Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
republic are taught in a way
that glorii es multinational
corporation tactics and vili-
i es heroes of popular indig-
enous movements. I think
most Americans would be
appalled if we knew how
many textbooks we're writing
in the developing world.
On the road, you learn
that ethnic underdogs
everywhere are waging val-
iant but seemingly hopeless
struggles. When assessing
their tactics, I remind myself that every year on this planet a dozen or so
languages go extinct. h at means that many heroic, irreplaceable little nations
i nally lose their struggle and die. h ere are no headlines—they just get
weaker and weaker until that last person who speaks that language dies…
and so does one little bit of ethnic diversity on our planet.
I was raised so proud of Nathan Hale and Patrick Henry and Ethan
Allen—patriotic heroes of America's Revolutionary War who wished they
had more than one life to give for their country. Having traveled, I've learned
that Hales, Henrys, and Allens are a dime a dozen on this planet—each
country has their own version.
I believe the US tends to underestimate the spine of other nations. It's
comforting to think we can simply “shock-and-awe” our enemies into com-
pliance. h is is not only untrue…it's dangerous. Sure, we have the mightiest
military in the world. But we don't have a monopoly on bravery or grit. In
fact, in some ways, we might be less feisty than hardscrabble, emerging nations
that feel they have to scratch and claw for their very survival.
We're comfortable, secure, beyond our revolutionary stage...and well into
our Redcoat stage. Regardless of our strength and our righteousness, as long
as we have a foreign policy stance that requires a military presence in 130
countries, we will be confronting determined adversaries. We must choose
our battles carefully. Travel can help us understand that our potential enemies
are not cut-and-run mercenaries, but people with spine motivated by passions
and beliefs we didn't even know existed, much less understand.
This family has the Sri Lankan Dream.
