Right now, my oldest daughter is studying abroad in Kenya. Her partnership with the NGO ends in two weeks, then she'll be off to Tanzania and some other African countries I will need to actively research.
A little more than a month ago, my other daughter was in Greece and in Israel, compliments of her Birthright Program.
This has put me in a global state of mind.
Particularly today when it seems so many Americans are not. In fact, if you've spent anytime arguing with some of the provincial cretins on the Trump social media websites (as I have) you'd know many of these paint chip-eating dolts have never been beyond the boundaries of their front yard.
Hometown pride is fine, but uninformed jingoistic nationalism is a brain eating disease. The same disease that Precedent Shitgibbon rode to get into the White House and allowed him to live there on a part time basis, you know when he's not playing golf.
Anyway, this got me thinking. With regards to the Birthright Program, wherein any kid aged 18-26 with proven Hebraic lineage can hop on a plane and experience a 10 day all expense paid trip to the land of his or her ancestors.
It's a pretty remarkable phenomena. And I have yet to meet one kid who has not returned, moved by the entire experience. And more importantly, more knowledgable, more empathetic and better versed in the ways of some other corner of the world.
I think we could all use a little more of that.
After all what's good for the Jews is good for the gander.
So, instead of building a $70 billion dollar wall between the US and Mexico, a wall that can be breached by an extension ladder purchased at the Tijuana Desposito de Casa, why not invest that money into something more useful? A Birthright Program for everybody.
Particularly since we are all in a nation of immigrants.
Irish kids can go back to Dublin. They can shear sheep on a farm. Eat the same potato soup as their ancestors. They can visit the same pub houses favored by their grandfathers and great uncles. Get wicked drunk. Get in a brawl. And discover an untapped left hand hook that could lead to a promising career in prizefighting.
Pakistani kids can make the journey to Islamabad. Where they can eat goat and neverending bowls of cous-cous. Here, they will gain a life-changing lesson in appreciation for their American way of life.
"Pray 5 times a day? Hell I don't even play X-Box five times a day."
And Polish kids can return to the land of their ancestors. Arriving at the airport in Kiev, only to discover they've landed in Ukraine.
Alright, stupid stereotypical jokes aside, the point is the world does not end at the very easternmost shore of Maine nor the most barren island of the Aleutians. The world is complex. We can all use a better understanding of how the pieces fit together.
And that does not come from shouting "USA, USA." Nor wrapping one's self up in American flag sweaters, tank tops and beer cozies. Which only benefits the manufacturer of that cheap red, white and blue swag.
Who, ironically, lives in a McMansion on the outskirts of Shanghai.
Very true. I find it distressing and depressing that so few Americans have traveled outside the U.S.A. It's also depressing how provincial their views are, which is why politicians can say things like, "They have socialized medicine in XXX and people there have to wait three months to see a doctor. Their economies are collapsing." Anyone who's been abroad knows that hogwash and can see they have astonishingly high living standards, but few Americans have been out of the country and believe the propaganda the politicians tell them. Traveling really does open your eyes, and few Americans want them opened. Much more comforting to just chant "U.S.A! U.S.A! U.S.A! U.S.A!"
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