American carefree tourists, beware

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/1006/p09s01-coop.html

By Doug Bandow

JAKARTA, INDONESIA – 'It's dangerous here for Americans," said my cab driver. No question.

A few blocks away sat the J.W. Marriott, its facade broken and blackened. Windows were blown out; mutilated blinds swayed in the wind. Wrecked autos sat as silent sentinnels in the hotel driveway.

I noticed Westerners were almost entirely absent from Jakarta's streets. The Indonesians I visited worried about my safety. "People hate Americans," said one. Osama bin Laden posters still sell in some Islamic neighborhoods and rumors circulated that the CIA arranged the Marriott bombing.

To fear being murdered for one's nationality is humbling. The mere fact that Americans are resented doesn't prove that they or their government is wrong. But the fact that such sentiments pervade friendly and hostile nations alike should cause serious reflection.

Common was the "they hate us because we are beautiful" American thesis, expressed in the aftermath of Sept. 11. And, no doubt, some people, particularly Islamists and other traditionalists, do resent a culture that they see as licentious and degrading. But people typically don't kill because they dislike Disneyland, MTV, or liberal democracy.

Independent pollster John Zogby found that Muslims and Arabs like many of the attributes of Western culture. They like American products and freedoms. What they don't like are policies of the US government. It is such policies - long centered on Iraq, Israel, and Saudi Arabia - that have helped spark a hatred strong enough to kill.

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[Bozita]

1. Get some of those "Canada" t-shirts and sweats.

A Canadian passport would remove any question.

[NNN0LHI]

2. Sage advice n/t

[Bozita]

3. with a big red maple leaf.

the bigger the better.

[FreakinDJ]

4. During my last trip

A number of Asian businessmen told me "Nobody will do business with a hostel country"

They have an entirely different view of our actions in Iraq. We had a sense of sympathy and support the world has never seen before and may never again directly after 911. B@shit squandered this sentimate, exchanging it for one of hatered and resentment.
How this person can be called a Journalist for omitting a fact like that is paramount to the alcoholic seeing "Pink Elephants" in his living room.

[pocoloco]

5. They ain't the only ones that

don't like the policies of the US government!

[izzie]

6. What will this do to the ego of people who think like this?

I am an American so can go any place I wish in the world and should be able to go anyplace I wish. Most will also add. and we saved you from something or other. Mixing their history to think we do all right and good in the world. I do not understand them at all.

[parkia00]

7. Actions of some tourists do not reflect well on their country

It takes all kinds. Unfortunately it's always the bozo's that are the loudest and hench attract the most attention. I've met many American tourist. By far the most of them are really nice fun people. But you also have that small percentage of tourist that are "accidents waiting to happen". They are loud, rude, arragont and like to barge they way into things.

Some time ago I saw an American tourist I would say in the mid twenties wearing a white T-shirt with a big US flag on the front and back with bold words saying "Fear Me". Wear that shirt in the M East and see what happens! The other day I nearly ran over and idiot tourist with my car on a busy 3 lane one way road. My light was green and the pedestrian crossing was red. He just strode into the street without even stopping, put his hands up and out in the halt position and crossed the road without breaking his stride. Traffic had to screech to stop for him including me in the middle lane up front. I so wanted to give him a light knock with my car but it wasn't worth the paper work. I gave him a shout and he replied with an American accent. Really sad.

Whan you travel to a foreign land, you have to remember that it's you who are the foreigner.