the message originally was from a separate country, however the dictator of Peru had ties to this other country and he was partly responsible for a government in which thousands of people were killed because of principles that were contradictory to the government. All over Latin America (and so many other areas of the world) similar eras occurred. In Argentina, this was called the "Era of Disappearances" as people were taken from their homes, tortured, jailed, and murdered for being subversives. We saw this happen in Cambodia and we see it happening in Darfur now, as well as in many other parts of the world. The saddest part to the whole ordeal was that Cameron was actually down in Peru to promote culture awareness, yet obviously her own awareness of the history of the country was lacking. How much better we, as citizens, of the U.S. would look and be if we actually researched the areas where we travel and tried to keep abreast of foreign issues. We might change some of the stigma toward our nation for being so nationally focused.
The second issue of U.S. citizens going to foreign countries and over indulging themselves also just floors me. I recognize that people travel to get away from their lives, to see and experience other countries, to witness other walks of life. I also recognize that citizens of other countries tend at times to enjoy a culture that is more open to indulgence (and in cases drunkenness). However I can't count the number of times I have seen drunk college students running around foreign towns or people spending WAY too much money on "things" with no regard whatsoever in either situation of how their behavior impacts those that are around them and the negative opinion that the behavior can form toward fellow citizens of our country. Sure have a good time but be respectful about it. Take into account your surroundings, the quality of life, the culture of where you are, and don't travel so that you have the freedom to do on vacation things you would never contemplate doing at home.
To me the best travel is when you can meld into, truly observe/experience, and learn from your "foreign" surroundings, not when you disrupt the natural balance of them or call attention to yourself. And granted when you are in France standing in front of the Tower of Pisa, people are going to recognize that you are a tourist but at least you are doing so in awe of what their culture has to offer instead of disgracing it. Just a bit of ranting and raving, but let's just be respectful and educated travelers (or rather citizens of the world)-that's all I'm saying. Let's show people that we care about where they've come from and who they are.
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