Go abroad, young Americans

The United States is a superpower with vast worldwide security commitments and trade ties, but its citizens don’t know much about the world. That’s a dangerous combination.
Here’s one good solution: More young Americans should study abroad, according to a new report by the Commission on the Abraham Lincoln Study Abroad Program.
The commission noted the shortage of Americans with foreign language and in-country experience, and recommended that Congress eventually give $125 million a year to send up to 1 million students abroad.
Instead of paying to build bridges to nowhere in Alaska, Congress should be building bridges to other countries by sending our young people overseas.
Posted by Randy Scholfield

6 Comments

  1. TRACY
    Posted November 17, 2005 at 2:20 pm | Permalink

    Wow, Is Bob C. going to give out vouchers for this?

  2. Jed
    Posted November 17, 2005 at 2:30 pm | Permalink

    Only to study religion in Jerusalem.

  3. J M Walker
    Posted November 17, 2005 at 3:12 pm | Permalink

    Ed’s going next week to study there.

  4. Jed
    Posted November 18, 2005 at 10:32 am | Permalink

    Shall we start a pool on how long he survives, and which side gets him?

  5. Ed Friedemann
    Posted November 18, 2005 at 11:06 am | Permalink

    Again? I just got back. Always enguage brain before opening mouth.

  6. RD
    Posted November 18, 2005 at 2:53 pm | Permalink

    Gotta say that I have to agree with Randy. I’ve met and talked with several exchange students from other countries. They take home an education not taught in schools. Our students should have those same opportunities to study the culture of other countries close up and in person. They might want to say they’re from Canada though…