My recent post has caused some to say I’m America-bashing and making light of a risk because I want to protect my business. Like Obama keeps saying “I’m a Christian,” I keep saying, “I love America, I’d live nowhere else, and I’m committed to helping my country be the best it can.”
I am in the tourism business. And, of course, overreacting to the fear of terrorism (or anything) is something I will be inclined to speak out against. Life is full of risks. By living life fully and with a healthy abandon, you take more risks. I do. I’d have it no other way. I’ve had a bad shoulder for four months from climbing a silly rock wall at REI. Do I regret it? Sure. Do I want to change and live my life in a completely risk-averse way? No way.
The obvious way to help those thinking about European travel not overreact to sensational and fear-mongering news reports is to give a traveler’s perspective ‘ and try to put things in terms people who don’t get out much can relate to.
We live in the US with the risks that entails. So I compare safety in Europe to safety here at home. Like anyone, I use statistics to serve the point I’m making. I throw around numbers about gunshot deaths in the US, not because I’m anti-gun, but because I want people to see the risk of violence in Europe in a fair perspective. I get my numbers from standard sources like anyone else. I’ve long said 13,000 people are killed annually by firearms. Last month, when I was trying to put 9/11 in statistical perspective, I asked a staff researcher to get me that and other figures. He gave me 30,000 gun deaths annually with a reliable source so I used that figure. People have questioned this number (as if 13,000 deaths would make less of a point). So here is the background:
The US government Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says in 2007 there were just over 31,000 firearm deaths in USA: roughly 17,000 from suicide, 13,600 from murder, 600 accidental, 400 from legal intervention (“you come into my house and I’ll shoot you”). Other sources come up with similar numbers. Of course, the NRA emphasizes lesser figures.
In any case, those driven by staying as safe as they possibly can be should know that, when it comes to being murdered, Europe ‘ in the worst times of terrorism ‘ is much safer statistically than the US. Like the Mariners finishing in last place and Obama’s a US-born Christian…it’s a simple fact.
Jeez-Lueez. I feel your pain. As an American who has been living in Europe for a long time, I am well familiar with this problem. If I tell my relatives back home that even one thing is better in Europe than in America (“lower crime rates” are an easy example), you would think that I just announced that I was joining the communist party, growing a beard and moving to Geewhizastan to join a pot-smoking (sorry Rick), nudist, fanatical guerrilla group that hates us for our freedom. All I said was crime rates are lower in Europe. That I see first-graders commuting to school unchaperoned on Public Transit and they are safe. That women go walking/jogging ALONE through the forest near my house and feel safe. Seems ridiculous that –even now — I feel compelled to add “No, I`m not anti-American”. Is it perfect in Europe? Of course not. But I do wish one of my siblings would be open to the idea that — just maybe — something beneficial could be picked-up by at least considering that Europe might be doing something right.
I definitely agree that things get blown out of proportion by the media. There are many examples but the recent BP oil spill is going to be a classic. Oil washed up on Louisiana marshes but reporters standing on Pensacola beaches kept showing oil spill clips and ranting. Very little oil ever made it to Florida and what did was cleaned up almost instantly. Unfortunately, the hype killed the Florida summer tourist season and I suspect it will also hurt the winter season. Rick – hitting on guns, Obama and US-born Christian is just asking for flame throwers to show up. BTW, I loved your daughter`s blogs.
You have done a good job since 2001 to try and make people confortable with travel. I see Americans becoming more anxious and a bit obsessed about many things. People have engaged in criminal activities that they would never have. Crazy people seem to appear in the media while the rest of us just try to work hard, raise our families and enjoy this great life that God gave us. I think the silent majority needs to do what we have always known is the right thing. If you don`t get out there anywhere you will have a very narrow perspective.
Speaking of simple facts…When I first started traveling to Europe (mostly thanks to Rick), I was taken completely aback by the simple truth that people happily live in places other than America. Earthshaking revelations like that only happen when you squeeze out of your comfort zone to broaden your perspective. Thanks Ricko for encouraging us all to do so!
