Pondering

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Pondering
6
Sun, 04-13-2008 - 11:47pm

While my son was traveling around China, he spent a little time almost every day in internet cafes in order to check in with us to let us know that he hadn't fallen off his train, been struck down by a wierd disease, attacked by Chinese brigands or in any other way faced any of the dangers that some of us kept worrying about  ;)  In one there were a couple of other Americans. One fellow was very unpleasant...kept swearing at all the workers there because his service was too slow, called everyone "pussies" and asked Joe if he were a Jew because his nose was so big. My first thought was that I would hate to think that people were judging Americans, judging me, by that fellow.


I thought of it again tonight while I was listening to the Compassion Forum with Obama and Clinton. He talked a little bit about the town he spent time in when he was young which was primarily Muslim and that he never saw the kind of narrow, dangerous thinking that dominates our news...that they were actually quite tolerant of otherpeople and their ideas. And it made me think of a friend of mine in England who is constantly sending me emails with either diatribes or jokes relating to aliens and illegal aliens. We don't have much of that sort of thing here but we did in Idaho, especially during harvest season. Perhaps I've just been lucky, but the ones that I had any contact with were invariably cheerful, hardworking and very religious people.


It just made me realize how easy it is to characterize large groups of people by the actions of a few. I've certainly done it myself. It's hard when all you have is the media to go by...when they are so far away or so "foreign" in their ideas and lifestyles that most of us don't have a chance to form a first-hand impression. But I've made myself a promise that I will never forget that fellow in China and will use that experience of Joe's to temper my judgments of others and to remember that, when I do travel, I may unknowingly be facing some serious preconceived conceptions about Americans.


Kat

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-09-1999
In reply to: kcope47
Mon, 04-14-2008 - 8:45am

That is so true....the media is Aways looking for ways to hype up the public(IMHO) They make everything such a big deal....they seem to do more inflaming rather that reporting....And yes you are right about preconcieved notions etc...that we often get form the media....


Hugs, Ruth


 


iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
In reply to: kcope47
Mon, 04-14-2008 - 1:08pm

Hi Kat


Unfortunately that is so true. I do my best to remember when I travel outside this country to remember that often we are percived by what those from our country had done before I was there. Respect of other cultures is very important that is for sure.


Love ya


                          &n
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
In reply to: kcope47
Mon, 04-14-2008 - 2:55pm

OMgawwwwwd! If I read your post right, that was
another American trying to judge Joe????

Was that American drunk?

I cannot stand when I go to a foreign country and see
Americans behaving badly, and vice versa. Really breaks
my heart.
When we travel to other countries, we are on our best
American behavior as this is what we represent.
The rewards are good.


~*~ .. ~*~



~*~ Aloha to all .... ~*~

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
In reply to: kcope47
Mon, 04-14-2008 - 7:18pm
Well, at any rate, he was judging Joe's poor nose!
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
In reply to: kcope47
Tue, 04-15-2008 - 2:35am

I have always thought it was so important to be extra courteous when in a foreign country because in many ways we are representing the USA and we should think about that in our travels.

       


 


                              &n

Avatar for sassysooze
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
In reply to: kcope47
Tue, 04-15-2008 - 10:19am

Kat,


Sorry that Joe had to endure the judgement of an obviously rude fellow American.

Susan siggie