Travel as a Political Act

5 Responses to “Travel as a Political Act”

1. Judy in Omaha says:

   May 28, 2010 at 1:35 pm

   Rick Steves has every right in this free country to write a book pushing his political views about the world and the USA. But, now on his website he is offering teachers an opportunity to buy this book very cheaply so they can use it as a guide in their classrooms. He even suggests the questions they should present to their classes for discussion. Rick Steves has very liberal views. As if we don’t have enough of that already in our education system, he now, with this book, wants to “brainwash” students to his point of view. He tells how we should make an apology to the world for the US mistakes and that is why they don’t like us. I question, then why do so many thousands of immigrants beat the door down, sneak across our limits and others go through the officially authorized steps to become US citizens? No additional country has that record. He believes in legalizing marijuana and was successful in having the Lions’ Club in his town take down all the American flags they place out to support our troops in Iraq because HE didn’t judge in the war. He even helped them remove them. Because our President is the leader of the free world, he thinks the rest of the world should influence us on who we elect. He used his customers in his travel business to send out letters to convince us who to vote for during the election. He says he is a patriotic American, but only tells what’s incorrect with our country (in his very biased view). He lives in a very liberal area and doesn’t have a clue that there is a larger part of this country who disagrees with him. Maybe he needs to travel more in his own country rather than overseas. His website has professors and teachers gushing over this book to use in their classrooms. I can only say, heaven help us if our children grow up with his views of our country. This book certainly does not belong in the classroom.
   Reader’s Rating: 1 / 5
2. TSO says:

   May 28, 2010 at 2:33 pm

   Perfectly produced with lavish color photographs, Steves delivers what the title promised; he makes no bones about his progressive politics which he says he “selected up largely from people overseas,” though elsewhere he describes himself as a “25-year ancient hippie” which implies he selected up his politics early at the very least. (It would likely undermine the book’s thesis to point out that many of his fellow hippies in the ’70s didn’t have to go overseas to pick up their politics.)

   Travel is broadening but seems at times self-selectively so. For example, Steves makes mention of talking to Palestinians and watching Al Jazeera but presents the Israel case not through the eyes of Israelis (although it’s possible I missed it) but through the disclaimer that “America has the solemn commitment to protect Israel’s security”. It sounds as though his heart is with the Palestinians and Israel’s case is dryly doctrinal.

   Steves argues that we should look at the view others have of us, which is a fine thing. There is obviously an aspect in which we can’t see ourselves as clearly as others do and D’Tocqueville, to name but one, did us a wonderful service. But it has to come from a trusted source and the problem is that what the world thinks of the United States is regularly corrupted through a biased prism of media, of both a news and entertainment variety, and thus can’t be the standard by which we measure ourselves.

   Steves, a very likable guy, sometimes seems an apostle of relativism. A particularly egregious example is, “While a U.S. Christian may be more concerned about abortion than economic injustice, a Nambian Christian would likely flip-flop persons priorities.” I’m not sure what Steves’ point is, but part of the book’s theme is for Americans to be more self-critical so I’m sure he’s not emphasizing the right to life. Perhaps he’s suggesting, unwittingly to be sure, the need for a universal catholic church.
   Reader’s Rating: 3 / 5
3. Charles E. Stevens says:

   May 28, 2010 at 2:54 pm

   Travel as a Political Act is a quick and appealing read by renowned travel guru Rick Steves. Even though I’ve never met Rick Steves, I feel like I know him well … his travel writings and TV shows have guided me through many a European town and countryside, and through searching for travel tips on his website I encountered his blogs where he has shared many of the experiences in this book. As such, there were not very many surprises in this book for me, unlike for persons people who might be familiar with his travel books but not his overarching political and social views.

   First, I must say that his overall point–that travel can be a transformative experience which changes the traveler and allows him or her the opportunity to change society–is incredibly powerful, and strikes a strong chord. I have had the excellent chance to live, work, and travel in a number of foreign countries, and each opportunity has afforded me the chance to learn more about that society, and by comparison with these countries, more about my own society. Travel allows one to see that many truths which we take to be self-evident are regularly challenged when one enters a new culture. I reflect that’s a fantastic thing: better to live a certain way by conscious choice than through ignorant inertia. Rick says that he’d never want to live in a foreign country, which is too terrible because while travel to a country is regularly an opportunity to witness a new culture, living in a country allows one the opportunity to truly internalize what it means to live by a different set of norms, values, and laws. Then again, since Rick’s spent large chunks out of every year for the last few decades in Europe, the question of whether he’s “lived” in Europe or not might just be a matter of semantics.

