Hope for the future

You'd be surprized to learn that some other countries have been attacked
in the past, too, and have managed to remain friendly nevertheless. I
find it interesting that you speak of the "famously less-than-welcoming
attitude of many Europeans" but in turn think such an attitude is a
pretty normal thing when practiced by the USA.

You're confusing procedures with attitudes. Procedurally, it can be
annoying going through airport security -- but I've never found US
airport personnel to be anything but respectful and neutral, if not
downright pleasant.

This is far from the reputation of most European functionaries, rightly
or wrongly. I've not had the privilege of experiencing it myself, but
tales of rude treatment by everyone from taxi drivers to police
authorities abound amongst my peers who have traveled abroad.

In fairness, tales of good treatment and wonderful acts of kindness
abound, too -- but almost every person I talk to about traveling to
Europe tells at least one story about being treated poorly by someone.


That just doesn't happen in America, in my experience, and I've spent
40+ years exploring this great land of ours.

But all that's beside the point. In a country where most of our states
are larger than France -- and there are 50 of them -- there is more to
see and do here than any one person can accomplish in a lifetime.

Depends on how much you want to broaden your mind. But then, I suspect
that you're happier when you're not forced to broaden it too much.

And that response is the perfect example of why many Americans look
down their noses at Europeans. You're crass, rude, and almost
universally whiny.

Perhaps that explains why your ancestors stayed behind, while the cream
of the crop was coming to America? ducking!

:-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

but almost every person I talk to about traveling to
Europe tells at least one story about being treated poorly by someone.


That just doesn't happen in America, in my experience

I'm laughing so hard I can't type any more.

Jose
--
"Never trust anything that can think for itself, if you can't see where
it keeps its brain." (chapter 10 of book 3 - Harry Potter).
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.

Europe tells at least one story about being treated poorly by someone.

That just doesn't happen in America, in my experience

I'm laughing so hard I can't type any more.

Why? For 40 years I've stayed in hundreds of hotels, in dozens of US
cities, in dozens of states, rented hundreds of rental cars, dealt with
valet parking lot attendants, petty governmental officials, and the
average Joe on the street -- and can't remember being treated rudely or
even inattentively by more than a handfull of people.

Now, perhaps, my memory is failing -- but I don't think so. I tend to
remember bad treatment for a very long time.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Jay,

while the cream
of the crop was coming to America?


You must be joking. Your country was founded in large part by religious
extremists and convicts, and it started it's history with a horrific
(and largely religously justified) genocide.


--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

Europe tells at least one story about being treated poorly by someone.
That just doesn't happen in America, in my experience
I'm laughing so hard I can't type any more.
Why?

You should enter politics.

For one thing you just recently posted about some dork who got upset
because you made a comment about filling up a gas tank. He threw you
out of an FBO, if memory serves me. Either you were rude, or he was,
and this was in America.

"This just doesn't happen in America."

Yes, it does. "Oh, but that's just one time...."

"...Europe tells at least one story..."

One story told by one futz is enough to condemn all of Europe, but
somehow one story told by the one in the mirror doesn't reflect at all
on America? Hmmph.

I've been treated nicely and rudely, here, and abroad. I've been
embarrased to be an American, but I've never been embarrased to be in a
foreign country.

Jose
--
"There are 3 secrets to the perfect landing. Unfortunately, nobody knows
what they are." - (mike).
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.

In article .com,
"Jay Honeck" wrote:

but I've never found US
airport personnel to be anything but respectful and neutral, if not
downright pleasant.

Have you flown any airline out of LAX? I'd rather have a connection out
of LGB than any flight out of LAX. Orlando isn't any joy either.


[snip]
Perhaps that explains why your ancestors stayed behind, while the cream
of the crop was coming to America? ducking!

Does Australia have the same attitude? :-)

--
Bob Noel
Looking for a sig the
lawyers will hate

"Jay Honeck" wrote in
ps.com:

Chuckle. I used to think that way, too. As I've grown older, and my
travels have expanded, I've found that each state is a country in
itself, offering different treasures -- and they are all wonderful, and
more than worth the effort to see and explore.

I have been to about 35 different states, as well as two Canadian provinces
and Puerto Rico.

Most of my travels have been work-related. And I am always surprised at
just how similar different towns are when it comes to their residential and
mall areas - you know the Walmarts, Home Depots, and Friday's... But I do
that outside of the resorts areas and tourist traps, it can be hard to tell
one city from the next...

