Or was just having a bad day, wanted to get it off of his chest and did it in a very public way causing some offence in the process. I have seen and done the opposite, had such good experiences in places like Zimbabwe or Burma and spoken about it in such a way that you would actually think they were nice places to live, which for many of the locals they are not.

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You can be too careful

OK, I admit that most american food is junk. TV has homogenized america so much that food is the same all over. America could use some Ukraine or Russian bread. Thank goodness that USA has some great parks that are all different.

The comment about americans/ no passports is generally true. I don't think average americans know much about the rest of the world, or even care to do so. It is said: War is God's way of teaching americans geography."

I am considered strange by friends because I have been to foreign places and want to return again.

I have no idea why politicians exist - most don't do a damn thing. Just take a look at the american congress. What a bunch of (rich) jerks IMO. Voting percent is at an all time low - why do it? While I think a majority of Republicans should be shot on the spot, there are an equal number of Democrats that also qualify. The whole system protects itself with enormous gobs of money. I'd like to see a coalition-type thing that FORCES these jerks to work together.

True, TSA, cops, and bureaucrats don't take kindly to any other opinion than their own, so try to avoid them whenever possible. I saw hundreds of passengers waiting for US Custom/Passport control to reopen - they were on their 15 minute break standing around while lines got longer and longer. US Customs is a scene compared to eastern europe.

OK, off of soapbox. Whatever, live and let live. If anyone travels through SE Idaho, you are welcome here. As a matter of fact, everyone is welcome at least 1 time, after that you gotta earn it.
YMMV