Americans are an extraordinary species; often misunderstood and rarely well-defined.
After 15 years in the US, I cannot claim that I have a full understanding of my host nation, but what I have accomplished is the ability to accept, listen and embrace people for who they are.
With domain investors, Mike Berkens and Elliot Silver vacationing in Europe as part of extended business or leisure, I am happy to hear that they are appreciative of the visuals and rituals of the Old Continent. It’s not easy to adopt everything and anything, and why should one do so anyway?
But the experience of variety in life is needed, whether this is done for short or prolonged periods of time. An interesting article in The Atlantic today, states just that: To Make America Great Again, We Need to Leave the Country.
The essence of the article can be found here:
“Young Americans who see this country from different shores can’t help but conclude that something is awry in a political culture that denies what they plainly see elsewhere: health care systems that provide better outcomes at lower cost and for everyone; better airports, faster trains, more extensive urban public transportation–and even, amazingly, better highways; more upward mobility (yes, the American dream is now more real in many other countries than it is here); more sustainable energy policies; elections that work more quickly and inexpensively, with more rational discourse and greater citizen participation.”
And the results are described here:
“These young Americans usually return with an openness about the world that many of their parents lack. No less patriotic than when they left, they see how curiosity about other ways to do things can only make us a stronger country. They were taught, as we were all taught, that the U.S. was built to greatness on ideas borrowed by the rest of the world and improved here. That is what we must do again.”
So if you are an American domainer, leave the country at any given opportunity, either for a European or world-wide sponsored event, or simply to see what is out there; the world, is after all, your perpetual oyster. Then come back, energized and able to spread the goods of knowledge to those who ostensibly opted to stay put.
Well ya for the big domainers to save on their taxes. I try, my awesome site, http://wordunscrambler.com , but I know Obama is the worst thing for small businesses. Not just domainers, its anyone that is mobile can leave the country. Stupid politicians don’t get it yet. There are many mobile people today that don’t require a specific location.
Ironically, after I left U.S. for a vacation in the far east 10 years ago, it made me appreciate and love U.S. even more.
Those people there refer to me as American though I am of Asian origin. When I came back it made me wonder why I can’t drive on the shoulder or between lanes to avoid traffic. Or, why I can’t have a mistress or have 2 bar hostesses to accompany me to my hotel room. America is indeed stuck up. That is why it made me love it even more.
Steve – Keeping an open mind means you have to shed politics as your blindfolds.
Poor Uncle – I had no idea, thanks for sharing. The beauty of people lies in their uniqueness.
As an Aussie, I’ve visited the US frequently over the years….I love much about America, and I enjoy Americans, and their way of life, enormously.
I see shortcomings, too, of course. One of those is that one meets sooo many Americans that have never left their shores, know nothing at all about other peoples, other countries’ cultures. And worse, have no desire to know, or learn, either. The world’s knowledge is sadly removed, and distant from most Americans.
I agree with your thought, Acro….By traveling (however rarely, or modestly) you gain the chance of personal enrichment, seeing other cultures, refreshing ideas, and testing assumptions. One simply grows, and widens, one’s perspective. Every nation can teach us something. Different peoples show us different things.