I`m in full support of you Rick, you were not bashing America, you were just trying to put things in perspective. There are so many people that have their finger on the trigger to say that someone is bashing America for just stating facts. It`s just this hyper partisan atmosphere that we live in today. Don`t let the wing nuts get to you.
Regardless of whether you think Rick is America-bashing, I think we can all agree that the visual of him climbing a rock wall is a pretty good one! It gave me a giggle, anyway.
If someone is really worried about getting murdered they won`t travel anywhere. During my many trips to Europe I have suffered from pickpockets, especially in Spain and France Crime is usually confined to certain areas. I am sure that is true in most foreign countries. I have received a general warning when visiting Rio and a friend was killed at Copacabana beach in a shootout between police and bank robbers. Rick just can`t help himself when he injects some silly liberal notion into his arguments. If he were simply interested in travel he would make some attempt to be non political in his writings. A bigger risk to travel is the disasterous monetary policies enacted by the B.O. administration. As the dollar weakens travel will become more expensive.
Andrew, Calling other bloggers wingnuts just contributes to that “hyper partisan atmosphere” you refer to. Everybody that reads this blog obviously loves to travel and is not going to shutter their travel plans to Europe because of crime or general threats. What has been missing in this whole issue is Rick Steves` avoidance of discussing what and who is behind the security threats that resulted in the State Department even issuing those warnings. Regardless if you ignore these threats and act as if they do not mean anything, the fact is that radical Islam is behind these threats, but you won`t hear a liberal like Rick Steves discussing that. Ignorance, no matter how well-traveled and enlightened you may THINK you are, truly is bliss.
For me, part of the fun of travel is stepping outside my box. When it seems scary, I remind myself I am as likely to die walking down the street at home as I am flying in a 5 man prop over the Nasca Lines (with instructions on how to fly the plane above the window) … Terrorism/Nasca Plane … It`s all about perspective and the willingness to step out beyond fear. Conscious living I call it.
Thank you for your insight Rick. I have followded your travel advice for 17 years now and have not skipped a beat, not even once. I once was in Surgery and had lost a patient. When it was over I decided that life was not a dress rehersal. What is the worse possible thing that can happen to you in your adventures? I could die? Well I guess that I would die doing something that I loved doing. Travel and live life to its fullest my friends.
Speaking of “sensational and fear-mongering news reports”, are there bed bugs in Europe?
Rick, follow your own advice and tune out the noise that you know you don`t need to hear. The people who are accusing you of being “anti-American” are idiots who think that “anti-American” means “anti-My-America.” Whether you are anti-American or not doesn`t matter. It`s actually anti-American to deride someone for being anti-American. Just ask John Adams. It`s our duty to fight for freedom and liberty. The problem is that this time it`s more threats from within than threats from without that are compromising our freedom and liberty. Our fear-mongering media wants to hold us captive to our television sets – afraid to turn them off – so that they can keep throwing advertising in our faces. Rick, please tune out the morons.
Agree! Plenty of us Americans live in European cities and thoroughly appreciate how safe we feel here.
Hi Rick. I am a fan, customer and sympathetic to your delicate, balanced message. So, I hope you will take these two pieces of advice within the spirit of genuine, constructive critique that it is intended. When you write with your “specific pen” like references to numbers, you may want to consider referencing your source. And when you write more “broad brush” statements like “drone attacks inside Pakistan in the last month, killing many good and bad people,” you also may want to be cautious and also reference your comments (i.e. who were the “good” people you reference?). You have many educated followers who are probably a bit more informed about some of the things you sometimes write. At times, your casual use of information may erode your credibility and send unintended messages. Maybe your last posts falls into this category. I, for one, do not want that to happen to you. You are a treasure. Sincerely appreciate what you do. Keep up the great work. Love you.
