Anne and I have been completely immersed at our daughter’s “parents’ weekend” here at Georgetown University in Washington DC. We have been getting to know her friends, teachers, deans, dorm, campus, and the surrounding neighborhood. She is just energized to learn and surrounded by new friends that will make the environment here even richer.
I don’t think Anne and I have ever wanted anything so much as to see our daughter Jackie get into this great school. It’s funny when you really want something badly and you have no power. We are so thankful she’s here.
While the students were carrying on with their regular class loads, parents were given a chance to sample the professors here. We attended a lecture by a psychology professor (Fathali Moghaddam) called “How Globalization Spurs Terrorism: Challenges for the Next President.” It reminded me how stimulating the university years are. Here’s a peek at my notes:
Threats of globalization hit different societies differently. We fear losing jobs, while many fear losing their culture.
The demands of the global economy (large-scale units) are pitted against the demands of cultural identity, causing anxiety. Thousands of years ago, the logical social unit was a group of around 500 people. Today that number is getting huge (with vast free trade zones). Cultural diversity is the victim. For example, it’s estimated that there were 15,000 languages on the planet 500 years ago. Today there are about 6,000. By 2100, there will be a predicted 2,000. A handful of languages go extinct every year.
Rising material expectations are unrealistic. Everyone wants to be rich as Orange County. That will result in some pushing and shoving.
Today there is greater movement of people and cultural forces without “pre-adaptation.” Groups are getting into contact without a gradual readiness for contact, resulting in more conflict.
“Sacred carriers” become more important to a group when it is under threat. That’s why the Islamic headscarf (symbolizing the traditional position of women in Islamic society, which is threatened by Western culture) is important to fundamentalist Muslims. That’s also why the American flag is most important to Americans who feel their way of life is threatened. We may ask why the scarf is such a bone of contention. They wonder the same about our flag.
Walking back to our Georgetown hotel — on well-worn red-brick sidewalks past stout and lovingly painted two-story buildings, square yet elegant, and kicking blazing golden leaves that just fell — I thought how great it is that Jackie is being exposed to people like professor Moghaddam, who’s from Iran (and who gave us his home phone when I promised him I’d encourage Jackie to consider him). As we walked, we thought Jackie will enjoy what must be one of the best “U districts” in the entire country. M Street and Wisconsin Avenue are a cancan of tempting places to shop, eat, and drink. I wear my little “Hoya Dad” pin with pride and gratitude. And I can only wonder about the fun and learning this school will bring Jackie.
Rick I am so disappointed in this blog you write. This should be all about Jackie and you made it all about you. She worked so hard to get into such a wonderful place while you were gone months and months out of the year and instead of bragging on her you tell us you scored some professors home phone number. Are you for real? How about describing her excitement, how she is feeling, describe Georgetown university to us and the students you met, or how exciting it is to be a part of american history. Describe the buildings, the enthusiastic look on the kids faces, the anticipation of being a part of history to be. This is your little girls time to shine not yours.
Well, I for one am interested in his thoughts and impressions as a college parent. It is his blog after all.
Rick ………………. This as an excellent blog entry…………… It is fascinating to hear your observations about a country outside Europe [the U.S. Of course]…………… You have a knack of painting a picture whatever the topic is……………. I’m glad Jackie is going to the school of her dreams………….. Your show on Burgundy was excellent and I was thinking as I was watching it that you are getting better and better at writing and putting together your shows………. Keep on bloggin’
This is Rick’s blog, not Jackie’s. And his views as a parent are probably a lot more representative of the readers of this blog……….I suspect that more of us are parents than college students.
Really makes you wish you could go back and be 18 and do this all over again in the world we live in now!
As far as I can tell, Rick has always expressed immense pride in his children regarding their academics and their travel adventures via his show and his blog. Expressing his opinions about whatever aspect he chooses about his own experience and what he learned at Parents’ Weekend at Georgetown hardly diminishes his their accomplishments or their achievements. Let’s please keep things in perspective. Plus, it’s his blog. Certainly he can write about whatever he chooses.
I can’t tell where the notes of the lecture ends and your comments begin, but hey it is Rick’s blog.
It is Rick’s blog. And this entry, as are all preceding, is a small look at the man behind the travel empire. Sadly, I wish I had never had that glimpse.
Great comment, Rick. It serves as a gentle reminder that while the world changes by generation, many are stuck in their own generation rather than growing with the world. I see this often in the comments from some posters. They seem to think all reality is as it was when they were young. As a teacher and coach, I often see parents explaining to their kids “the way things should be”…on too many subjects. No wonder the kids stop listening.
