Sunday,
October 15, 2006
To US Travelers: Turn Up
Listening, Turn Down Arrogance
The
ANNOTICO Report
The
World Citizens Guide, a 60-page, passport-sized booklet with facts
about each country and common sense tips was created for students who study
abroad, and it's success ushered a version for business travellers, that would benefit any traveller.
The
Guide, which also includes an interactive mini-CD, includes the 50 most useful
words in Arabic, French, German, Italian and Spanish. The Marines use them, and
the
The
booklet is in response to a Research Project that was to determine what Other
Countries like and don't like about Americans.
The
positives are what you would expect -- youthful enthusiasm, a can-do spirit.
"But
the negatives were very consistent across all regions. That
we were exploiters.
That we promote values
that were not in concert with social mores of other countries."That
we were arrogant, ignorant,
totally self-absorbed, unwilling to listen and uninterested in
other cultures."
"Unless
Americans address those perceptions soon, "This is going to further prejudice.
And prejudice means that no matter what you do, there is still (prejudgment)
against you." AND "The rise in anti-Americanism is a threat to
our national security,The
more people dislike us, the more easily they can be recruited by our enemies.
In this global world, we need all the friends we can get."
The
From
The
By
Joe Burris
October 14, 2006
A
Reports
out of the
These
are a sampling of sentiments that Keith Reinhard
gathered from across the world while probing the depth of anti-American
sentiment.
Reinhard, a former international marketing executive, is
convinced that such perceptions are widespread and growing.
He
worries that such attitudes could usher in behaviour
that would give Americans who travel abroad another cause for concern -- along
with the threat of being targets for terrorism.
Problem
is, he says, American travellers are often at fault
for such sweeping stereotypes; too many have scarce knowledge of and little
regard for the cultures and norms they encounter. All too often, they talk down
to their hosts.
To
overcome such perceptions, Reinhard founded the
Business for Diplomatic Action (BDA), a group of educators, executives and
citizens working to combat the spread of anti-American sentiment.
Although
its primary focus has been business travellers, the
BDA recently extended its efforts to all Americans travelling
abroad -- its World Citizens Guide, booklets and pamphlets offering a crash
course in other nations' histories, religions, traditions, peoples and
languages.
"The
rise in anti-Americanism is a threat to our national security," Reinhard says. "The more people dislike us, the more
easily they can be recruited by our enemies. In this global world, we need all
the friends we can get."
The
World Citizens Guide is colourfully illustrated and
includes images of nations' flags, facts about each country and common sense
tips that would benefit any traveller.
The
60-page, passport-sized booklet was created for students who study abroad. Its
success ushered in the pamphlet, an abridged version, for business travellers.
The
booklet, which also includes an interactive mini-CD, includes the 50 most
useful words in Arabic, French, German, Italian and Spanish.
It
suggests that Americans should learn the norms of the countries where they
travel and follow them to prevent someone from unintentionally sending the
wrong message.
For
example, the book says: "In most European countries, the correct way to
wave hello and goodbye is palm out, hand and arm stationary, fingers wagging up
and down. Common American waving hand moving side to side means no -- except in
The
pamphlet begins, "In other countries, you are more than just an American.
You are
"The
guide really talks about how we might have a more enriching experience abroad
if we are able to open ourselves up and embrace other cultures more," says
Patricia Alvey, a Southern Methodist University
professor who oversaw the creation of the guides.
The
guides have been distributed to 300 colleges and universities as well as to
more than 20,000 businesspeople in 800 companies.
The
Marines use them, and the federal government is considering distributing the
guide with every
Alvey says the guides are not intended to relay all-encompassing
information about a particular country.
"We're
saying, 'If we could get your attention: Here are some ways we might be more
different than you think,' and 'Here is another way of looking at
travel.'"
"We
asked our researchers to go out and ask people what they do like about
Americans and what they don't like," Reinhard
says, "and the positives are what you would expect -- youthful enthusiasm,
a can-do spirit.
"But
the negatives were very consistent across all regions. That
we were exploiters. That we promote values that were
not in concert with social mores of other countries.
"That
we were arrogant, ignorant, totally self-absorbed, unwilling to listen and
uninterested in other cultures."
Reinhard says that unless Americans address those
perceptions soon, "This is going to go into the realm of prejudice. And
prejudice means that no matter what you do, there is still (prejudgment)
against you."
During
a July 12 speech at the National Summit on Citizen Diplomacy in
"Out
of frustration, one of the men revealed that he was a minister," Reinhard said, "and that he had been looking forward
to the trip for a long time. 'I don't see what the big
deal is,' he said. 'If God can accept me wearing shorts, why can't you? I'm
sure God is wearing shorts right now. Just wait until Judgment Day. You'll pay
for this.'"
"Maybe
so," Reinhard said, "but they didn't get
into the
He
also speaks of shifting attitudes toward American goods.
He
travelled to
When
he visited
DaimlerChrysler's
South African division said the ad was not meant to sound anti-American and
that it merely spoke of South African's preference for smaller, more
fuel-efficient European cars over huge American gas-guzzlers.
The
advertisement was removed after officials from DaimlerChrysler's
"American
origin used to be a selling point," he says.
The
ANNOTICO Reports
Can
be Viewed, and are Archived at:
Italia
Italia Mia: http://www.ItaliaMia.com
Annotico
Email: annotico@earthlink.net