I too agree that Rick wasn`t necessarily `America bashing`, however you have to remember that he has spent practically 1/3 of his life in Europe, and thus his views tend to be skewed more to their way of thinking, so it`s easy to misinterpret his points. Essentially, he`s saying that the odds of you being killed are still probably higher than you winning the lottery! However, in terms of safety, I think the gun argument misses the point. Islamic terrorists blow your ass up…..they don`t shoot you! I think if you look historically at the number of bombings throughout Europe over the years (Ireland, subways, nightclubs, etc.), you are far more likely to find yourself in `small pieces` over there than over here. Fortunately however, Rick has armed his followers by teaching us to `go local` and avoid many of the touristy places that might be easy targets for the extreme nut jobs.
My understanding of the travel warnings were they were not specifically issued to Americans but also to people in Europe as well. Reading the articles I thought they were warning people of two countries in particular France and Germany that were of particular concern not all of Europe. When I was coming back from Croatia on the 23rd I read an article in the WSJ which implied that Turkey was going to be kept out of the EU because of its muslim roots and the EU was afraid that too many Muslims would start moving into the EU too freely if that happened and the article targeted Germany and France as wanting to keep Turkey/Muslims out of the EU as they felt there were too many already in Europe already. I believe that there is no lost love between radical Muslims and Germany and France who represent the Western Rich Front now. Personally I don`t think they are targeting Americans but Westerners in general so an attack could happen anywhere. What can you do? I think all governments are doing a great job with weeding out credible threats and keeping us safe. The only thing that might make me rething travel is if one of these groups shot down a plane with a ground to air missle- other than than I am vigilant on the ground.
I agree that the targets of these threats are Westerners. There is a war going on right now between radical Islamists who do not like what the west stands for, be it our freedoms, values, material wealth [INVALID] which allows us the privilege to travel by the way. Vigilance is a given and travelers should not necessarily change their travel plans, however, I strongly feel that everybody needs to wake up to the threats that face our way of life. There is nothing wingnutty about that.
Rick, thank you for stating your source for the statistics that you reference. I agree with Sue in thinking that when you throw out “numbers” I would like to know your source. I for one have a tremendous amount of respect for you and do not in any way think that you were bashing America. I think that as responsible travelers we need to be aware of our surroundings, but not fearful. Travel with an open mind and accept the differences that you encounter.
“…Obama`s a US-born Christian…” HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
I completely agree with your terrorism posting. I am also an American who loves my country but refuses to let the media frighten me or influence my decisions about where I travel. Thank you for the info.
Rick, I can not help but think back to the late sixties and early seventies when people on the right were yelling “America, love or leave it” to anyone who dared to disagree with them; they seemed to believe only they, and those who agreed with them, had the right to speak up and voice their opinion about public issues. I remember Sen. McGovern answered them by saying “America, improve it or lose it.”
Right now there is so much to be angry about and with anger comes violence. I started traveling in 1996 to Europe and although not a very long tenure of traveling I feel a difference when I go there now then when I went there in the late 90`s. People are more vigilent and there is not the same feel of optimism as there was. People riot in the streets of Paris and burn cars, London had its terror attack of 2005 along with more violence and drugs, Greeks are pelting parliment with rocks. France and Germany are probably being targeted because of their recent stance of the Berka and making it illegal. Not all people want good for us. I love traveling to Europe but I miss the old days before there was the European Union and all the change that brought to each country. I think Europe has more unrest and growing pains right now than we do but it will not stop me from traveling there, where I don`t think I would travel alone in Washington DC as a tourist. I think the threats are credible and I think the government agencies are handling it well.
I love foreign travel. I do enjoy those who lament the fact that certain jobs are being outsourced to a foreign country. When you travel to a foreign country you are encouraging the outsourcing of jobs that can be done in America. Each hotel room you stay in could have benefited an American hotel should you have decided to travel America. A job has been lost that would have cleaned that empty room you chose to avoid. A restaurant lost profit when you did not eat that meal while traveling. Etc., etc.,
Right now there is another war going on and Terrorism, and that is the Mexican Cartel that is running rampid through the Western States from Boarder to Boarder. Why don`t we look at that as Terrorism. They bring most of the illegal drugs into the states and take the money back to Mexico. Tourists and residence of Mexico are killed by these people everyday. Mexicans come to the US to get their families away from this terrorism. And Americans still feel “safe” to vacation in Mexico. We may never be able to beat Radical Islamists , we may have to live with it.