Congrats to your daughter. My Georgetown years were some of the best of my life. Your blog entry brought me back to my years there. Those years stoked my love of travel today. GO Hoyas!
Rick, thanks for the entry. I honestly don’t agree with you on a lot of your viewpoints. On a few of them I do. However, I appreciate learning about your perspective even if I disagree (isn’t this what you talk about in your books and on your shows when interacting with Europeans?). It allows me to see things differently. For some people, they are going to attack right whenever he says something that disagrees with their views. This was about Rick’s experience in visiting his daughter. This wasn’t about what was going on with Jackie. She has the oppotunity to share about her life if she wants. I thought the points that were brought up were very good ones. Just to relate this to travel, I will use just one statement you made – Groups are getting into contact without a gradual readiness for contact, resulting in more conflict. Isn’t that what all of us are about? We want to meet with the locals and connect with them. As Americans who love to travel, we are culturally sensitive and aware of our differences. We all have heard and even experienced the “ugly American.” And I think that attitude exhibits cultural clashes on a greater scale where cultures meet other cultures without any understanding of the differences or even a desire to do so. There are many other points I could touch on from that lecture. For one, Rising material expectations are unrealistic. This all consuming American culture thrices on materialism and spending more than we earn (hence, deep debts and mounting credit issues). So we find an economy that is overinflated by our use of credit and has an insatiable desire for more and more. Anyways, good points Rick. I will stop there. I don’t have to agree with all of your politics to recognize the valid cultural and economic points that were made in the lecture.
I am a student at Georgetown and absolutely loved the talk Rick gave today. I found it inspiring (as I’m sure did many in the audience), and it only reaffirmed my love of travel. You can check out pictures from the event on my blog…which is a “travel blog” of sorts of my DC experiences. http://abudak.tumblr.com/
Marg, Lynn, pull the broomsticks out so you can sit down. Jackie can blog.Lynn, who are you to say it’s a small look. Taking a cheap shot at a public figure is easy. People crawl out from under their rocka all the time and do it.
My daughter and her husband will soon be attending a “parents†weekend” with their daughter at Pepperdine University in London. Already Punky has had a University planned trip to Turkey and Greece, and in the next few weeks will spend a weekend in Brussels and Amsterdam, a three day weekend in Barcelona, and a visit with family friends and cousins in Essen, Germany. I told her that if I knew college could be so much fun I would have attended. My advantage of not graduating from high school or college, includes the right for me not to care who wins a ball game. === Rick says, “Cultural diversity is the victim,†I say “Cultural diversity is the cause.†Diversity must be among countries, not within countries. Would you pay Rick for a tour of the Northern Suburbs of Paris, the “No Whites Allowed†towns in Britain? If I want to see how the Mexicans live I will go to Mexico, not Van Nuys. If I want to know how the Algerians live, I will go to Algeria, not Paris. If we let people go from this country to that, and not require them to adopt the culture of their destination country, soon that culture, therefore that country, will disappear. Rick says, “headscarf … … is threatened by Western culture.†Never, they can do what they want in their country. The problem is that many cultural items such as wearing a head scarf is not a right, it is the law. I want no law enforced cultural item, ever. A country consists of a border and a culture. I don’t care what someone in Saudi Arabia does in their country, but tear down those so-called prayer towers in Detroit, until I can build a Baptist Church in Riyadh. In 1950 I visited the United Nations HQ twice, and I asked that all immigration be stopped, worldwide, except for one thing, Invitation. If a country asks you to come, you can. When we travel we know it is their home, if we don’t like it we can leave. We try not to tell everyone that our home and our culture is best, even though we are positive that it is.
Jim, I’m not sure what’s got you so scared. No one is going to tell you that you can’t be American anymore. People can belong to more than one culture, or even a mixture of cultures. And the ability to embrace multiple cultures makes us stronger, not weaker. No, you probably can’t build a Baptist church in Riyadh. But that’s what’s wrong with Riyadh. Embracing that kind of fundamentalist thinking will lower us to their level. And speak for yourself, but I do not assume that our culture is best. I think that overall it is good, but there are plenty of other countries that also have strong cultural traditions. Some cultures have elements that are disturbing, but they are almost always fringe elements. It is impossible and irrelevant to say which culture is “best”. They are just different, and we would be wise to learn what we can from others as we ask them to learn what they can from us. I hope that you can take these comments in the spirit in which they are made. I don’t expect you to agree, but I hope that we can disagree civilly.
