If this is true, I think it's sad and pathetic.
No wonder the rest of the world see's us as dumb, closed minded people who are ignorant of what's happening in the rest of the world.
2007-12-21 16:40:48 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Immigration
Seems a bit low to me, though I suspect there are a lot of Americans living along the southern border who drive to Mexico frequently. San Ysidro gets 3 million crossings each month. That's a lot of people. That's 36 million per year, or about nine percent of the US population and that's only ONE port of entry. If you count separate individuals and not separate crossings, maybe the percentage would be lower.
Still, I can see how the cite below may have some validity. But we're not the only ones. There are lots of German-only restaurants in Spain because Germans (like Americans) are more comfortable with familiar language and food.
We're not all so curious that we'll eat the local cuisine. But we all change. I was cautious on my Uzbekistan trip. Then I found a couple of local friends, ate mystery meat off the sidewalk vendors, rode some shaky-looking ferris wheel, drank fermented horse milk with pieces of dead flies floating in it, and had a great time with my very limited Russian and non-existant Uzbek.
Point taken, but that percentage seems very low to me. And remember, you're talking a lifetime of travel, not just this week. How about that trip to Australia in 1980 or the layover in Hong Kong in 1989 or the drive to Winnepeg in 2003? All those things count. Just seems too low to me.
2007-12-21 16:55:51 · answer #1 · answered by going_for_baroque 7 · 8⤊ 0⤋
It's NOT true that only 5% of Americans have traveled outside the country. Immigrants alone make up more than 5% of the population, not counting natural born citizens that travel outside the country.
The majority of people living on the border of either Mexico or Canada cross the border many times. You currently don't need a passport to travel to these countries.
Ex military (such as myself) have been to numerous countries.
BTW,
Having traveled to nearly 50 different countries, I found not one that I would rather live in. The USA is the greatest!!
2007-12-22 05:17:52 · answer #2 · answered by ProUSA2 6 · 6⤊ 0⤋
This is incorrect.
It used to be a factoid that only 5% of US citizens had passports but this did not reflect the number of people who were able to simply use their US drivers licence to travel to other countries in both North and South America and the Carribean.
The most recent figures suggest that about 25% of Americans have passports and, because of changes in immigration practices, more are applying all the time.
2007-12-22 02:14:06 · answer #3 · answered by freebird 6 · 7⤊ 0⤋
I have traveled and lived many different places. I have enjoyed it and have taken a lot away from it. All of the different places I have lived have been because I was conducting business there; either private business or military. If I would not have had business outside the USA I probably would not have gone, except for maybe a short vacation.
Americans put in a lot of time conducting business. Since we dedicate our lives to it it is frivolous and impossible to take time away from our occupations to travel the world. The business of America is business, which is why we are on top.
2007-12-22 00:49:01 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 7⤊ 2⤋
i dont see why its so important to be so aware of the rest of the world. take care of your family and yourself. i dont really care if the rest of the world thinks im dumb and closed minded. ive been outside of the country but i really dont see the need to. this country is huge and easily has a lifetime worth of stuff to see and do in it.
2007-12-22 00:45:36 · answer #5 · answered by negaduck 6 · 8⤊ 4⤋
I see no good reason to blow a couple of thousand bucks to travel somewhere for a hamburger when I've got prime cuts of choice steak right here at home.
2007-12-22 00:50:01 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 7⤊ 3⤋
Sandman noone cares what the rest of the world thinks about us. They can't even shine our shoes. Without America none of these cowardly countries would even exist. Grow up.
2007-12-22 00:47:34 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 7⤊ 5⤋
That's 5% too many. How DARE they try to broaden their horizons and thinking. They must be LIBERALS. Vote Dobbs for Pretzeldent!!!!!
2007-12-22 00:50:06 · answer #8 · answered by Dog Tricks 4 · 1⤊ 9⤋
why would you want to leave the greatest country in the world? you're stupid.
2007-12-22 00:48:02 · answer #9 · answered by C09 3 · 8⤊ 7⤋