Happy Fourth of July

World Hum’s Most Read: June 28-July 3

What We Loved This Week: Def Leppard in Greece, Austrian Competence and Freedom in Colombia

The LAX Theme Building, Then and Now

As a Woman, Can I Really Travel Without Much Fear for my Safety?

Vagabonding traveler Rolf Potts answers your questions about travel

Inside Slum Tourism

With mixed feelings, Rob Verger recently signed on for a tour of Rio de Janeiro’s favelas. He looks back on the experience—and the photos he was allowed to take.

Break Bread and Brie in France

Great cheese abounds in the land of Gaul, but dig in and you risk committing any number of faux pas. Terry Ward explains how to partake of the nation’s famed fromage with savoir faire.

10 Wanderlust-Inducing Summer Concerts

Call it world music or global pop or the sound of the world hum. Ben Keene reveals 10 acts on tour that are sure to transport you. Plus videos.

Bryan Mealer: ‘War and Deliverance in Congo’

The former AP correspondent traveled up the Congo River. Frank Bures asks the author of “All Things Must Fight to Live” about following in the wake of Joseph Conrad. 

A Journey Into ‘The Second World’

Some bureaucrats joke that they would never claim expertise about countries they had not at least flown over. In an excerpt from his new book, Parag Khanna argues that real global understanding can only come from serious travel.

‘The Worst Guidebook Writer Ever’?

Lonely Planet author Robert Reid reviews Thomas Kohnstamm’s “Do Travel Writers Go to Hell?” and weighs in on the controversy surrounding it

How Barack Obama Just Might Improve Your Vacation

Greece doesn’t go mucking about in other countries’ business.  Not that a little mucking here and there isn’t warranted, but we (the USA) kind of take it to a whole ‘nother level.

I’ve had Bangladeshi rice farmers without TV’s complain about Bush.

greek commie bastards can kiss my pro George W American ass . STAY THERE

"curiosity is the best ambassador”

I really like that line.  Nice post, Joanna.

I lived in Germany several years, spent time in 10 EU countries (if the EU has it’s way, there will be no ‘countries’, only the EU), a few others in Asia, and 43 states in the US.

When I talk w/people about the strategic ability of the US in the world, vs the world and US media’s perception of the US (and the leadership of the US Democrat Party), a large majority of them adopt a much more ‘friendly’ opinion of US.  At least they are willing to listen and then decide, unlike the liberals in the US.

So the US should degrade itself just so other countries will ‘like’ us? 

Maybe they should upgrade themselves by trying to be like US?!

An intersting thought, never thought of it like that. It is well known that U.S don’t have a very good impression in the outside world because of George Bush. If Obama comes, or even Hillary, it might get a little better. McCain is just another 4 years of Bush

I’ve only travelled once outside the USA since the 9/11 attacks.  Before - especially when my husband was alive - I’d travelled a bit to “friendly” countries. My late husband had travelled quite a bit due to the nature of his job.  However, my experience has been that most countries are extremely curious about how Americans think.

When I DID travel, I always kept in mind that I was a sort of Goodwill Ambassador for my country, and tried to act accordingly.  I tried never to put down the citizens of the countries that I visited.  Nor did I criticize things like their politicians, their favorite past times, or their favorite foods.  What I would receive was rather interesting.  A lot of people - especially in Australia - always acted like having an American acquaintance gave them status.  I really didn’t mind this that much, but, sometimes it got tiring.  Then there was the curiousity factor.  That was even more tiring.  American celebrities - be it sports, entertainers or politicians - were scrutinized down to that smallest degree.  Then there were the people - usally older - who might’ve had a bad experience with Americans.  Like the attitude of some Brits who lived through World War II.  Most of the time, I could keep my mouth shut, especially in shops and the like.  And, as long as I didn’t bring out my camera.  So many of these same people had to deal with homesick American soldiers, and the experience left them with a bad taste in their mouth.

What I’ve come to learn is that most people in these countries that we have a lasting presence - usually military - actually like the American People.  What they don’t like is American Politics.  The governing officials of these countries have solicited our “help” in dealing with all sorts of problems.  What they don’t take into account is that - when they ask for military help - we can’t just send over weapons.  We must send people who can train them to use the weapons.  Our interference is not appreciated when we tell them that we must teach them in order to help themselves in the future.

These countries really want our money, our weapons, and any supplies we might send in order to blow themselves to smithereens.  I say, let them.  I have the greatest respect for our military (I worked for the Department of the Army for sixteen years).  What these same countries really want us to do is fund their “revolutions” and step back.

I don’t consider myself a prejudiced person.  What I do believe is that these same foreign governments are caught straddling time zones.  I have great respect for the people who worship in the Islamic faith.  I have nothing but contempt for the extreme fanatics who practice genocide.  The so-called leaders of these groups don’t have to worry about day-to-day things like “how do I feed my family”.  They’ve got their own wealth.  But, no where in the Queran does it say “kill Americans”.  Why?  Because it was written in the 8th Century.  Long before the USA even existed.

Since Ancient Times, the Middle-East has had nothing but conflict.  The three major religions of the world - Judaism, Christianity and Muslim - all got their starts there.  The Jews have been around for, oh, about five thousand years.  The Christians have been around for 2,000.  But it is the Muslims who believe they’ve got the market cornered, and, they want to hoard it all, and not let anyone who isn’t of their faith even exist there.  Land is land.  But, it is the attitudes of people everywhere that has to change.

Every religion preaches peace, yet, every major religion has waged Holy Wars since the beginning of time.  The Christian Crusades of the Middle Ages was waged against the Muslime of the time.  Since then, those in power have acted as if they are the Supreme Beings, and, no one should have anything.

During the ‘70s, we suffered through, not one, but, two oil embargos because we - and by that I mean, the USA - have backed the wrong - at least, in the Eye of Islam - horse.  Since then, many things HAVE changed in that part of the world.  Politics changed.  Land ownership changed (Israel, for example, had to give up much of the land it’d had since the ‘70s).  The way we fight a war has changed.  Status has changed.

In the ‘70s - especially after the embargos were lifted - we saw an influx of Foreign Nationals stream into the USA.  And, we have had to adjust our attitudes towards the new wave of immigrants who started coming into our country since then.  Some came to start a better life.  Others, however, came over to sponge of the good will of others and recruit what’s now called “Home Grown Terrorists” into their “Cause”.  What “Cause”?  At the end of the day, no one has achieved anything except to wide the enimosity gap.  Instead of preaching peace, everyone is preaching war.  When will it end?

We don’t know how World War III will be fought, but, we know how World War IV will be.  With sticks and clubs.

I still don’t understand why Greeks love Barack Obama that much! Funny indeed, but I will use this in my European Cruise this holiday! I bet it will work! HA!