If only 20% of Americans have a passport, can we really take their world view seriously?

Question

This is a well known statistic -it's easily verified if you search the net.

The problem with getting your information from the media is that the media in the US is censored, whether you realise it or not. A good example was the globally broadcast "Free Nelson Mandela Concert" some years back. In the US, all reference to Nelson Mandela was removed by the US networks and it was rebadged a "freedom concert". Watching in the US, you would have no idea what the concert was really for, or trying to highlight.

A second example is that many Americans seem genuinely unaware that other countries also enjoy freedom, and indeed, as much freedom as in America. I challenge any American to show that America is a more free society than the UK, or France, for example.

But how would you know this, if you've never been there, and your media tells you that America is the most best society in the world. You wouldn't.

Answer 1

you better,we feed the world

Answer 2

How does a 'world' view get defined by whether an individual has a passport? You can not gauge a persons knowledge solely on that basis.

If that is the case, can we trust a Chinese farm worker, an Arab who herds cattle, a Tibetan who has never left their city, a tribesman of the amazon jungle who never saw a color TV or telephone? They probably do not have passports. Your question is kind of senseless.

It is more like a statement of your dislike (and it is apparent) of Americans.It is roughly 25 percent actually have passports. I wonder out of the vast populous of Chinese how many have a passport? Most statistical data is often inaccurate.

You assume that people are not able to think, to evaluate to make observations. I am well traveled, but I hardly see the point you attempt to make. The real question should be can we take your question seriously.

Most of us Americans are actually very mindful of what is going on in the world. You must separate the people running the country from the people that live in it, or you may come to some very wrong conclusions

Answer 3

Very interesting point ,and no we cant!

Americans are far from alone in the world, but from the perspective of many young Americans, they might as well be. Most young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 demonstrate a limited understanding of the world, and they place insufficient importance on the basic geographic skills that might enhance their knowledge.

Young Americans answer about half (54 percent) of all the survey questions correctly. But by and large, majorities of young adults fail at a range of questions testing their basic geographic literacy.

Only 37% of young Americans can find Iraq on a map—though U.S. troops have been there since 2003.
6 in 10 young Americans don't speak a foreign language fluently.
20% of young Americans think Sudan is in Asia. (It's the largest country in Africa.)
48% of young Americans believe the majority population in India is Muslim. (It's Hindu—by a landslide.)
Half of young Americans can't find New York on a map.
These results suggest that young people in the United States—the most recent graduates of the educational system—are unprepared for an increasingly global future. Far too many lack even the most basic skills for navigating the international economy or understanding the relationships among people and places that provide critical context for world events.

About the Survey

The findings presented are the results of a face-to-face survey conducted from December 17, 2005, to January 20, 2006, by Roper Public Affairs and Media, a part of GfK NOP. This study is the latest in a series of surveys commissioned by the National Geographic Society.

lets hope they evolve a little.

Answer 4

Like with every other country, it depends on the person. Some people may not have had the finances to travel abroad, but the keep up with the news, read BBC, and take many courses in university on history and political science. Others who have a passport may be that obnoxious American in a foreign country, demanding everything be like it is at home and too blind to see the beauty of another country. Passports mean nothing. It is expensive to leave the US, especially if you are from a small town in the Midwest. If you are interested in our world view, instead look at the percentage of people who get a higher education.

Answer 5

Well, I think so. You don't need a passport to see what's going on around the globe. Just turn on the TV or radio, or log on the internet and get your daily dose of dispair.

World culture is thoroughly covered in the education system, including text books with photos and illustrations. As for passport holders, 90% of them never get out of the tourist lane when they're visiting a foreign country, so you really can't form an opinion just because you have a passport.

Answer 6

Depends whether you're talking to one of the 20% or one of the 80%. There are plenty of Americans who are well travelled and understand and appreciate other cultures. There are plenty of Americans who have never left Arkansas and are happy to leave it that way. You can dismiss the later group, but the former group have as much right as you or me to have a view on world affairs.

Answer 7

You have a great point in your question. I can confirm your findings by saying that almost all my friends have never been to any other country. People go to Florida, the Islands and perhaps Mexico on a vacation. I have traveled many times to South East Asia, Europe, and the Middle East and was amazed by the cultures i have encountered. It was an eye opener for me and I hope that more and more Americans get the chance to visit other countries and meet their natives.

Unfortunately many Americans are afraid of going over seas due to their fear of being targeted by haters (As the Media claims).

Our biggest problem is that we are allowing our politicians to isolate us from the rest of the planet in order to succeed in holding on to their powers.

Answer 8

If you didn't have to have a passport to travel within the European countries then probably only 20% of Europeans would have passports only. Would you still have the same view? In my 30 years, I've only been once out of Europe, however, I' ve been to nearly all European countries!!!

Answer 9

Nice question!

I've found some European countries to be MORE free than the US! In Europe, you would never find a prime minister, or other head of state, to be impeached for having a mistress! (Clinton)

Answer 10

It would be nice if you gave us a source for your assertion other than your ****. This only means something in relation to the percentage of passports in other countries and their geographic size, location and population. As of right now we don't really know what it means.

Answer 11

If that figure is true, then that means 60 MILLION Americans have passports. 60 million is more than the population of many European nations. And it's close to the populations of Germany and France. So yes.