Do Americans understand how far they have fallen in world's eyes?

Agreed. In my experience, the people who travel the most are wealthy enough to do so and see themselves as citizens of the world, selecting the best of each culture - the best as they view it, anyway - to add to their personal life portfolio.

 

I figured posters in a journalism board didn't require a recitation of evidence.
Here's one article that provides a window.
U.S. Image Plummets Internationally as Most Say Country Has Handled Coronavirus Badly

I might say the requirement of evidence kind of justifies the question. In my view, it would be difficult to view the past 12 months of American political and societal discourse and not see it as detrimental to international reputation.

I wasn't trying to pick a fight.

 

I have traveled quite a bit -- to 18 countries/parts of the world, and yes, I have kept track. Because I love to travel, and I'd go just about anywhere. I want to see everything and every place, and experience all walks of life -- and I can't imagine not doing it. In fact, the inability to travel has been the greatest loss this year in my eyes. Sometimes, I feel like I can't get enough of it. Honestly, I wish I weren't working, and wish I had more money, not so I can waste time, or money, but because I want to travel more, and I know there are so many places I've still yet to go. It's like, I don't want to run out of time, or money, to do it, or get to a point where I'm not healthy enough to do it.

And what I have done, I've appreciated almost beyond my ability to express. I know I'm fortunate. Traveling is personally fulfilling, absolutely life-enhancing and, at its best, an exercise in the opening and stretching of the mind and the heart.

I remember one trip in particular on which, yes, the travel was almost all good, to all the best sights, and sounds, etc. along the way. Then, the last day for a day trip arose in a city that wasn't so great, comparatively speaking -- much poorer, more hard-scrabble and not as scenic. But I absolutely wanted to go. I want to see/know how the other half lives, and the day was indeed informative, eye-opening, humbling, and yet, still good, and even wonderful -- and in a way that made me appreciate all of my travels all the more. It was my pleasure, my privilege, in fact, to spend some time in a place that would make me do that so deeply. I was acutely aware of the differences -- but couldn't help seeing and appreciating them as great, worthwhile things nonetheless.

That's why you need a passport. Heck, for travelers, a passport is like a trophy, and each stamp another ribbon awarded. And it usually only takes one stamp for someone to practically see passport-punching as a sport!

 

No, I don’t think you were.

The world’s opinion of the US is in part shaped by the US media’s opinion of the nation. The media, in general, tends to think the nation is a shit sandwich under Trump. To some degree, the media is right.

But one of leading exports of our nation right now is self hate. It only makes sense that the rest of the world has little respect for a nation that lacks respect for itself.

 

No argument that money is a factor. Wealthy is the wrong word though.

My point is there is no validity to saying something is the best when there is nothing to compare it to.

 

I'm not sure Write Thinking would classify herself 'wealthy.'

One can travel extensively (and comfortably) for years for the price of a new F150.

Travel, like everything else, is a choice.

 

Also, some of us have jobs requiring travel.

And if you really want to see the world for free, join the Navy. Or the Army.

Plenty of blue collar American kids traveling extensively right now on behalf of every one of us; defending our right to complain about one another.

 

I wrote “the most” thinking of “the most” as contrast to, not at all.

Of course, it goes without saying that many millions of Americans - who may or may not like America very much - cannot afford a new F150 or a travel equivalency fund. Kendrick Lamar can of course afford anything now but there’s an extraordinary story about how the first concert he ever attended was the first one he performed in.

And additional millions of Americans who could afford it once, and perhaps even did some traveling, but, once making the choice to have a family, have to scale it down to, you know, a week at a beach for financial and logistical reasons.

The navigable vastness and variety of the United States is its own thing, as well. Miami to Seattle, is, distance equivalent of Paris to Baghdad.

At any rate, I think travel is great - better than a new F150. But I also think travel is generally designed for highlighted elements. You aren’t going to absorb the deeply-understood feel of a place in a week whether you’re traveling from America or to it. It’s why, within my church structure, I lobby for short-term missions to be stateside vs. foreign, while preferring the opposite for long term missions.

 

Finally this: The “world” should know that there are more people in America who hate Donald Trump’s guts than may live in said nation located in the world. They helped oust Trump from office.

 

True. I doubt there's much cash to be made in starting a tourism outfit dedicated to tours of the great wheat fields of Kansas or the cultural distinction of rural Mississippi.
There's a Letterman Top 10 list in here somewhere.

 

Or who have never seen much of their own country beyond the county in which they were born and raised.

 

We have watched a lot of "Top Gear." Three British dudes review great cars and also adapt cars for exotic excursions. They find themselves in some really different places and you can see buildup vs. deterioration.
The most recent episode, they went to Reunion Island, which is off the coast of Africa but is French-owned. They flew 5,000 miles but never left France. Looked like a great place, a remote resort. But they were on a treasure hunt and decided the treasure was in Madagascar. They went there. The main city was OK, but they took a ferry across a river to another area and it was a dilapidated mess. The country was horrible. You see that a lot on this show. They go to some really bad places and you wonder how these people survive. Noted in Madagascar, one of the locals had on a Texas Rangers jersey with Darvish on the back. Saw a Kobe Bryant jersey and a couple of others from sports teams.