Cyclist gets detained in Russia, basketball player detained in russia, tourist gets put into coma before dying for stealing North Korean poster, hikers detained in Iran. There are a lot of people with passports and these glowing ideas that were all the same, and going to places will broker friendships and change things. These may be enlightened ideals, but very, very stupid actions. Going to Mexico is fine but you better fucking be smart about it. Go with a large group and stay where you’re supposed to, you should be fine. My company had at least 2 security guards for anyone taking business trips to Mexico because they’ve had to pay ransoms in the past.
To act like going to dangerous places is enlightening is a very stupid take. Look at how many journalists died in Gaza, and those are a supposedly protected group who generally know what they’re doing. Extreme tourism is absolutely stupid in my opinion. I traveled enough while in the army and don’t currently have a passport, nor am I interested in getting one. If I ever leave this country again, it will be permanent.
I think you read my response through a filter. China has tons of Americans there doing just fine. Just don’t go public with any dissent and you’re fine. That’s not the case with the other places I mentioned.
Your initial post acted like there’s nowhere on earth that is just straight up dangerous for westerners and that’s purely fantasy. Yeah there are places Americans consider more dangerous than they are, I’ll give you that very minor point. However, there’s also a real legitimate reason that Americans pretend to be Canadian when traveling. And there’s a legitimate reason that places are hostile to Americans, but not Canadians. You’re just being ignorant with altruistic values, but it’s ignorance all the same.
Edit: or at least, that’s how I’m taking your ignorance, with a whole bunch of benefit of doubt.