I have always said that every American should travel abroad. It is an eye opener and an antidote to the constant barrage of fear-provoking headline news. Many people I know don`t even own a passport, yet they consider themselves authorities on the dangers in other countries.
I just got back from Barcelona and that is a city rife with crime. I`ll never go back there. I was mugged and my camera stolen. Four other times my wife and I were accosted by pickpockets in the Metro`s turnstiles and on the escalator, all in a matter of a week. I plan to visit other cities in Europe, as I have in the past, such as Venice, Paris and London. They are very safe in my opinion. But you have to be on alert every minute in Barcelona. It`s just not worth it.
Great post Rick…especially the bit about the Mariners :)
As someone who was with the ETBD London city tour and in the tube on 7-7 when the bombs went off ( 2 stations away ) let me say that Europe is not necessarily safer than my small Ohio home town. The last thing we had blown up at home was my neighbor`s turkey fryer. I don`t think he is a terrorist though, just a nut. I was very impressed with the Brits after the bombings, as they certainly got things back to normal as soon as possible. The next day most things were as if nothing had happened. Then again many of these folks lived through the Blitz. The Rick Steves tour did not really miss a beat through all of this. Just some slight modifications to the schedule. I believe Rick was in the city at this time also. My wife and I then took our niece and nephew on the 21 day Best of Europe tour after our week in London and had a fabulous time. Terrorism really wasn`t even thought of after we left London, and we met Rick in Paris at the end of our tour!
Those of us living on this side of the Atlantic are not the only ones receiving warnings about terrorist attacks. According to media reports today, the French government issue the same type of “warning” to it`s citizens regarding travel in Britain, while the British government warned it`s citizens about travel in France and Germany. I think it`s important to remember that this recent bulletin is more of a “caution” and the authorities are NOT elevating this to a full travel warning. I don`t have any trips planned at the moment, but wouldn`t hesitate to travel.
Rick, So you think it`s an obvious FACT that Obama is a US born Christian. Maybe you`ve been privileged enough to see what the rest of us have not [INVALID] the original birth certificate and not a copy. Have you also seen his college transcripts?. Since you like to base your opinions on facts, why don`t you acknowledge the FACT of Muslim extremism and al-Qaida as being behind terrorism aimed at the West and Europe? Do you not feel that those groups should likewise show tolerance towards others like Christians, Jews, women, etc.?
Rick, few people object to your overall message that it`s safe to travel in Europe (a view I share and heartily endorse). The issue comes when you gratuitously throw in complex domestic political issues and make sarcastic, simplistic statements about them. I`ve been doing some studying on the topics of culture shock and psychological impacts of experiencing a different culture. A cultural coping mechanism which appears to fit your views quite well is “Polarization-Reversal,” a phase in which the person becomes “overly critical… of (his) own cultural values and practices… (while having an) uncritical view of other cultural values and practices.” Your admitted and sudden conversion to Reagan conservative to European-style Social Democrat fits the profile exactly.
Recent book touching on this topic: Were You Born on the Wrong Continent? Written by an American who wouldn`t change his nationality but sees advantages/opportunities in the European system.
Ugh… the above comment should read “…FROM Reagan conservative…”
Thumbs up Rick!!
I am continually amazed by the fact that most Americans put so much trust in the “mass” media when it comes to issues concerning the way of life in Europe. It is these same people who also put their faith in the corrupt politicians, wall street, and banking institutions that have bankrupted America. I am an American who lived in Europe for 9 years and travel back there with my family as often as possible. I have never encountered a single instance of crime, hatred, or terrorism during my time in Europe. I find the people to be friendly, respectful, and interesting. If you are considering a trip to Europe, by all means do your homework and plan it out. I would suggest sites like this, or Trip Advisor. Good luck
I just returned from Europe after a wonderful 2 month adventure. And the first thing I tell people is how SAFE I felt everywhere I went. I was never afraid to walk alone at night back from a pub or club. I never felt like someone was going to jump out of the alley and put a gun to my head. In fact, I was asked by several Europeans, `Don`t they shoot like everyone in America?` Which, yes is pretty ridiculous, of course people aren`t being shot everywhere, but when you read the statistics and see how the media hypes every single gunshot death here, you can`t fault them for asking.
