So Rick Steves’ decision last year to go to Iran and try to get a sense of the place looks pretty smart now, huh? He caught a lot of flak at the time from some quarters.
What I appreciate about Steves is his robust intellectual honesty and curiosity. He didn’t pretend to be doing anything but what he does, which is to see the world and tell folks how to get around in it. Certainly, he acknowledged the conditions imposed on him and didn’t stray all that far into politics, but he didn’t pretend to know stuff he didn’t.
Then he learned stuff about Iran.
I say good on him.
The world needs more people like Rick Steves, more people who cross boundaries with their eyes open and who try to keep their preconceptions at bay.
And America needs more people who travel the world like he does and who are willing to see the world with open eyes and understanding.
If we had a (former) President who had been anywhere with his ample trust funds and privileged upbringing before being prez, other than going to Mexican border towns to get falling down shitfaced and catch VD, we would not be in all these messes.
I applaud Rick Steves. I watched that and was fascinated! It’s ALWAYS ALWAYS good to have more information than less. Ignorance is never a virtue.
Yes he had restrictions, pointed them out, pointed out the safety concerns. But this wasn’t about the politics of the country, but how to travel in it if you must or are just curious. Keep in mind, as Rick points out often, the PEOPLE of Iran are mostly wonderful, gracious and inviting (same with most all nations) it’s the leaders who are the dicks.
That being said, there are countries I’d never visit just because I don’t want to give them my hard earned travel-vacation dollars because of their national policies. Egypt for one. I WANT to see the ancient monuments, but I don’t like the way that government treats it’s LGBT community, so they don’t get my money.
Agreed, kudos to Rick Steves.
I like his radio travel talk show too. It’s interesting to me that unlike many of the world travelers and experts he interviews, he seems sort of unassuming, never boastful, kind of matter of fact about things. I think this is why he’s so popular. He makes it all look easy. He sounds this way when he’s talking politics too, very sensible.
Actually the people of Iran were rather proud and had to be dealt with severely. they don’t bow down easily, and it cost them, believe me.
@5 I can think of another country like that, which only recently threw off a reactionary clerical-based dictatorship.
If the present situation in Iran progresses to all-out civil war, it’s going to make pretty much a mess of the place, regardless of which side eventually prevails.
With this in mind, Steves’ production may end up being a sort of time-capsule record of Iran as it was at a particular instant in time.
Whatever happens in Iran is up to the Iranians, not us. Let’s stay the fuck out of these damn foreign adventures!
But….but…..Goldy should turn the blog green!
Off topic for sure but how come you assholes aren’t all up in “concern” about Obama firing the IG of Americorp, the firing of the IG of the International Trade COmmission and the leashing of the IG in charge of overseeing the porkulos baillout? Raw, naked politics at it’s dirtiest- no surprise it’s coming from the Democrats.