Thursday, March 17th, 2016
Stephan: You may remember that a few months ago I posted one of my Explore essays on a series of conversations I had while at a scientific conference in Sweden that had a big effect on me, and left me feeling embarrassed for my country. It was very uncomfortable. Here is the Argentine version.
The American corporate media is so national-centric that it rarely reports on how we look to the rest of the world. And since 64 per cent of Americans have never been outside U.S. borders most of us don't even think about this. But for those of us that do, and do travel internationally, things have changed. Here's what I mean.
Members of a family check out the Beretta gun display at the 132nd Annual National Rifle Association Meeting in Orlando, Florida, April 27, 2003. Credit:Reuters/Shannon Stapleton
“Sorry if I am just not understanding, but is it legal to kill people in the U.S.?”
An Argentine university student in his mid-20s leans forward earnestly as he asks the question. My co-presenter Nick and I immediately exchange a look—how to tackle this one?
Sensing the pregnancy of our pause, the student clarifies, “I mean, I hear very much about guns in the U.S. And many people seem to die, and I hear there are protests […]