Rick, From one American loving guy to another… Thanks for the interjection of a bit of sanity in an otherwise less then sane world. I`ve traveled extensively and must convey that the physical act of breathing incurs risk…I find it amazing that some folks will demonize certain media outlets if it appears they do not concur with their personal faith or political beliefs. Yet,these same folks, then accept, as gospel truth, the fearmongering of the same media outlets regarding the recent travel concerns. I guess we all suffer from some form of “situational ethics” or truth… We plan on visiting Paris later this month and look forward to a great time…thanks again ! Lars
I agree,saying that crime in the U.S. is more dangerous than in Europe is not anti-American. But I`m also finding it difficult to locate any quotes or positive statements of what Rick likes about America. You can only focus on the negative aspects for so long before people start to get depressed or fight back. You need to combine the positive and the negative to keep moral up.
Sadly our childlike president is the most negative public voice against the USA. Someone please list” the shining city on a hill” statements he has ever made. Liberals tend to be like the perpetually nagging wife who always finds fault with her husband until he is dead. Then she grieves him as a saint. Let us pray the country does not need to pass before we all appreciate what we have. I HAVE read several positive statements from Rick about his home country however.
To KenK, You seriously think that President Obama is the most negative voice against the USA? Do yourself a favor and please stop being brainwashed by Fox News, I don`t think that you can perceive reality objectively. I`ll state this simply, If you can`t recognize a problem, you will never be able to fix one. So if Obama may have said that some things need to be fixed, he is not bashing America, he is just trying to acknowledge that problems exist and that they need to be addressed. Such as maybe, the financial system, healthcare, as well as how we are perceived by the world.
Hi Rick, I fully agree with your comments. Good show! And let`s move on and talk about something more interesting like travelling. This is an argument that no one will win. ;)
Interesting that Fox News is by far the MOST watched news source in the U.S., yet all you seem to hear on this blog is how `bad` they are. Perhaps it`s all you Fox bashers that need to open your mind to reality!
Henry I apologize. Perhaps BO is not the most negative public voice but certainly he IS the most negative Presidential voice I have ever listened to. He is the anti-Reagan. By the way, I do not watch Fox. I do not watch television at all at home, only when I am on vacation. Then it is almost always CNN International. By the way wasn`t the Islamic world supposed to love us by now? I believe the only major change in how the world views us since BO was installed is that Great Britain now seems to NOT like us so much. But then I do not perceive reality so well. One more note, Rick is much more pro USA when on his speaking tours. I heard him in Toledo and he was quite positive.
My first question is what standard did the studies use as “violent” behavior. And what is considered “safe”. What was the range of years looked at and what was the sampling and standard deviation. What countries were included as “Europe” in the studies. I live in small town US not to far from a big city and I feel very safe here. I have visited Europe tons of times and feel safe in some areas and not safe in others, it is all realative. What actually is america bashing- if it is the terrible things Rick has said about our governmnent or the american people then yes it is america bashing but it is also free speech. I was more concerned, honestly, when he was trying to shove that commuist rag down our throats a few years ago, the Nation. I think the people that read his books or take his tours are HIGHLY educated people and can filter through his thoughts and convictions and say “hey his not mine” and take from him what information we need or want. Is Obama Christian -I don`t care what I care about is his politics and what they are doing to my business bottom line as a self employed person.
So BO is just trying to recognize problems we have known about for a long time? I would hope any leader would not have developed a course of action that not only makes conditions worse but loses the confidence of the electorate. BO`s health care measures were and are rejected by the electorate and the politicians will have to pay for this and other malfeasance conducted during the last two years.