Dear Jim H. It might be a good exercise to take an ethnic dna test. They are not terribly advanced yet, but will give you an idea of the many different ethnic origins that are in some of us. $100 to $1000. Hate to think you are not worth listening too since you aren’t a full and real German (or whatever you are). Mixing of cultures is nature in action, my friend and always has been. From the migrating fishes of the sea to the birds of the air to the gradual human migrations. San Francisco’s old Chinatown wasn’t China, but sure was an enjoyable experience. Todays new China town isn’t as nice as the old one, but it’s getting there. btw, America is GREAT, but will never be a GREAT Chinese country. Get my point? We all have greatness if we decide to kick the “We’re THE greatest” habit. Such an attitude is quite boorish and I’d have only boorish friends if I thought that way.
I am surprised by some of the responses on this blog. Maybe we need a lesson on blogging. I don’t really think you should be telling the blogger of his or her own blog what to write! Because you are all free to have your own blog!
Well I’m jealous! I live in Georgetown and I wish I could have heard Rick’s talk!! I guess you had to be a student there though, oh well.
Gunther, that’s difficult to answer, since apparently you have no idea what a culture is. How about = the ways of life including arts, beliefs and institutions of a population that are passed down from generation to generation = a shared, learned, system of values, beliefs and attitudes that shapes and influences perception and behavior, and on and on. Culture has nothing to do with a physical feature. Chinatown in Frisco must be a museum, nothing more. The reason you travel is to learn about other cultures. As I said earlier, would you pay for a Steves tour to the suburbs of Paris? You said, “you aren’t a full and real German.†To be a German has nothing to do with culture, that is ethnicity, race, or nationality. If you like a culture, live there, don’t try to bring it here. If someone moves here, they must assimilate, or go home. It’s fascinating to see vineyards, hay-making, orchards, houses, cemeteries, and other items so dissimilar in this, and other countries, and so different and distinct in each country. That’s what makes travel so exciting. The real answer is, “this one†is not better than “that one,†just different! In travel, as in life -different strokes for different folks. It’s obvious the English are different from the Germans, who are different from the French, who are different from the Italians, who are different from the Greeks, who are different from – Viva La Difference! That’s diversity as it is intended to be, from country to country, not within a country. When we visited Greece for a month, we found the Greeks to be a most friendly and helpful people. But when we visited Nuremberg, Copenhagen, Stockholm, and other such places, we found the Greeks to be a problem. They were trying to live their culture, while in another culture. I have never seen a item of Culture in any of the 70 or so countries we have visited, that I would like to import, and replace an item of our culture, ever.
I think Jim’s post is being misunderstood….. I believe his point is that when WE travel to other countries, we don’t try to directly impose OUR culture on others. That’s not to say that we don’t do it in an indirect or innocent manner, but when you look at what’s happening here in America, people are coming here and FORCING their cultures on us! There is much to be gained in understanding the cultures of others, however what makes a country strong IS the commonality of its people. Those who say ‘diversity is our strength’ are fools! It is our commonality that IS our strength, and as it is eroded through an overabundance of diversity, we are severely weakened! The great motto fo our founders, E pluribus unum means “Out of Many, One”. Unchecked diversity leads to “out of many, many!”. The immigrants of the early 1900’s came here to escape the opression of their homelands and to BE Americans; to embrace our values and opportunities our country provided. The immigrants of today come here to escape the operession of their homelands, while expecting us to cater to their needs (i.e free healthcare, free education), as they refuse to assimilate to OUR values and our way of life. If this trend continues, it will lead to the ultimate distruction of America as we have known it.
Wow, you think that America’s culture is not imposed on others? What world do you live in? America’s “culture” has changed through time as new people have settled here. Back in 1620 you had the Puritans in New England, the Elizabethans in Virginia, then we get the Germans moving into Pennsylvania. Oops, there’s a new culture. Were we supposed to not accept any parts of that new culture? Hmm, didn’t the Christmas tree come from the Germans? Better not put one up this Christmas. America is a blend of many cultures. That’s what’s makes us strong. I remember the Christmas when my sister’s in laws joined us for Christmas. Our Christmas Eve included a dinner of Oyster Stew and white wine. With the additions of the Robertson’s we got 4 kinds of herring and Aquavit. We haven’t had them back for 15 years, but we still have herring and aquavit on Christmas Eve.
