OORAH, thereyet

Yes, there are some countries I wouldn't visit for political reasons. I don't include countries such as Sudan and Nigeria - my primary reason for not visiting them is lack of interest.

I suppose the country at the top of the list of places I'd like to go, but currently wont, is Israel. This is personal decision - I don't try and persuade other people not to go- but I feel that if I visited I would be condoning the present government.

I lived in South Africa for several years during the Apartheid era. Tourism and visits of foreign dignitaries and "stars" were often used by the state run media as propaganda. Because Mother Theresa was visiting Cape Town, it was obvious that the rest of the world was wrong to treat the country as a pariah state.

Oh Lordy, did I make a boo boo.

>I hope that you think that Reagan's "One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter" worth considering.<

That should have been
>I hope that you DO NOT think that Reagan's "One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter" is worth considering.<

Gee, AA.

Eisenhower wasn't born in Texas?

Hi chan,

>..but to not visit a place because 50,100 or more years ago horrible things happened...you seem to hold the sins of the past against the citizens of today.<

There are people still alive who were in the camps.

There are people who are the children of those who died in the camps.

There are people who are the grandchildren of those who survived the camps.

To them, these are not sins of the past. They are very much in the present.

It is not unreasonable for these folks, whatever their religion, nationality or ethnic background, to not want to visit those countries involved in the mass murders of the 30's to the 50's.

I think everyone else should make at least one visit to the Nazi camps, the Gulag if it's ever opened up, and any other site of atrocity so as to realize how fragile the veneer of civilization is, and how easy it is for seemingly reasonable people to become murderers.

>not unreasonable
I beg to differ, everybody is someones child or grandchild. Everybody in Europe has family killed and slaughtered. And the children of victims suffer like those of the murderers. You do not put labels like "good" and "bad" on people.
Everybody has to streighten out things for him or herself. If the next gerarations aren't able to distinguish peronal guilt from prejudice, peace won't ever be won. Unfortunately people don't ever seem to learn

thank you Ira and thomassocroccantnte.

Yes, every country and people has probably has done horrible things in its history - going back thousands of years. Obviously, it's more difficult for those things that may still affect someone now alive or more recently than, say, 500 hundred years ago.

(I went to Birkenau - and was amazed that people still live right outside of this death camp - I mean right there - looking out their windows each morning and see, 30 feet in front of them, the barbed wire and camp grounds. I thought to myself - How can they?)

Just wondering, in my initial question, if anyone takes into account something besides weather or how much it will cost them, etc., when deciding on where to vacation. Does a government's current or recent treatment of its people or other people, affect your decision on where to "take a break", and how comfortable you will be enjoying your vacation there, and where you want to spend your money.

As kenav has attempted to bring the discussion back on track, I will answer the question.

Yes, there are places where I will not go because of policies or practices there. There are also bordeline cases where I am not sure what I should do, but I can always do a bit of research if the possibility of a trip comes on to the agenda.

It is probably not helpful if I say what places I would not go to, or what I think is wrong about them. There seem to be people who believe that they have a superior understanding of the world, or a more valid moral code, who might tell me that I am wrong. But they cannot force me to go where I do not want to go.

Have not read ALL the answers, but I did have a morale delemna (sp) in booking a cruise that includes Morocco...As for France..forget about it..I wouldn't be caught dead there..why...and I'll come out with it...rampant anti-semitism in europe..At this point I have no interest in Germany either period. Can't understand why people want to visit countries that are anti-american.. Yes, I understand many don't like our politics... In S. America... I would go back to Venezuela because I have friends there... Right now I haven't booked any private excursions in Morocco because of the threat of attacks on tourists and the I thnk attempted bombing of our embassy.. I wll wait until the last minute..No, I am not afraid of men with machine guns and heaven only knows I've seen enough of that in some countries and I refuse to tell people "I'm a Canadian"... to stop anti-American discussions.. Yes, there are people I know who have never left this city..but I will go just about anywhere... and those who know me...know I'm a senior citizen..way senior..lol

Ira
-To those who say,

"I'm a republican. I watch Fox. I go to France. I don't like Bush".

You are all invited to dinner at my house.

Since we can easily accommodate 6 people at our dining room table, I expect that there will be room for all of us. -

What's the date and time? My husband and I are looking forward to it.

ParrotMom

<< I will go just about anywhere>>

"I did have a morale delemna (sp) in booking a cruise that includes Morocco."
"..As for France..forget about it"..
".rampant anti-semitism in europe"
"I have no interest in Germany"
" Can't understand why people want to visit countries that are anti-american".. In S. America"
"Right now I haven't booked any private excursions in Morocco "

Well maybe not quite anywhere eh Polly

I certainly don't let politics affect my travel. One of my travel purposes is to open my mind and learn the other perspectives/sides.

I feel that we get such limited info about other countries to make a proper judgement. Our media can easily dictate/manipulate our opinion. I have learned that the best way for me to find the truth is to go there myself. There's plenty of exxageration and bending of the truth in our media.

I've met just as many Europeans who lost their interest to visit the US since we relected Bush as Americans who refused to travel to France, Germany & Belgium since the Iraq war started. Fortunately most Fodorites on both sides of the Atlantic don't fall into the stupid politics category.

It would be a shame to judge the entire population of any country by the government that runs it. I'm betting that when I travel to France and Italy in the fall, I will find some inhabitants that like America and Americans.

You bet, Sarge. I happen to know that my Roman friends like me as much as I like them! AND they come to the US every year.

Have time, will travel....but need funds.

I don't know about you, Mimi, but I suspect one reason I've been hanging around Fodors so much the past month or so is that I'm not traveling this year - not far, anyway. At least we can do some vicarious stowing away here!

I have ben going to France for many years and I can tell you the French do not dislike us, only our goverment. Do you remember that stupid Freedom Fries times? Once staying in Normandy at a B&B there was a party of Belges next to us that were not friendly. I was reading the Herald and quoting an anti-Bush story to DH and we laughed in agreement.
All of a suddn, the people at that next table were talking to us and we had a very nice two hour breakfast.

This is a bit off-topic, but I should say that I have encountered more anti-Americanism from my American friends or other Americans in Europe than from any Europeans in Europe. Most Europeans are happy to have Americans as tourists (if we behave properly). When I mention that I am from Texas, I get a few "so is that Bush country?" questions/comments, but I've never gotten any response or any comment that could be perceived as anti-American (or for that matter anti-Bush). I do talk politics with British friends, and I think we are both a bit critical of each other's governments, but that is the extent of it. I certainly would not refuse to travel to another country either because I disagreed with their politics or because I was afraid of anti-Americanism.

I'll probably get slated for this as usual....but I try not to go to the US since Bush got into power.

I used to live in the States and then when I moved back to Europe I went back to the US for holidays 2 or 3 times per year. Since Bush took over I have chosen not to spend my holidays there and I go on work trips only whn I really have no choice.

I am not afraid, I don't think I'm going to be caught up in some terrorist attack or whatever. I have nothing against the American people - but I don't want to be spending my holidays or my dollars there at the moment.
I am not anti-American, I am anti-Bush.

I am really looking forward to when I can go back again as there are so many lovely places I wnat to show my husband.

Lawchick's words represent a wide consensus of European opinion on US politics and tourism at the present time.