Earlier this year, I had a chance to hear a short lecture by someone whose public image I had always admired; travel guru Rick Steves, from "Europe Through the Back Door". Rick's wisdom and unmatched knowledge about sensible travel for Americans has kept me glued to his PBS broadcasts and videos for years.
Armchair travellers, join me below the fold.
When his name showed up as the keynote speaker for the Washington State ACLU convention, I was curious. What would the gentle Rick be contributing? Well, it turns out, he put his soul into the lecture; it was a rabblerouser on the Bush Coup, Freedom, Justice, our nation's reputation in Europe, and class war in America. Which war? The one on casual marijuana users. Rick let loose on the sham "War On Drugs" from the perspective of someone well familiar with cannabis-tolerant societies which have NOT collapsed from social rot and mayhem, and are in fact tackling more pressing human problems.
Not only does Rick state his well-reasoned liberal stance in his popular talks and on his web-site; he makes his mark in his hometown in a way that shows tremendous courage. Would that many more Americans walked the talk on their streets every day.
Take a little travel jaunt with me to Edmonds, Washington this morning, and meet Rick in his home environment:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/221359_steves23.html
A Local Hero.