State of mind

 

Someone asked on Facebook "What state would you would never travel to, and why?" Lots of people responded they'd never go to a red state, naturally. And of course this question is actually fishing for clicks and arguments (best way to get "engagement") rather than thoughtful responses. Nevertheless, it got me thinking.

 

My first response was:

 

What makes you think we have time or money to visit other states? Most of us can barely afford the gas to get to our second jobs.

 

Then on further reflection I had another thought...

 

I sometimes think that's part of why the country has gotten more divided over the past few decades. Used to be possible for city people and country people to spend at least a little time in each other's worlds, learn a little about each other's perspectives and lifestyles and what each of us is working to build or maintain. Now we're too busy surviving to do any of that. 

Maybe the fact that New Yorkers no longer drive to Disney World and stop in a bunch of small Southern towns en route, and Idahoans live their whole lives without ever seeing the ocean just a few hundred miles away, and none of us ever have the money and leisure to see what Mexico City or Paris are like ... that makes us more insular, less empathetic, less open to new ideas and experiences and ways of thinking and living, and more likely to see anyone outside our own little circles as the enemy. Especially since we all spend every waking hour working or recovering from work, and want someone to blame for that. 

Makes it VERY easy to manipulate people into blaming those bastards over in the red states/ blue states, rather than blaming the wealthy people who created and benefit from the current system.

After all, if "travel broadens the mind", then surely lack of travel narrows it.