Which of you owns a passport?

I just read an article and associated research that said that less than 20% of Americans owned a passport!

The highest percentages of passport holders were in large coastal cities on both coasts.

Certainly makes America seems like a very insular country.

Of course there are many comparisons with others, and reasons for this statistic..... location of the country with the rest of the world, the length of a trip to travel outside the country, the expense of travelling internationally, the short holiday periods Americans have annually vs. other countries, the vast size of the country, the built in cultural diversity of the country, etc.

Europeans travel internationally more because many countries are a train ride away and thus have a higher percentage of passport holders.

It is interesting also to see that in America, the cities with the higher passport numbers tend to be in States that usually vote Democratic, with the recent exception of Florida... and the areas of the countries more inland, with less passport holders, are painted solidly red.

Is there any correlation in the way people think, accept diversity, understand, vote, and the number of passport holders in the USA?

Wonder if we did a survey by country what percentages of GWW members had passports by country.

I have one from USA. Where are you and do you have a passport? Do you travel outside your country?

I have a USA passport--my 3rd.

I asked the State Department for the version with extra pages --total of 48 pages instead of 24. I got my new passport in January 2006 and already have six and a half pages filled of the 40 available for stamps.

I'm American and have a U.S. passport and have lived overseas in Australia now for 4 years.

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Originally Posted by tombarr

It is interesting also to see that in America, the cities with the higher passport numbers tend to be in States that usually vote Democratic, with the recent exception of Florida... and the areas of the countries more inland, with less passport holders, are painted solidly red.

Is there any correlation in the way people think, accept diversity, understand, vote, and the number of passport holders in the USA?

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This is a really good point.

If more Americans travelled and realized how hated we are, even in our allied countries.. they'd vote democratic and demand a strong internation stance by politicians and want more internation news as well :groovy:

It's one thing to visit a country as a money packing tourist, and completely another to live amongst the people as an American citizen in their country :3ymca:

America is a big place and we really do not need a passport to go to Canada or Mexico. Your DL will get ya though the boarder, as far as most other countries well I really don’t care that much. Other countries are ok I guess but I have no grate need to spend more that a few days in any of them. If I want to have to boil the water, or take a tour of some 200 year old ghetto I can do that around here :) I know thier is more to see, but I am sorry I can not survive with out a wide verity of real “American” food. If I had to pick to far off places to go it would be Alaska in the sumer, and this Amazon tour, and one of them is in the US too

Tom, I think your point has been proven~

perhaps a crash course is spelling is indicated??? :wtf:

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Originally Posted by maxpower

will get ya though the boarder

I have no grate need

I know thier is more to see

with out a wide verity of real “American” food

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Originally Posted by chadknowslaw

Tom, I think your point has been proven~

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Which one?

Ya sorry I will watch it more but only say something after a long day already my eyes hurt, and at the point I dont carre. Its not like I read what I say or care that much at alll, I only care about the site I am creating Nothing Else Matters

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Originally Posted by Squirt

Which one?

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The one about Americans generally being insular... Isolated points of view of the world. out of touch with the reality of the rest of the world.

I think it is a good thing that some people dont have passports, as illustrated in this thread. We are already hated enough without giving more reason.

I have a passport and have lived outside the country for the past 5 years. And up until last year, I think I was the only one in my entire extended family that had one. I finally talked my parents into getting passports so they could come visit, that took months to bring about. They thought it was a very complicated process and saw it all as really mysterious. I explained how simple it was, and I think the hardest thing for my dad was writing the check for them hehehe.

But they still have failed to use them. They are getting up there in years and have back and hip probs they think will make it too uncomfortable for such a long flight. I think the real reason is they are just afraid to go outside their borders.

I know that international travel for me has been a real eye opener and learning experience about the rest of the world. But I guess lots of people would rather go through life with blinders on.

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Originally Posted by maxpower

Ya sorry I will watch it more but only say something after a long day already my eyes hurt, and at the point I dont carre. Its not like I read what I say or care that much at alll, I only care about the site I am creating Nothing Else Matters

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No comment...