Even the local attraction racks in the hotels are frequently very similar.
A six flags, some golf courses, the biggest area shopping malls, and
restaurants...

There are certain exceptions, of course... Texas. Texas is it's own
country, with it's own culture that is substantially different from the
rest of the US. Admittedly, I don't seem to get along too well with those
little doggies.

But there are certain regions that do have wondrous treasures - I like the
History that you find in the DC area and in much of the Northeast. The
mountains of Colorado are spectacular. My whole family loves DisneyWorld no
matter how old we get. And how can anyone not have a great time in Vegas!

Of course, travelling for work generally prevents me from getting the
opportunity to hunt for local treasures. I suspect if I were travelling for
vacation and spent time planning around tourist areas instead of newspaper
plants, I might feel differently.

Coming from New York City area, where I can experience some very diverse
cultures all within a very short distance, might cause me to take this all
for granted...

In article ,
lid says...


Have you flown any airline out of LAX? I'd rather have a connection out
of LGB than any flight out of LAX. Orlando isn't any joy either.


I prefer LBG - one is generally well treated there!

In article .com,
says...



That just doesn't happen in America, in my experience, and I've spent
40+ years exploring this great land of ours.



Jay, you take something that's basically true, and exaggerate it and
generalize it to the point that it loses all meaning.

I believe it's fair to say there can be some problems with unwelcoming
attitudes in Europe, particularly in France and Belgium, where a "service"
ethic has simply not become very developed (French taxi drivers are the worst
representatives of our species this side of Pol Pot). But it's nothing any
adult can't get over and still have a perfectly enjoyable time discovering
the vast wealth of European culture, history and life-style.

In the US there are 4-way stop signs at intersections, and motorists wait
their turn and pass in order. In Europe they don't have them, because they
would all meet in a tangled mess in the middle, due to their "me first"
attitude! But to say that nasty things simply "do not happen" in America...

New York City is safer than it used to be, but it's still a pretty 'every man
for himself" experience ...

"Jay Honeck" wrote in
oups.com:

Travelers rate America's entry process as the "world's worst" by
greater than a 2:1 margin over the next-worst destination area.

Well, duh. After a country has been successfully attacked by foreign
nationals using airliners as weapons, did you expect to be welcomed
with open arms at the airport, without paperwork or security?

It's actually rather unusual that foreign tourists are being allowed
in the country at all. Throughout US history, tourism has been shut
down during war time. (Necessary aviation content: So has general
aviation, by the way.)

But all that's beside the point. In a country where most of our
states are larger than France -- and there are 50 of them -- there is
more to see and do here than any one person can accomplish in a
lifetime.

FWIW, in more than a decade of living in the U.S., I have never been
treated badly by any U.S. official anywhere, be it at the consulate in
Ankara (in fact, they have gone out of their way to be helpful with
various emergencies), at any of the major airports (even when I was
coming back from Turkey after having completed my military service there
in 2002), land crossings from Canada, INS and later DHS offices in
various cities, social security offices, even the local DMV office here,
I have had the good fortune of dealing with people who were doing their
jobs professionally.

On the other hand, I still remember the abuse I had to endure when I
entered Denmark as a 16 year old exchange student officially approved by
the Danish Ministry of Education in the 80s, the anti-Muslim grafitti
that was everywhere in that country, or the incident at Charles De
Gaulle the only time I flew Air France (way before 9/11).

In fact, a lot of people I know in Turkey agree that the U.S. consulate
treats everyone in the most civilized and uniform manner (in contrast
to, say, the German, Austrian, and French consulates where people are
uniformly treated badly).

To be honest, I would have been uneasy as well if I had just witnessed
six people pray together and spread out to separate seats on the
airplane.

After all, I have had the sad experience of helplessly watching on live
TV when many people who call themselves devout Muslims burned a hotel
full of innocent people for supposed insults to their religion.

http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/a...?enewsid=47540

The last time we were in Istanbul, my girlfriend, who is American, and I
watched the security gates for a while. We observed, with some relief,
the extra scrutiny that was given to anyone who tried to enter the
secured area wearing long, baggy religous garb, sporting long beards,
and wearing a skull cap signifying a visit to Saudi Arabia.

Some stereotyping is necessary for efficient allocation of resources.
Notice I said some: If the whole process is based on stereotypes, it
becomes deterministic, and easy to defeat.

Sinan
--
A. Sinan Unur
(remove .invalid and reverse each component for email address)