The Brussels attack on March 22 that reportedly killed 11 people at Zaventem Airport is a reason many Americans may refuse to travel. They are afraid of the dangers of other countries, but it shouldn’t stop them from exploring.
Although fright is a valid reason, traveling will help you understand why such attacks happen and allow you to empathize with the people of other nationalities. This is better than labeling everyone terrorists and vowing to never venture away from your comfort zone.
Closing ourselves off to the rest of the world isn’t the proper response to international tragedies. We need to go to other countries more often if we truly want to end our terror frame of mind and understand the rest of the world.
However, Americans have found comfort in staying in the country.
According to Daily Mail, 54 percent of Americans have not traveled outside the country, and CNN reported that only 30 percent of Americans even have passports to travel. In contrast, 60 percent of Canadians and 75 percent of the United Kingdom’s citizens posses one.
Americans, as a whole, are culturally ignorant, and that’s a problem.
White people in America are seen as the superior race, and every other race falls under them.
Surprisingly to many Americans, the white race isn’t the only influential race in the world. However, many Americans seem to have turned a blind eye to that fact.
U.S. citizens don’t want to travel to the Middle East because they’re scared of terrorist attacks. They don’t want to go to Africa because they think the whole continent is full of dirty water and huts. And, they don’t want to travel to Asia because they think they’ll have dogs for dinner.
They’d rather stay in little “perfect” America where minorities face injustices in the school system, justice system and just about every other system.
Understand that black, Hispanic, Asian and other people are not belittled, ridiculed or seen as inferior among their peers in all other countries.
We’ve white-washed Egyptian kings and queens, biblical figures and other worldly icons. By opening yourself to visiting and learning other cultures, you’ll realize the truth, and that people such as Jesus weren’t actually white.
Yes, you could learn history and other aspects of different cultures through books and periodicals, but, it doesn’t have the same effect. Traveling will allow you to experience rather than imagine.
If Americans traveled more and exposed themselves to culture, maybe the country could narrow its equality gap and negative notions toward minorities more easily.
I’m not saying traveling is the only way to become educated, but it’s the best way. By traveling, you can gain a new outlook on life and respect for other people.
But it isn’t a cheap activity, and not all people will be fortunate to do so. However, make it a goal. Aspire to be a world traveler. Want to learn and expose yourself to other cultures.
Don’t be so closed-minded. Understand the world outside America — the world filled with numerous nationalities and cultures.
Clarke Perkins is a 20-year-old political science sophomore from New Orleans, Louisiana.
In this March 17, 2016, photo, travelers authorized to use the TSA PreCheck expedited security line at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in Seattle have their documents checked by Transportation Security Administration workers. Fliers will likely face massive security lines at airports across the country this summer, with airlines already warning passengers to arrive at least two hours early or risk missing their flight. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