Yes Spelling has never been my strongest area I am dyslexic a bit, but my memory for things I see or hear is better :karate: I will also take a shot in the dark and say this is not very unusual, this is a very visually dominated industry.

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Originally Posted by tombarr

The one about Americans generally being insular... Isolated points of view of the world. out of touch with the reality of the rest of the world.

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Ah ok good

Was a shock to me learning this from my travels

and if you think about it... how do Americans describe Russia, China and North Korea? "Isolated points of view of the world. out of touch with the reality of the rest of the world." hhhmmmm

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Originally Posted by sukime69

I know that international travel for me has been a real eye opener and learning experience about the rest of the world. But I guess lots of people would rather go through life with blinders on.

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and that's the shame of it all

If us Americans were more like the Europeans or Australians where international travel is a right of passage... what a world of difference that would make in American politics and policy.

Things can always change but I'm very lucky to have been born in a country where I have the ability to travel around the world and where my son has had the same ability. The knowledge he's gained at 12 years old travelling to over 7 countries... has opened his eyes to reality, not the propaganda of any one given government. :groovy:

I do have a passport and use it quite frequently - not as much as Chad - but yes I use it.

About the impression "the world" has about Americans it is true: the world thinks that Americans in general do not know where on the globe their contry is, that they do not know where the rest of the world is located. The world thinks that Americans are not aware of anything which is NOT happening in their contry and not capable or willing to "check things out" without being serverd for them in little chunks on the TV - in a spectacular way of presenting even the most minor drop of a sack of rice in North Korea (North Korea because right now the gov't has an issue with them).

While I was in Plano, Texas, which is just about 1 or 2 hrs away from the border of Oklahoma, I had a few friends in high school who were NOT ONCE in their life outside of TX, not to mention outside of their contry.

For myself I did find however that this very city of Plano was very well educated. People knew where Europe was, where Germany was, knew that Hitler was dead a long time now, knew we had fridges, cars, electricity...
Why am I telling you this? During a week of school I spend in San Antonio I was asked these questions: "Do you have fridges... cars... electricity" or "Dude, where does Hitler live?"

Coming from a few preparation weekends here in Germany I was aware that those questions MIGHT arise but until then I would not believe how close mindet and short sighted Americans can be if the theme of conversation reaches the state's border.

Again, Plano itself is VERY openmindet and they are able to look WAY beyond their own fence - hence I don't understand how someone who lived in Plano is so narrow mindet - but maybe he was too young to apprehend.

I believe for my 29 yrs I travelled long ways which I have to thank my parents for - they were working their ass off in order to show us the world (us = mom, dad & me).

To show you that I think I know what the world thinks about other countries lemmy tell you this: I have been to half of the continental states of the US (some of them multiple times) and Alaska, Yukon, Mexico, Colombia (visited an exchange student from high school there), Venezuela, Spain, Italy, France, England, Austria, Turkey (we even own an appartement there and have it for 15 yrs now), South Korea, Fiji, Australia (and Tasmania). Everywhere I try to get in touch with the locals and talk to them about everything and the world. I ask them what they do in their country, what's it like, what they love or hate.

This is no bragging but I am rather VERY MUCH thankful that my parents made it possible for me to see so much of the world - my eyes are wide open for the world that way. It gives you the chance of being able to see your own position more clearly, appreciate what you have, and gives you the ability to see the world from another point of few except your own.

Travelling opens your mind.

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Originally Posted by Squirt

The knowledge he's gained at 12 years old travelling to over 7 countries... has opened his eyes to reality, not the propaganda of any one given government. :groovy:

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Hey Squirt,

if you, your wife and your son have the balls I would highly recommend an student exchange for a year to a different country.

You will not believe how much it helps your son to understand himself better and prepares him more for his life.


DEVELISH

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Originally Posted by maxpower

Other countries are ok I guess but I have no grate need to spend more that a few days in any of them.

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you cannot enter most other countries without a passport EVEN FOR A FEW DAYS

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If I want to have to boil the water, or take a tour of some 200 year old ghetto I can do that around here :) I know thier is more to see, but I am sorry I can not survive with out a wide verity of real “American” food.

