Open – I am. Are you? New ideas, new cultural information, new sights, sounds, tastes, and smells are filtering into our society – if you choose to seek them out and participate. Truth is, most people are closed. The Pavlovian herd is hardened by a media in the U.S. that appears reluctant to offer America’s diverse population a healthy view of the world.

What we know of Africa: people in Darfur are having problems, um, starving, or maybe they are at war – not sure, but there was something on the news. Elephants are endangered. There are gorillas in Africa. Most Africans have AIDS. Brad and Angelina went to Namibia for a baby. That’s about it.

China: They are stealing our jobs, they make everything that is sold at Walmart, they are evil communists.

India: They are stealing our jobs through outsourcing; there are too many stealing our jobs right here in America; they worship cows, and they have dots on their heads.

Europe: The old country, we came from there. The French suck. What is a Norway? My uncle-sister-brother-cousin-other-extended-family-member was in the Army in Germany. I’d like to visit Europe someday.

South America: The source of all of our big problems, this is where Mexicans come from.

Middle East: War, Terror, Oil, Burkas, Camels, Suicide Bombers, Freedom Haters.

Australia: Ga’day mate, put the shrimps on the barbie.

Japan: Toyota, Sony, PS3, Wii, Anime, raw fish.

That is the extent of the view of the world for many of us Americans. We are not open; we are closed.