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

[Jerry-atric]

I think a lot of Americans who travel internationally are more open-minded than those who don't. I know that's a generalization that doesn't hold necessarily. But I had a friend once upon a time ago, my husband and I were planning a trip, and she made some weird statement about why would you even want a passport? Yes she is a vapid Trumper.

"Drumpf" voters do not travel.

 

[Scout]

The best cure for racism, nationalism or sexism is getting know people who are not white, don't have a deck and don't vote in American elections.

 

[Scout]

Trump voters do not travel.

They can't afford to.

I'm guessing most travel, when they can afford to, north to south and not east to west.

 

[Hermes]

I'd guess Cultural MAGAists don't travel internationally, and out of country mostly just Mexico. In the midwest growing up, a trip to Europe was a dream trip for almost everyone I knew. Now at family gatherings and at work: The EU is a socialist nightmare, why would you ever need a passport, etc.

The Midwest has changed DRASTICALLY in just the past 10 years. It's unrecognizable to even me, a guy who has rarely left. I simply was a frog in a pot slowly heating up and didn't recognize the steam and bubbles until 2016.

My family went to Israel when I was 16. That was considered a cool thing in 2000. Now if I mention it to people around me, they ask me how dangerous it was and never about the actual trip.

Hold-their-noses-and-vote for tax cut Trump voters definitely travel. Probably more than the average Biden voter.

 

[Jerry-atric]

They can't afford to.

I'm guessing most travel, when they can afford to, north to south and not east to west.

"Drumpf" voters are mostly impoverished.

 

[Alma]

Serious question. With the follow-up being: Do Americans care?
The disastrous response and attitude toward COVID-19 from its elected leaders - and a huge portion of the population's acceptance of it - has most of the rest of the world bewildered.
I'm not saying every other country has been perfect, but you have to admit the shirt show that is the U.S. handling of the pandemic is exceptional.
I'm just genuinely curious if international reputation matters?

I'm sure it exists, but this post doesn't actually have any evidence of how far the United States has fallen in the world's eyes. Nor does it define who's included in "the world."

But, rest assured, you've come to the right place for awareness.

 

[Jerry-atric]

I'm sure it exists, but this post doesn't actually have any evidence of how far the United States has fallen in the world's eyes. Nor does it define who's included in "the world."

But, rest assured, you've come to the right place for awareness.

Posters here are very in tune with the world's opinions.

 

[BTExpress]

I'm sure the world is just itchin' for some Democracy spreadin' after four years of relative calm.

 

[Alma]

I think a lot of Americans who travel internationally are more open-minded than those who don't. I know that's a generalization that doesn't hold necessarily. But I had a friend once upon a time ago, my husband and I were planning a trip, and she made some weird statement about why would you even want a passport? Yes she is a vapid Trumper.

More open-minded to what?

Not that I think you're wrong. But what, exactly, are they open-minded to? And is open-mindedness always a good thing? Do friends who travel to China and come back and rave about it - I have these friends - know what they're saying? And for folks who think America's a real moral stinkhole - some of the people on this board for example - is a person from, say, Portugal, who comes here for a month and just marvels at all the culture and history in NYC and DC and Boston, are they really doing this nation justice?

When you travel, you're almost always looking for the best of wherever you're going.

 

[LanceyHoward]

I don't doubt that . . . but how do they know?

Show me someone who regularly deals with both systems --- not someone who spent the previous decade in one system in the current decade in another --- and I'm all ears as to what he says. But most people only have the point of reference of their own system, plus a few selected anecdotes (usually negative) of the places they deem worse.

I agree with you that most foreigners have only a sketchy knowledge of our health care system. But people generally reach an opinion based upon sketchy information. Most of the foreigners I know (and I have spent a lot of time abroad) find the lack of universal coverage in the U.S. bewildering. But that is generally the perception of the people I have met.

 

[Deskgrunt50]

In my experience, the people who most openly beat their chest and brag about America being the greatest ever are also people who have never been to another country.

 

[Mngwa]

More open-minded to what?

Not that I think you're wrong. But what, exactly, are they open-minded to? And is open-mindedness always a good thing? Do friends who travel to China and come back and rave about it - I have these friends - know what they're saying? And for folks who think America's a real moral stinkhole - some of the people on this board for example - is a person from, say, Portugal, who comes here for a month and just marvels at all the culture and history in NYC and DC and Boston, are they really doing this nation justice?

When you travel, you're almost always looking for the best of wherever you're going.

Perhaps broad-minded would be a better word than open-minded. I just think when you see different things and interact with different people it changes your perspective. And do you look for the best when you're traveling? I guess to a point. Certainly when you're talking about landmarks and museums and cultural icons. But there is also so much off the beaten path, so many experiences to be had if you get a chance to be with just people, not tour guides and not people who are working the tourist attractions. There's a whole wide world out there and when you talk to other people from other places with other lives, you learn. And I guess I associate learning with more open-minded thinking, because you're more able to consider different possibilities.