america's myopia

‘closed door policy’ is a term often used to describe japan’s attitude towards the rest of the world in the years before U.S. navy commodore matthew perry arrived on the island demanding trade.



now japan has economic links to other countries but the older generations are still reticent to open the door to foreign influence in regards to immigration [it’s nearly impossible to gain citizenship], importation of pop culture, adoption of an international business language [my job is the mark of a shift, but one that has had negligible results over the last 20 years], etc.
i’ve long considered ‘closed door policy’ to be a dirty word, so it’s regrettable that i am coming to associate this philosophy with america and it’s government strategy.



i’ve recently had occasion to meet several people who were denied entry to the U.S. the stories were made all the more embarrassing and painful because while i sat listening, i was a visitor in a foreign country, experiencing culture and adventure in much the same way they had longed to do in america.
a while back the girls and i went to Nagoya and sought out a highly recommended Mexican restaurant. we were told to ask for rudy, that he’d take care of us. turned out this rudy character made delicious enchiladas and had tons of interesting stories. he was born in mexico and moved to the u.s. with his parents shortly after birth. he was reared and schooled in America. his aunts, uncles and cousins were all legal immigrants and his parents have since become recognized tax-paying citizens. rudy was hoping to go back to the U.S. to visit his family but has been embroiled in a visa battle for quite some time now, caught in a limbo because he has been living and making a life in japan for so long that the American government doesn’t recognize his ties to the country or his right to enter it. they basically lump him into the same category as mexican immigrants who they worry won’t leave once they gain entrance. never mind all the evidence to the contrary, such as his wife, small business, and obligations in japan.




then, in India, we visited an outdoor kebab shop called bade miya. as we struggled with the menu, a friendly muslim family at the next table helped us decipher what was what. we got involved in an interesting chat that spanned the length of our meal. turns out they are from India but have lived in Tanzania, Africa most of their lives. they were in Mumbai visiting their son who is studying dentistry there. the whole family speaks impeccable English, is well-traveled and so curious about the world. this was evidenced by the way they engaged and questioned us. we traded stories of our adopted countries and even exchanged coins as tokens of our connection. i was taken with their outgoing nature and kindness. although, or perhaps because, they didn’t consider us agents of the u.s. government or proponents of its policies, they wore disapproving scowls when they talked of the one place they’ve been unable to visit in their travels; America, because they haven’t been able to secure a visa.
i stumbled upon this article today which added statistics and numbers to the story i’ve seen unfurling over the last few years.
Travel industry: U.S. losing out on international tourism
perhaps if the echoes of these issues become a loud enough din, the U.S. will be encouraged to re-examine the policies that are inspiring the problems.
it’s amazing how much you can learn by objectivity, taking a step outside and looking in. i feel i have an unprecedented view of american socio-political culture from my perch on the opposite side of the world. at a time when i feel more like a world citizen than a nationalist, at a juncture when i’m more motivated and able to explore the world than ever before, at a moment when i’m engaged daily in internationalization at a grass-roots level that truly illustrates the importance of cross-cultural understanding, i am so disheartened to see this shift in U.S. policy.
i’ve always thought America was relentless about promoting an open door policy, boring into foreign markets and spreading western ideals, while fairly [in theory] opening it’s own borders to trade, investment and influence from abroad.




it now seems as if America is the bully with his shoulder against the door preventing the weaker kids from gaining entrance. i have incredible sympathy for foreign nationals who want to enter America to work, be it for financial or intellectual gain, as that is the current situation i’m living. i’ve visited more than 15 countries, some of whose residents would undoubtedly not be able to enjoy the reciprocal experience of an American vacation. these inequities leave me ill-equipped to explain the American government’s stance to people slighted by it’s policies, which were born of knee-jerk reactions to unfortunate but understandable circumstances in the world we share. america’s recent behavior is hurting its credibility as a ‘fruit salad’ where cultures are encouraged to intermingle, it’s damaging america’s reputation as a tolerant nation that encourages freedom of thought and expression, and it’s serving to bolster contempt and disdain. america does not appear to be at the top of it’s game. and when a player begins to make mistakes and gets cocky, it isn't long before they are unseated from their top position.