I don`t think anyone can make a sweeping generalization about which place is safer – the U.S. or Europe – because each state and each country is so different. Also, whether you feel safe in a certain place depends on who you are. As a disabled person, I feel very safe and secure in my American hometown, but I felt extremely insecure around all the skinheads and ultra-nationalists I encountered in England, Russia, Italy and Germany. I wouldn`t even go back to Russia unless I had a security detail with me. It`s THAT bad there for minorities. And believe me, an Asian person is far safer in my American city than in Moscow or Bucharest. As for terrorism, I don`t understand Rick`s argument. If the U.S. and European governments receive credible evidence of an imminent terrorist attack on western tourists, they have a responsibility to notify people about it (and to try to stop it). That`s a no-brainer.
Dear FC, First of all Moscow and Bucharest are not in Europe and secondly, I am not quite sure which parts of Germany or Italy you visited, but if there were lots of skinheads there, everyone should steer clear, even the Europeans. Skinheads are also in America and everyone should avoid them as well. As for statistics, you are incorrect, there actually are dozens of them showing that the overall European crime rate is greatly lower than that of America. I will admit that the addition of the latest EU countries have impacted these stats a bit(but I honestly do not consider these new additions as the “real” Europe) it is always a good idea to research the destination first and plan accordingly. One more note: Does anyone remember how all of this Global negativity and economic turmoil got started? Does the name Bush ring a bell. (Another proven statistic)
Dante….. you could not be more misinformed and partisan! If you think that ONE MAN could wreck this kind of global havoc, then you are amazingly naive! Do you really think that Bush has caused the virtual collapse of the Greek and Irish economies? Read some history and be objective about it….. there`s plenty of blame to go around! All governments, ALL parties!
The most negative american bashers are Rush Limbaugh, Tom Sullivan and Cable News stations.
Would someone, anyone please quote me something Rush Limbaugh has said that disparages this nation. Limbaugh is one of only a few people on air that believes in American Exceptionalism.
I agree with Rick. What is life worth if you never take risk? Now there is a difference between calculated risk and flying by the seat of one`s pants. For years Rick has taught us how to travel wise and smart. The fact is that even though there is a terror threat right now in Europe, the warnings are way too general[INVALID]Don`t go to tourists attractions, don`t go to airports, metros, train stations… A person might as well stay home, never go out, but how can someone live like that?! Plus what about the natives, they must go on with their lives. For example, just think of all those people in the Middle East who keep going to the markets even though those are the very places suicide bombers attack. 20 people, dead, 50 people, dead… and yet the dust clears and people go on with their daily lives. In the world we live in, we are only “relatively safe”. Danger lurkes in many places. America, Eroupe, where ever. Form trips around your comfort level, be smart and keep on traveling!
Reading some of the comments, I can not help but think a realist is in the eyes of an optimist a pessimist. Perception colors our view of reality.
Mike, No disrespect, but I think that it is you who needs to read up on your current history. It was the Bush administration that started the downward spiral of the world economy. Between starting two wars, that cost the American tax payers $1 Billion a month, creating laws that represent the wealthy corporations that allow them to bilk the system of Billions of dollars, borrowing Billions from China and other countries, and then allowing Wall Street and the banking industries to run wild. These are the things that have caused the World economy to sink to it`s lowest point in modern history. All of these things happened under the Bush administration. Look it up my friend, it is fact. And by the way, I am a Republican, but I am also a realist.
Dante – First of all, I`m saying that while certain places (whether in Europe, Russia or the U.S.) may be safe for non-minorities, those same places can be very uncomfortable and unsafe for minorities. Ask the gypsies, ask Arabs, ask Africans, ask gays, ask disabled people, ask Jews and so on. Yes, there is a very strong skinhead presence in European countries and, yes, I was violently harassed by them in CERTAIN cities (not the entire country!) in Italy, Germany, England and Russia. Attacks on minorities in Europe have sparkly risen. Secondly, the U.S. is a nation. Europe is a continent. You can`t compare the two. You have to look at each state and each nation individually. I would never walk the streets of Paris or Washington D.C. alone in the dead of night; but there are smaller cities in the U.S. and France that are fine after dark. Lastly, you`re right about Moscow, but Bucharest is a European city.
