Do European politics affect your travel choices?
 

My dear friend will no longer travel to France and Germany (and Canada) because of their political views pre-Iraq war. Even though French friends just visited here, she will not reciprocate, says she will not spend money there. Will now only visit, England, Italy, Spain, etc. I am not interested in any political discussion ...this not the place, just simple "yes" or "no" as to whether you let world views influence your travels much.

No. Why would I want to avoid/punish/reward individual people in a country just because I agree/disagree with the policies of the government? What if I disagree with what my own country does? Would I move away so that I wouldn't have to spend money here? One of the best things about travel is that you can temporarily escape irritating realities, including politics.

At present, there is no country in Europe I'd refuse to visit due to government policies.

I can't say the policies of a government would <i>never</i> affect my decision. If there was, for example, a government similar to that of Nazi Germany, and we were free to travel to that country, I'd choose not to.

Yes. Much as I enjoy the sights and many of the people, I just cannot bear to visit the United States nowadays, though three of my siblings live south of the border -- NYC, Washington DC and Houston, respectively. We have our family reunions back home, in Canada.

No, not in the least. I think it is so important to see as much of the world as possible, and political differences are not going stop me. Having said that, I will admit to avoidance when it comes to countries where terrorism and other forms of violence are prevalent.

tedgale... :)

A prolonged economic boycott has done nothing to resolve political differences between the US and Cuba. So, if it's failed on a national level, should I have any reason to believe it would be any more successful on an individual one? No. Safety concerns? Maybe.

Yes,
France, Germany and Canada.
But that leave the rest of the world!

Leelani, I'm not sure why you'd ask such a question if you didn't want to start a political discussion. Why would the attitude of other Americans make a difference to your travel plans?

Your friend had better stay home. Only two countries, Britain and Australia, joined in the initial invasion of Iraq, and a majority of Britons and Australians opposed, and continue to oppose, their governments' actions. Better punish us too.

And you could look at it this way: given the cost in America's lives, money and reputation, in reality the French and Germans were trying to do Americans a favour. Reward them!

Seriously, though, your friend's views betray a worrying tendency to believe that France, Germany or any other country can be America's allies only if they uncritically support anything and everything that America chooses to launch. That's a petulant demand for vassals, not partners. Good partners and friends sometimes tell you things that you might not want to hear but should, and they try to deter you from doing things that they believe are not in your best interests. Should they be punished for that?

I agree with Carmen and capo. Most countries engage in practices that I disapprove of - and that includes America's use of capital punishment, which didn't stop me enjoying my time in the US, nor liking Americans. But then, I strongly disapprove of some of my own country's behaviours.

I would not travel to a country who's INTERNAL politics I found objectionable (e.g. South Africa during apartide, Saudi Arabia and other states that deny women or minorities basic human rights). These criteria are not applicable to any European nation, as far as I am aware.

I consider a country's foreign policy their own business and, unless it infringes on the rights of another nation, it would never stop me going there.

I live in Canada and very happy I do.

regards Ger

No, if I let politics rule my travel agenda I wouldnt get the chance to travel anywhere. I still enjoy the US, UK, Spain, Russia etc., even with their political issues.

Perhaps you can convince your friend to go to France and Germany anyway, as their reasons for being not in favour of the war had absolutely nothing to do with peace and love and understanding, but with their own economical advantages (Sadam still owes Germany oil for weapons they delivered in the war against Iran, if I'm not mistaken, and France has it's own big oil companies involved in Irak and would hate to see them get in American hands). So she'll be glad to see they're just as bad as the US :-) By the way, most of the population of the European countries that were in favour, were protesting against their governments, so she shouldn't expect big hurrah's in let's say England, Spain or Italy. And as for my own Belgium being opposed to it... that was probably because it was afraid of big brothers France and Germany :-)

And NO, it wouldn't let me stop visiting any country. I would even go to the USA :-)

My mother (who is a self-made millionaire) taught me to separate the personalities from the deal. In other words, even if you despise your counterpart in a business deal, you do the deal if it benefits YOU. I have long adhered to this principle, holding my nose when necessary, and never regretted it.

I can't think of a situation where I wouldn't visit a country so long as my personal safety were not at risk.

&quot;Do European politics affect your travel choices?&quot;

No, there are no political considerations like this that apply to countries in Europe for me. I often find that when I'm listening to someone who says that these things should be a consideration, I'm dealing with a person who confuses blind, unquestioning policy agreement to be synonymous with &quot;patriotism&quot; and has a 'love it or leave it' mentality.

As much as I love France, I think it would be difficult for me to enjoy it as much if Jean-Marie Le Pen is ever president.

I am curious, Leelani--now that Spain is withdrawing from the U.S-led coalition, will your friend stop traveling there?

Only if they are actively shooting at each other :D

elle, we were in Siena in 2002 when we found out about Le Pen shocking France by edging out Lionel Jospin, Chirac's Socialist prime minister. Then we were in Nice in early May when Chirac soundly thrashed Le Pen, 82 percent to 18 percent. And I fell in love with the people who run &quot;my&quot; hotel there even more when I saw them cheering for Chirac (I wasn't sure since Le Pen's base is in Provence.)

No.
Like the American politics do not change my mind or my plans for the near future.

capo, of that 82 percent, how many do you think were shaking their heads and saying, &quot;<i>Merde! </i> I can't believe I'm voting for Jaques Chirac.&quot;

Nothing like a xenophobic fascist to inspire voter turnout ;).

sfowler.&lt;Only if they are actively shooting at each other
&gt;

Now I know you've been in a place or 2 where they have been doing just that!!