The vast majority of our country's problems comes from our ignorance. Many young men and women in the "Bible Belt" have never been outside their home state before, let alone the country. They have never seen a world where police are unarmed and do not summarily execute people of color. They have never seen a world where private gun ownership is outlawed, and the public is safer because of it. They have never seen a world where the government pays for the healthcare bills of average citizens, and where the rich happily pay their fair share of taxes for the benefit of the public. They have never seen a world where Mao Zedong, Fidel Castro, Hugo Chavez, and Ho Chi Minh are not demonized by biased teachers and textbooks, but are treated and respected as the heroes they are.
I believe that all U.S citizens should be required to spend at least two years of their lives in a foreign country. This includes citizens from all over, regardless if they come for New York or Dallas, whether they are farmers or bankers. Special focus would be given on visiting countries that many citizens have been taught are their "enemies," and exploring the rich and profound culture and humanity of countries who are governed by revolutionaries, not reactionaries. China, Cuba, Venezuela, Vietnam, Laos, Bolivia, Iran, etc. Visiting other white dominated, capitalist countries such as Belgium or Canada or Israel would not fulfill this two year obligation.
If a citizen refuses to broaden his/her horizons and open their minds to other lifestyles around the world, they would be rightfully punished. Perhaps their right to vote could be suspended until this travel obligation is fulfilled, or maybe a prison term would also be a good punishment. While it seems harsh, these people have demonstrated their xenophobia and racism, and have shown that they will do nothing but hold progress back in this country.
The government would pay for all travel arrangements. We could afford this by cutting our military budget from 500 billion a year to 100 billion a year, in line with other countries our size such as India or China.
If this program were implemented, I believe that the citizens, voters, and leaders of the future would be far more open minded, well informed, and tolerant than citizens today currently are. We would have fewer unprovoked wars of aggression in other countries, both due to the increased tolerance and our decreased military budget. I truly believe that requiring all citizens to spend two years abroad would pay dividends for the future of the USA.
