Postcolonial Speculative Fiction

American Safety Net

I really like that you brought in the examples of Americans expecting to be catered to even in their own country in a place like Yosemite, where nature is purposely uninterrupted. It really makes me think about how I notice my own interactions and movements in other places and cultures that are different from my own. On my study abroad trips to Greece and Paris, I was constantly reminded that people have much different standards and lifestyles in other countries and it's not fair for me to expect them to cater to my own! I think that the reason a lot of Americans have such a hard time peacefully visiting other places (like in this story) is because they a) don't travel enough b) don't respect other cultures and c) see other cultures as inferior. I don't think that this problem can ever be completely resolved, but being aware of it and continuously thinking about ways that we can move through foreign places more respectfully is a great start.

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