I meant to say “sharply risen,” not “sparkly risen.” Sorry.
Sorry Dante, I MUST have forgot that the world began when GW Bush was elected president… thus history ONLY goes back that far! And frankly, it doesn`t matter whether you call yourself a Republican or not; they`ve done as much BAD stuff as the left has. This collapse has been a long time in the making….the foundation was laid long ago. Wise up!
Rick- it just reminds me of the very tragic deaths of two german tourists in the SF/Bay area in August of this year, in the space of about one week. One innocent person , in SF for her birthday celebration, was caught in the cross-fire near their hotel in Union Sq. the other an innocent bicycle rider. These incidents seem to be indicators of real danger, not simply perception. At least it should lend some perspective to the realistic dangers involved when traveling.
Mike, You are absolutely correct, the world did not begin with G.W. Bush, it was just the beginning of the end. I am not a Obama fan, but he was saddled with a very very very heavy burden, left over by the former (Bush) administration. Unlike the surplus that Bush was left with after Clinton. I suggest you visit the public records available on the library of congress website. these are the actual records that will be in the history books, Bush I & II do not fair so well. “Only a person with an open mind can truly see the reality that lies in front of them”
I have to agree with the statements that Dante has laid out. Life was good prior to the Bush administration. Now it seems like the world is out of control and the politicians and media are bent on controlling the public through fear tactics and lies. I love America and Europe, life could be better in each area, but until we the people take on the powers that be, things will only get worse.
Personally, I think this country started going to pot as soon as Columbus stepped off the boat, but that`s just me. Seriously, I think some of the Reagan administration`s domestic and foreign policies did massive damage to this country. There was a lot of financial and social healing under the Clinton administration, but most of the progress was undone by Bush II.
FC, I get what you`re saying about some parts of Europe being especially dangerous for minorities but not for everyone else, but I think a lot of people who comment on this blog are too pompous and privileged to listen to your perspective.
FYI Fellow World Travellers… Recently returned from Istanbul and had a great time…but beware…I used my corp credit card at 2 places…the hotel and outside the Grand Bazaar in a cash machine…Last week I was told that someone from ISTANBUL got my information and MADE A NEW CARD and began a great trip on “me” in BARCELONA!! I think that the cash machine outside the Bazaar must have had a skimmer in it…I had to file a claim and document everything afterwards. Anyway…travellers be aware. It CAN happen to you!
Sometimes I feel as if too much information is a horrible thing. Here in the US we have it coming at us all the time. It often seems as if the adage”if it bleeds, it leads” is the only truth our media respects. I am only fluent in English;therefore, when I travel I`m shielded from the media in non-English countries. Of course, I`m always mindful of my surroundings, but I do feel safer in western European cities than I do in many US cities. They could, for all I know, be equally dangerous, but they “feel” safer Having said all that, statistics are wonderful things and can be made to conform to our bidding, so danger may be proportionately equal in European countries and the US, but I don`t let them keep me from exploring and enjoying travel in BOTH the US and Europe.
Rick, My wife, my 6 year old son and myself were in a taxi in Oxford on our way to catch a train when we heard the “Terror” advisory. We were half way through what was my first trip to the UK and were due to spend the last few days of the trip in London. With the advisory, and particularly traveling with a child, we considered avoiding London. Fortunately we decided to stick with our plans, pretty much ignore the advisory/ fear mongering and as a result had an incredible time in London. I noticed the “advisory” seem to disappear fairly quickly from the news there – people there seemed to take this in stride or have a better perspective on the dubious value of such warnings. Jeff
Did anyone read the article in the USA Today last week? Your risk in travel is not terrorism.. it`s CARS. Statistics were that you were MUCH more likely to die of an auto accident. (It did include all of the world and I seem to recall that the great majority of auto deaths were in Mexico.. which is of course very heavily visited by Americans) So just walk everywhere or take the train and you should be fine :)