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Quotes like this prove that world travellers gain a true wealth of experiences and knowledge that cannot be matched by staying at home.

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Originally Posted by Chilihost

you cannot enter most other countries without a passport EVEN FOR A FEW DAYS



Quotes like this prove that world travellers gain a true wealth of experiences and knowledge that cannot be matched by staying at home.

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I have consumed tap water in Sydney, Amsterdam, Auckland, Kingston, Berlin, Prague, Oslo, Stockholm, Helsinki, Beruit, Toronto, Winnepeg, Tokyo, Frankfurt and some other places that have since faded from memory. The only thing that happened to me was that the redness on my neck faded away and my eyes opened a bit wider.

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Originally Posted by basschick

perhaps a crash course is spelling is indicated??? :wtf:

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I think a winch and a rope to pull head from ass would be more effective.

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Originally Posted by maxpower

America is a big place and we really do not need a passport to go to Canada or Mexico. Your DL will get ya though the boarder, as far as most other countries well I really don’t care that much. Other countries are ok I guess but I have no grate need to spend more that a few days in any of them. If I want to have to boil the water, or take a tour of some 200 year old ghetto I can do that around here :) I know thier is more to see, but I am sorry I can not survive with out a wide verity of real “American” food. If I had to pick to far off places to go it would be Alaska in the sumer, and this Amazon tour, and one of them is in the US too

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:wtf: Maxie ... can you send me what ever it is you are smoking, PUH_URDY PUH__LEEZ?

One funny thing to note about the subject line of this thread, is that you can't actually "own" a passport (United States citizens at least). You can have a passport, but it remains the actual property of the United States Government.

On page 6 it says:

2. US Government Property: this passport is the property of the United States Government. Upon demand made by an authorized representative of the United States Government, it must be surrendered.

Just one of those things I always found interesting.

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Originally Posted by JustBryce

One funny thing to note about the subject line of this thread, is that you can't actually "own" a passport (United States citizens at least). You can have a passport, but it remains the actual property of the United States Government.

On page 6 it says:

2. US Government Property: this passport is the property of the United States Government. Upon demand made by an authorized representative of the United States Government, it must be surrendered.

Just one of those things I always found interesting.

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ha ha ha

just kidding bryce -- a little~~

ahh... i'm busted!

Canadian passport here; I've traveled all over Canada and the U.S.; mainly in the western states and a few of the midwest states.

I'll be in England in the fall -- my first time there so that's going to be cool. My hubby has both a Canadian and a British passport. He's travelled a good portion of the world.

<<<< has one and uses it alot :)

I've had the pleasure of drinking the water in about 60 countries.
I've sat and had campfire breakfasts with the native people of many of those countries, in some cases the only communication was laughs, gestures and tears.
One of my main reasons for working for myself is to be able to drop everything and fly somewhere new and experience the wonderful world we live in whilst I can.

Some of my best memories are of the places I've been lucky enough to visit and the travel companions I've been lucky enough to share those experiences with.

Yes the USA is a very large and beautiful country with many diverse cultures and wonders, both natural and manmade, but seeing Penguins coming up the beach at dusk on Phillip Island or 100 thousand families treking their belongings to a new township to avoid persecution just isn't something you can do in downtown ...anycity USA.

Grab a passport, put your regular life onhold for two weeks and live like its the last 2 weeks of your life.......You'll remember it forever!

just my 2c

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Originally Posted by JustBryce

One funny thing to note about the subject line of this thread, is that you can't actually "own" a passport (United States citizens at least). You can have a passport, but it remains the actual property of the United States Government.

On page 6 it says:

2. US Government Property: this passport is the property of the United States Government. Upon demand made by an authorized representative of the United States Government, it must be surrendered.

Just one of those things I always found interesting.

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Yes - kind of like a DRM license!!!!! Not very different from computer publishers who want to issue you a use license allowing to your use their property, yet you never really own it. :coffee:

Steve

Well, I live in what some people in the US like to refer to as a 'third world country' for the last 5 years. I've never got sick from drinking the water or food here, and in fact it tastes way better then anything I ate in the US and keeps me slim at the same time (got to love them Thai chilis). I live right next to a skytrain/subway system and there is much better public transportation here then where I lived in Los Angeles. I walk down my street every day and am greeted with smiles and friendly people. I can get anything here that can be bought from the US, plus a whole lot more in the electronics department that the US probably won't get for years.

