Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
people. Now in the 21st century, Europe seems determined to get human
rights, civil liberties, and tolerance issues right.
Instead of legislating morality, Europe legislates tolerance and human
rights. Along with all the rights an American would expect, the in-the-works
European constitution will include the right to work, food, and education. All
will have the right not only to healthcare, but to preventative healthcare. In
Europe, the “right to life” means no death penalty. Europeans will all have the
right to the protection of personal data, the right to access any data that has
been collected, and the right to have it rectii ed if it is inaccurate. Everyone will
have the right to paid leave and paid parental leave. And all will have the right
to join or form a trade union. When the proposed constitution was unveiled,
Valéry Giscard d'Estaing (then-president of France) declared proudly that
“of all the men and women in the world, it is the citizens of Europe who will
have the most extensive rights.” While the European Union was not ready for
such far-ranging idealism and this constitution was voted down, the vision is
not dead and all expect something similar to soon be passed into law.
While the US is not likely to embrace tolerance with the sweeping ide-
alism of some Europeans, just knowing that reasonable people endeavor to
respect human diversity, promote inclusivity, and champion human rights
to this degree can be empowering. Once back home, you have the option of
tailoring your personal version of the American Dream with similar ideals.
European Flesh and the American Prude
On a lighter note, let's take a closer look at Europe's relatively open relation-
ship with their bodies and with sex. While not as high-minded as war and
peace or taxation and social services, this is an aspect of the cultural divide
that titillates any American traveler to Europe who's window-shopped a
magazine kiosk, gone to a beach or park on a sunny day, or channel-surfed
broadcast TV late at night.
h inking through my recent travels, I recall many examples of Europe's
dif erent attitudes about sex: My Dutch friends had, on their cof ee table, a
graphic government-produced magazine promoting safe sex. I was sitting on
the toilet at an airport in Poland and the cleaning lady asked me to lift my legs
so she could sweep. I learned that I can measure the romantic appeal of scenic
pull-outs along the Amali Coast drive by how many used condoms litter the
asphalt. Soap ads on huge billboards overlooking major city intersections in
Belgium show lathered-up breasts. h
e logo of a German travel publisher is