Jim Humberd, I used to think you were a man of substance, but obviously I was wrong. Those “so-called prayer towers” are called minarets, understand? This country has freedom of expression covered in the Bill Of Rights, therefore the right to worship as you wish. As a Christian, I’m perpetually appalled by the the ethnocentric conceits carried by “good Americans”. How does anyone believe this country grew and developed to what it is..we are not monolithic. Exactly what is an “American culture” anyway? Was Jefferson less of a patriot because he owned a Qu’ran? I just came back from two weeks in Spain, a nation with a history unlike any other European nation. The Moors ruled nearly 800 years, and that North African legacy is still prevalent today. From La Mezquita and La Alhambra, and the Albayzin to the “El” preceding their words which comes from the “Al” in Arabic, the Spainiard cannot escape the Moorish (see Islamic) influence. How foolish would it be to try to ignore this contribution to manufacture a history that’s comfortable. (Like putting a church in the middle of the Mezquita, it just doesn’t fit.) This lack of acceptance is troubling: where in the rules does it say you must travel thousands of miles away to appreciate other cultures? Do you realy believe all the Framers were Protestant Christians? Why do you think there is a separation of church and state? For someone who claims to have traveled to all points of the globe, you show a profound jingoistic bent, Mr. Humberd. And by the way, I know some Germans who would be quite offended by the assertion that their is no German culture.
Rick, from reading Jackies blog over the summer it was clear she is a brilliant and grounded independent young woman. Where Andy’s blog is filled with the fun and young man good times, Jackie’s is filled with deep and thoughtful insights that is going to make her a top notch student. What I notice and also applaud is that they are attending Catholic universities here in the US instead of running off to a university abroad. Maybe Cambridge and Oxford give us a run for our money but I cannot think of any other universities in the EU that even come close to Notre Dame and Georgetown. Has she declared a major yet? Somehow I think it will wind up being in Internatinal Affairs…she has a brilliant future ahead of her.
Rick…… here’s an interesting college story: A young woman was about to finish her first year of college. Like so many others around her with liberal ideals, she was very much in favor of higher taxes to support more government programs, in other words redistribution of wealth. She was deeply ashamed that her father was a rather staunch Republican, a feeling she openly expressed. One day she was challenging her father on his opposition to higher taxes on the rich and the need for more government programs. He responded by asking how she was doing in school. Taken aback, she answered rather haughtily that she had a 4.0 GPA. Her father listened and then asked, ‘How is your friend Audrey doing?’ She replied, ‘Audrey is barely getting by. All she takes are easy classes, she never studies, and she barely has a 2.0 GPA. Her wise father asked his daughter, ‘Why don’t you go to the Dean’s office and ask him to deduct 1.0 off your GPA and give it to your friend who only has a 2.0. That way you will both have a 3.0 GPA and certainly that would be a fair and equal distribution of GPA.’ The daughter, visibly shocked by her father’s suggestion, angrily fired back, ‘That’s a crazy idea, and how would that be fair! I’ve worked really hard for my grades! I’ve invested a lot of time, and a lot of hard work! Audrey has done next to nothing toward her degree. She played while I worked my tail off!’ The father slowly smiled, winked and said gently, ‘Welcome to the Republican party.’ If anyone has a better explanation of the difference between Republican and Democrat I’m all ears.
Commonality is what binds us together, but we have to be prepared to look deeper than the obvious differences. The Puritans came here seeking an opportunity for a better life than they believed they could achieve at home; ironically, that’s what drives modern day immigration, isn’t it? The lack of tolerance in some of these posts is appalling.
Angie….. what is your definition of ‘lack of tolerance’?
Someone who thinks they’re “top of the heap” and doesn’t want to “see” other cultures.
Angie, there is nothing wrong with immigration and I certianly do not oppose it, so long as it’s done legally. Most immigrants who follow the ‘legal’ channels are respectful of our society, values and culture. By coming here legally, they are in effect stating “I want to BE an American”. Unfortunately, MOST of the immigrants currently in this country are here illegally. They WANT us to provide necessary services to them, while they reap the benefits of being here. They do not WANT to be American’s…..they simply want the free ride that we give them to the detriment (unfortunately) of our own citizens. California spends 11-13 billion/year on them and is broke!This is something we as a society should simply NOT tolerate. Do you think you could go to Mexico, or a country in Europe and be taken care of at the expense of its citizenry? Something to think about……
Greg, in these posts, I see intolerance in telling Rick what he can and cannot write in his own blog, for pete’s sake, to Jim Humberd’s statement that diversity must be among countries, not within countries. I now live in Chicago after growing up in a very homogenous smaller city a couple of hours west of Chicago and much prefer it for its diversity. I LIKE being able to go to a heavily Middle Eastern or Asian neighborhood for their groceries, restaurants and different shopping opportunities. Is the same as going to the country? No, but its a taste and it helps tide me over until I can afford to travel again. There’s a community center-type building not far from where I live–I’m not sure who it’s for, could be Muslim, could be Hindu, I don’t know for sure, but the women generally wear clothes that appear to be Indian to me. I see nothing wrong with its presence in my community. If a bunch of white guys can get together in a Masonic lodge, why can’t people who aren’t white guys have a community center-type place?
