Travel Of The World Makes Us Wiser In The World
TRAVEL
Travel is an art form. It’s a gateway to existing outside ourselves for a fleeting time to explore something deeper and with greater purpose. When we leave the comfort of familiarity, we test our inner senses. Our minds becomes more open, our understanding and acceptance of diversity is strengthened, and our sense of humanity becomes all the more profound.
The United States is thought to be the center of the world, the primary authority, and perhaps the moral compass. But history tells us that the foundation for civilization began in the Middle East, East Asia, Egypt, and Mesoamerica. In other words, the world isn’t as small as it may seem, and as Americans, it should be our ambition to learn more about the cultures that have preceded ours.
GETTING CULTURED
Not many people would turn down the opportunity to take a vacation, but life happens and expenses amass. Traveling is less about ‘vacation’ and more about becoming immersed in an unfamiliar culture. When we travel, we engage with the world and its inhabitants. If physical travel is not an option, it shouldn’t be an obstacle to gaining knowledge. There are seemingly infinite ways to open our minds and hearts to the mysteries of the world, and is perhaps, one of the greatest means of feeling connected to those around us.
FOREIGN POLICY IN 2016
Spending an afternoon getting lost in a quality book about ancient Greece or East Asian politics, whatever it may be, will broaden our sense of understanding. Doing so sheds light on our own nation’s history, and connects links and gaps in issue areas we don’t understand.
Having a firm grasp on the role of the European Union and the United States’ relationship with EU members will unveil information about foreign policy, allowing us to make sense of policy decisions today. Engaging with the world by making an ardent attempt to understand it will also enable us to make wiser decisions come 2016 — when candidates reveal their varying approaches to foreign policy.