Plus I've learned way more here about life and different cultures then I ever could have dreamed of when living in the US. As was touched on here, travelling opens your eyes and let's you experience more of what life is all about then anything else in the world. I'd have to say my biggest fear in life would be to not have a passport, and believe me I guard my own as if it were gold. :)

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Originally Posted by ArmpitLover

<<<< has one and uses it alot :)

I've had the pleasure of drinking the water in about 60 countries.
I've sat and had campfire breakfasts with the native people of many of those countries, in some cases the only communication was laughs, gestures and tears.
One of my main reasons for working for myself is to be able to drop everything and fly somewhere new and experience the wonderful world we live in whilst I can.

Some of my best memories are of the places I've been lucky enough to visit and the travel companions I've been lucky enough to share those experiences with.

Yes the USA is a very large and beautiful country with many diverse cultures and wonders, both natural and manmade, but seeing Penguins coming up the beach at dusk on Phillip Island or 100 thousand families treking their belongings to a new township to avoid persecution just isn't something you can do in downtown ...anycity USA.

Grab a passport, put your regular life onhold for two weeks and live like its the last 2 weeks of your life.......You'll remember it forever!

just my 2c

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You have seriously done some of the coolest things! There are not many people that I can honestly say I envy them for their travels, but I must say you have made me jealous. Really touching the culture is something very few travelers ever experience~

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Originally Posted by chadknowslaw

Really touching the culture is something very few travelers ever experience~

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You're right

We have nothing to lose by learning first hand how others on this planet live and view life

I had 2 US passports up until quite recently. A regular passport, and a diplomatic passport. The diplomatic one expired, however, and I had to punch holes in it. But I still have it. In fact, I still have all of my expired passports, as well as my remaining valid ones.

Canada
Mexico
Dominican Republic
Bolivia
Ecuador
Peru
Chile
Colombia
UK
France
Germany
Belgium
Netherlands
Switzerland
Austria
Greece
Spain
Egypt
Kenya
Jordan
Israel
Saudi Arabia
Bahrain
UAE
Syria
Lebanon
Turkey
Iraq
Kuwait
Thailand
Japan
Singapore
Hong Kong
Indonesia

Have had my passport stamped by all of those at least once... except Israel. Was living in Egypt at the time I visited Israel and planning on visiting Syria and Lebanon shortly thereafter so I asked the Israelis to not stamp my passport (as an Israeli stamp in it might get me stuck at customs and immigration when I visited countries none-too-friendly) and stamp a piece of paper instead. Which they did. Still have that piece of paper hehe.

Though I'm a US citizen (and always have been), I've spent more of my life living outside of the US than in the US. Though that was just the situation I was born in to so can't take credit for that. But my parents let me travel overseas by myself all the time, starting when I was 14.

Afghanistan is the next place on my list of countries to visit. Hope to get that stamp in my passport sometime this fall :)

That's a really impressive list Corbin, I'd love to visit some of those places! Which one was your favorite?

Here's my list in my current passport (covering the last 2 years), not so impressive as yours though LOL:

Hong Kong
Singapore
Thailand
Japan
S. Korea
Laos
China
UK

Really hoping to do more Europe and South American travelling this year.

Cheers,
DannyZ

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Originally Posted by CorbinFisher_BD

I had 2 US passports up until quite recently...

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You've inspired me to recall this famous quotation:

If you look like your passport photo, you are too ill to travel.

-Will Kommen :toff:

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Originally Posted by tombarr

The one about Americans generally being insular... Isolated points of view of the world.

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I pretty much agree, however for europeans, its much easier to travel to other european countries because of geographic scale and pricing.

I also wonder if fewer Americans traveling internationally is a result of our country exporting so much media and 'culture' than other countries. For instance, American tv shows, products, etc.. are all over Europe but there arent Euro shows, many euro films, and the euro products get rebranded. Its not really "culture" but it doesnt have a large effect on mainstream america