I am supporting you, Odessa, in every way. Your points are completely valid and I wanted to amplify them. People really are not particularly educated, and without the benefit of travel or even reading most of us remain that way.

to your story, which caused me to laugh out loud, I am reminded of all the Japanese tourists flocking into Dallas looking for shootouts and scruffy cowboys tying their horses to the posts in front of the banks.

As for critical thinking? Hell. I'm not sure many of us even know what that means. We aren't very well trained to challenge our own thoughts or assumptions or prejudices, which is an important part of being able to ask good questions. I agree with you wholeheartedly but I sure don't see it in action very often.

I am tagging you in another article. I really liked this piece, Odessa, so please take this as a compliment. Your points are excellent and I think essential to helping others stop and consider the stories they tell themselves.

Now I'm gonna head out to the Argentine pampas where some handsome cowboy is going to sweep ME off my feet.

B whahahahahaha.