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Re: [microsound] [ot] passports
The Amerkians I saw and met when I was in Europe traveling and studying, were mostly in the mid-20's. Why? The traditional celebration of finishing college that's why. After college, you won't have time nor money to 'see' the world; unless your parents have money and you are a trust-fund-baby. They were not from a wide demographic either. They seemed to be all the same. The ones I came across who were open to adventure was rare.
For me, being surrounded by people from all over for nearly two years open my eyes and ears to sights and sounds. It might have been 6 to 7 years ago, but I am still being influenced.
Most americians don't have a passport because they or can't afford to travel to a country that requires one. You can drive for 6 to 12 hours and not cross into another country in the USA. However, a simple 6 to 8 hour drive Berlin to....anywhere will cause you to have your passport with you. As an American, we have to comfort of getting into countries with ease. Aussie's need a visa to get into Czech Republic. Correct me if I am wrong, but it is still like that.
btw, how is this a part of microsound? any connection?
Derek
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Kim Cascone" <kim@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: microsound_list <microsound@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: [microsound] [ot] passports
> Date: Sun, 15 Oct 2006 11:32:13 -0700
>
>
> > it does make sense that the number of u.s. citizens holding passports
> > has increased now that there is so much concern and paranoia about
> > identity and travel, but in the end this is a summation of control.
> the increase of passport ownership is due to paranoia? I don't follow...
>
> I would say that one trend I have seen is that more young people
> (20 +) are traveling and this is due to the boomers (who have a
> disposable income) having kids of backpacking age who want to check
> out europe...these same kids represent a huge demographic in the
> US right now since their 'buying power' is most likely equal to
> that of professional gay men -- I don't have any data to back this
> up but if someone has any data on this it would be interesting to
> parse thru --
>
> most of the americans I see traveling in europe these days are
> either in their 20's or retirees in the 60's...so I would account
> for any increase in percentage of americans holding passports due
> to the aging (and retiring) work force and boomer offspring
> demographic centers of buying power...
>
> and while the consumption of other cultures is problematic in many
> ways it is also a good way to get a broader view of the world and
> politics...
>
> for an interesting deconstruction of american culture, check out
> Umberto Eco's 'Travels in Hyperreality'
> http://tinyurl.com/y956et
>
> > it is a means to control a populations movements as well as having a
> > central resource to know what citizens are actually up to.
> I find your theory interesting but not sure I follow the logic
> here...there are a myriad of ways the gov't keeps track of
> us...passports are only one of them...
> I'm getting my Italian citizenship (my grandparents were born in
> Italy) and passport next year so I'm hoping dual citizenship will
> really confuse the panopticon ;)
>
> > in the
> > case of the u.s. i see this increase driven exclusively by a sense of
> > pressure from the u.s. culture.
> again, I'm not challenging your view so much as wanting to
> understand the underlying logic...
>
> > the notion of, "if you have nothing
> > to hid, all is o.k.", is merely a veneer painted on an apparatus that
> > looks and smells like the 1930's in a few countries, the end result
> > was not good then and will result in the same type concentrated power
> > that has no social or cultural benevolence.
> this is true...especially when those in power don't share in the
> accountability and transparency they are foisting on the public...
>
> >
> > a u.s. passport is a membership card to the party in control at the
> > moment
> I think I understand your statement but I find this to be one of
> the less focused ways in which the gov't controls you...except for
> requiring visa's for certain countries and making it near
> impossible for americans to travel in certain parts of the
> world...my travels throughout Europe have never been hampered by
> US Customs...
>
>
> > and secondarily a method travel documentation. it is a means
> > to an end that appears bleak.
> that's odd since traveling is the only thing that gives me hope in
> humanity any more...
>
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