   But, two things kept me from giving the book 5 stars. First, I establish it too terrible that Rick spent most of his time desperately trying to convince the reader what was incorrect with the U.S. and did not spend very much time talking about what his travels taught him was right with the U.S. Not that I don’t reflect Rick’s patriotic and doesn’t reflect that many things are right with this country. That’s not the issue, and that’s not in question for me. I simply feel like he missed a chance to say that while there’s much that could be improved here, there’s much to be proud of and keep dear as well. As a result, I worry that his overall message about the power of travel might be lost to persons who get a small tired of the “here’s what’s incorrect, and here’s what we need to do about it!” tone. Second, I apprehensive that not enough consideration was agreed to the potential downside of some of the changes he proposes, as what works in Europe (and elsewhere) might not work here. I felt like the issues were painted a small bit too much in black-and-white tones, lacking enough balance. I agree with Rick on many of his points, but even I grew a small tired of the liberal tone at times. Part of it might just be a personality difference, but I just worry that his “in your face” confrontational style might place off more people than it persuades. As evidenced by his early tour guiding style, Rick doesn’t gently guide people out of their comfort zone: he throws them head first into the deep end.

   Overall, a excellent book and quick & informative read (especially for people who might only be familiar with Rick Steves through his purely travel works). Like I said though, I worry whether the tone won’t push more people away than it attracts: rather than let travel teach people how to reflect about issues on their own, the book can be taken as how travel has taught Rick Steves how people should reflect about issues. “Speak truth to power” is a noble thought … but it’s treacherous to reflect any person or ideology has a monopoly on truth or enlightenment. “Conservative” evangelism makes me nervous … but I’ve learned that “progressive” evangelism makes me a small nervous as well. But more than anything, I worry that “evangelists” simply preach to people who already judge the same things they do. I really reflect that if more Americans traveled, their horizons would be vastly broadened naturally and many might come around to Rick’s point of view on many issues.

   For that reason, I reflect it ironic (but right) that “Europe Through the Back Door” might be exponentially more effective from a political standpoint than “Travel as a Political Act”!
   Reader’s Rating: 4 / 5
4. D. Saverino says:

   May 28, 2010 at 5:35 pm

   Rick Steeves Travel as a Political Act is a quick and entertaining read with a fantastic deal of excellent photos throughout the book.
   
   His account is a rather apologetic view of how to travel with an open mind and venture off the beaten track. My impression while reading this book was the Mr. Steeves chooses to travel with a knowledgeable tour guide while eating in the best restaurants and staying in posh hotels. With this in mind, he makes fun of the day trippers that travel to Morocco clutching their hand bags while sporting a fearful look on their face. In many instances his staunch Lutheran ways get in the way of his politics. His approach to political travel is one where he tries not to offend the reader by taking the middle ground. He agrees to with a more liberal approach to drug use in the US, but not to the same extent as Europe. He agrees to a more liberal approach to sex in the US, but not to the same extent as Europe. Although he appreciates the diversity between various religions, he does not fully respect the role of women in Muslim societies. He states: “Imagine Every Woman’s a Nun. My visit to the university jolted me back into the reality of traveling in a society where morality is legislated-where a crime is a sin, and a sin a crime…In the post-Islamic Revolution Iran, modesty rules, and the dress and behavior of women are carefully controlled.”
   
   Travel as a Political Act has more gallantry as a fun and leisurely read. I don’t reflect it will change many American traveler’s politics.
   Reader’s Rating: 3 / 5
5. Karine Armen says:

   May 28, 2010 at 7:58 pm

   The main thought and the message to the audience is wonderful.
   
   Yes, I like to travel and I travel to learn the cultures NOT to be a tourist in a bubble.
   Reader’s Rating: 5 / 5