If someone moves here, they must assimilate, or go home. Jim, using your “logic”, we all should be dressed in loin cloths, be using stone tools, be living in teepee’s and eating peyote to see God “properly”.
Wow I didn’t know that we were losing a handful of languages every year. I am trying to find the best way to learn the Swedish language. I enjoy watching your show on PBS. God Bless You and Yours!!!
Rick, Globalism is an ultimate one world banking project that eliminates the root of all cultures in replacement of a multi-national corporation model. Although I enjoy your work in the travel industry, I think you land on the side of the globalists in your not so nuanced rather consistent attack on american soverignty. If we were only a little bit less americans and a little bit more aligned with the values of the UN things would be cogent with the left. Call me nationalist if you will – it’s God, family and country for me, BTW, whoops! I’m a faithful Roman Catholic (faithful to the teaching of the RCC (magisterium) not to a personal secular version of catholic teaching. I don’t see the appeal with the UN as a more worthy governing body than our own nation unless you despise our nation as does most progressive liberals (Obama/Wright/Ayers/etc.) On the Iran project, I applaud your sincere effort to bring more public visibility to that Muslim theocracy that says the holocaust was over blown, but once again, heavy overtones in anti-americanism. Refer to the facts of concern from the latest UN study about Iran here: http://www.abfiran.org/attachments/doc_1081.pdf?tr=y&auid=4155332
To say “most progressive liberals despise our nation”, pretty much tells me you don’t have any balance in your life. I am a proud progressive liberal in the tradition of Thomas Jefferson and have never met a liberal that despises America…only some of the hateful things some American’s have said and done, contrary to our founding principles. Might want to balance your Fox news and Hateriot Radio “education” with something a little less hateful.
Funny how so many ‘progressives’ on these blogs loathe Fox News! Could it be that there’s an intolerance for contrary opinion to the like mindedness of CNN, NBC, ABC, et al?
Hard to “tolerate” an open, oozing sore, which is what the Fox Network is. No redeeming social value whatsoever. No other network even comes close to Fox for debasing our society. It is sad that the open wound attracts so many flies.
Bill…. if you don’t like it don’t watch it. Interesting you ‘seem’ to know so much about it! I’m sure your a BIG fan of Air America.
Foghorn (good moniker) > “I am a proud progressive liberal in the tradition of Thomas Jefferson and have never met a liberal that despises America”<, Ok, fair enough so you don't despise the USA. It's encouraging to hear a liberal confess that - did you confess that when GW was elected? I'm sincere when I say that 'most' of the progressive liberals despise our nation and express that Castros Cuba has more virtue- in my experience living in the SF area. What would you say to Rev. Wright and B. Ayers whom liberals cover for and defend? Or M. Obama "This is the first time in my life I've been proud of my country"? First time?
Marc. I’m a 58 year old native SF Bay Area resident. I don’t understand any of the points you are trying to make. All your comments appear to be right wing knee jerk nonsense. If me or any of my friends hated “America”, we would probably leave it. Instead, when we find things that don’t work for our society, we work to fix them. That is probably because we love our country. Why do you hate Americans so much?
Air America has just as rotten content as FOX. They shame all liberal thinkers.
Foghorn from Frisco, I see your insensed by my inference that typical liberal progs despise traditional american values, or is it just traditional family values? Why is it that so many of the liberal prog politicians in power now in the US have professed common roots in the Saul Alinsky school of thought (i.e., Rules for Radicals)? It’s in the record and what was true yesterday is also true today and tomorrow unless there is an honest professed change of heart. I don’t hate america, I hate sin, that make slaves of humans and eventually eats their souls. Marxist philosophy is based on deceit and subtrafuge of the common good in turning all good upside-down through stystematic propaganda lies. The doctrine calls for penetrating the heart of the family in order to break their faithfulness to the Church (RCC) This is dark. Look at our social breakdown today and you’ll see marxist blueprints in all the details. No marxist will ever silence our freedom of reason of that which is good, true and beautiful.