Klara Glowczewska, writing in the September issue of CONDE NAST TRAVELER quotes Mark Twain from 1869 who wrote "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts." He went on "Broad, wholesome, charitable, views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all of one's lifetime." I wish he was right in the first quote, however, I know too many bigots who travel. The second quote is also not true in my experience. My father held broad, wholesome, charitable views of people though he had almost no opportunity to travel. Most of his travel was done via the printed page.
But the point that Ms. Glowczewska was trying to make is that she believes that Americans are entering a new phase of travel. In this new day she thinks that we are more open to the cultural experiences bring and are less imperialistic. She also thinks that part of the credit goes to the Obamas who are enthusiastic globe travelers.
Of course I hope she's right, because for good or ill, every American who travel abroad is an ambassador for better or for worse.
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