I am currently in California and yes I have noticed that there are a lot of campers and Rv's out there. But with a family it is probably the only way they can go on vacation. I was a late bloomer in the travel circuit, just starting at the ripe age of 34. I have been traveling alone ever since. Those traveling outside of the US are a different breed, wanting to explore, be adventurous and see how others live. Maybe when we see how little others have it we can appreciate what we have. I enjoy meeting people of other cultures, seeing their faces, watching them in their world, interacting with them. It gives me joy. That is what traveling outside the U.S. is all about. I can fly cheap either on airhitch or aircourier and stay for longer periods of time in places like thailand. Things i could never afford to do in my own country. Yes, I take long weekends and explore where I am(I travel for work and have moved 3 times this year alone) but I also plan at least one trip a year somewhere outside my norm, if finances permit. I am 40 and enjoy traveling alone and don't see an end in site. Especially considering all the places I still have to see. I got my passport right after 9/11 and am not afraid to travel.
Numbers 21 & 24--My 'downside' comment [#20] was meant to be a slam on my mindless fellow countrymen who view
Vegas and Disneyland as the end-all. Non Americans would find both places fun, amusing and mentally stimulating [kind of like a zoo].
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<hr>Passing a critical thinking skills test should be a requirement for being issued a USA passport--- most would fail, solving the 'too many Americans abroad' problem.<hr></blockquote>
Fallacy: Generalization: 0-points
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<hr>Downside is: foreigners wishing to visit 'Vegas' and Disneyland would find hotel bookings hard to come by.<hr></blockquote>
Deductive coclusion to an inductive argument: 0-points, 0-points
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<hr>mindless fellow countrymen<hr></blockquote>
Fallacy: Ad Hominen Abuse: 0-points
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<hr>who view Vegas and Disneyland as the end-all. <hr></blockquote>
Fallacy: Generalization: 0-points
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<hr>kind of like a zoo<hr></blockquote>
Fallacy: abuse: 0 points
...did someone mention ac Critical Thinking test or were they being sarcastic...
> Chanchao - Fox News reporters and employees are being told to
> refer to Bush as "My Liege" (I hope I spelt it right)
My Liege? Is that French translation for the pubic translation of bush?
> I'm for promoting traffic the other way and getting those
> who are so quick to rant on about the US to go visit the place
> and see for themselves.
I tried that, and it didn't work. :) Actually I only really started ranting on the USA since I visited the place. I really liked America, actually I still own a necktie with the stars and stripes.
> I'm sure their prejudices will not stand close scrutiny of the reality
Well... Actually the ones who make it over here to Asia are the most likely to be really cool people. You're not going to find better ones by going there. :) (In all fairness that's true for any country)
That wasn't very clear:
> I really liked America,
Meaning, before going there. As in past tense, sort of around the time I was watching The Dukes of Hazzard and Battlestar Galactica and all. :)
<blockquote>Quote
<hr>> Chanchao - Fox News reporters and employees are being told to
> refer to Bush as "My Liege" (I hope I spelt it right)
My Liege? Is that French translation for the pubic translation of bush?
<hr></blockquote>
Liege as in "My King" Like "My Liege, your humble servant is ready to serve you and report anything you say as the absolute truth"
Another American here, who has to bust bottem to travel (I actually lived in my VAN on the streets of San Francisco for 1.5 years slaving to save money to go to India long term-and yes, I had to quit the best job I ever had to do it)!!!! Let me tell you, showering in pubic gyms, and peeing in disposable coffee cups is NO FUN. (I'm female). Then I found out THE best kept secret in all of the US-that Europeans have MONTHS off each yr. for what they call "holiday". Our government does NOT want us to know this! While we slave our bottems off, in the millions without any health insurance, WHATSOEVER, risking loosing EVERYTHING if we should fall ill.
#28, you hit the nail on the head. But as far as your comment, "besides, as you can see above there's a good deal of prejudice against Americans in the world," I have something to say. Last night I googled "iraq war casualty pictures", for the 1st time ever. We here in the US, my dear, have very, very censored media, as you will tragically become aware of upon viewing this site. Our media outlets are owned by huge corporations (google "the corporation.com and GET this video to become an Enlightened American). Fox is the worst example I can think of. It terrifies me that so many gullable Americans take our media as "fact". If we HAD the media our European cousins do, we'd hit the streets with signs 24-7, stopping all business, traffic, EVERYTHING until our government did all things RIGHT. I love my country. But I love all the people in the world, enough to sacrifice so much personally to interact with them in a deep and meaningful way. To be a PART of them. The American "prejudice" I see comes from the ones who are Republicans, Bush's party-pure and simple.
"They should focus on Jesusland "
wow chachow sounds like you share fox's bigot chip. or is there an apporved bigotry (in which case my parents taught me completely wrong)?
the true reasons most americans don't trave are: 1 - most only get a week a year vacation - how do you get round the world and check it out in that amount of time), 2 - did i mention they live half a world away than most of these places - 20 hours from the west coast to thailand, 3 - money, 4 - we live on a continent that has as much physical beautfy to offer as the rest of the world.
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