The United States of the early twenty-first century faces serious issues. The end of the Cold War has left us with the obligation to seek out a new paradigm. If you make this country your home, even for just a few years, they will become your issues are well.

The Effect of September 11, 2001

For many Americans, perhaps for most of us, the tragic events of September 11, 2001, "changed everything." On that day, foreigners attacked and killed thousands of civilians in our country. Certain aspects of that day are likely to continue to influence our political and social outlook for many years to come. We naively believed that such a large-scale attack was not possible here. We also believed that some people hate us solely because we are Americans. The hijackers all legally entered our country and lived among us, some of them for years.

The fact that we in the United States have lost our innocence is resonating throughout our geopolitical world. Fear is driving our politics, and to some degree, the rest of our lives as well. Most Americans have a great deal of difficulty understanding how one person can hate another because of his or her nationality. After all, we see ourselves as individuals first, and only then as Americans. And as Americans, we believe that while not perfect, we are always well-intentioned. Perhaps most of all, many Americans were shocked that the hijackers entered the country perfectly legally. What many of us found the hardest to believe is that anyone could live among us — some of them for years — and still hate us so much. After all, aren't we a friendly people? Isn't this the land of opportunity? We wonder, "Couldn't they see that for all our corporate scandals and foreign policy mistakes, we really mean well?"

Fear and doubt, then, are driving our national agenda. There is a political voice in this country that asks whether 9/11 is at least partly a result of a country that has gone soft, weak, and too willing to let anyone into this country. Attempts to restrict immigration and to punish those who immigrate illegally are underway. There are, sadly, many Americans who feel that our government is justified in considering all Arabs and Muslims a threat. Juxtaposed to this, Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the United States, spurred partly by the tremendous curiosity many Americans feel about the religion, a curiosity that turns into respect and admiration for a faith practiced by a quarter of the world's population.

Threats to our civil liberties are being accepted on a daily basis, despite the warning, often attributed to Benjamin Franklin, "Those who would sacrifice their essential liberties for a little safety will soon have neither." Government officials continue to appear with disturbing regularity to announce some new vague threat to our lives. Our color-coded Terror Alert System blinks from yellow to orange and back again, despite the fact that almost no one knows what it means.

Not all of the effects of 9/11 are based on fear and doubt, however. A significant segment of society has begun a process of self-reflection to a degree not seen before. Many people are asking themselves questions such as, what policies are we, as a nation, engaged in that could breed such hatred? What liberties are we willing to forgo in order to feel safer and more secure, and which ones are we not willing to give up? And our strong sense of individualism means that most of us are willing, even eager, to assess each individual we meet on his or her own characteristics.

Watching Americans at Work

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There are many people who do not want to become deeply involved in American activities but who are still interested in learning about the country. If you are among this group, you are welcome to take tours of workplaces. It is easy to watch a nation work when you visit people at their jobs.

If you cannot find out about possibilities through your friends, just call the place of business that most interests you (factory, farm, store, etc.) and ask for the public relations department. They will be able to tell you whether they have tours (some factories schedule them regularly) or whether you can visit on your own. Tell them where you are from and why you are interested. In most cases you will find that people are friendly and pleased to have you visit as their guest, although they may first check with your office to make sure you are who you say you are. Your local Chamber of Commerce and city information center are also good sources.

Since 2001, many places that used to be open for public tours — power plants, water treatment facilities, and the like — are very reluctant to permit public access. In addition, we have in general become more cautious about unexpected visits by strangers, so be sure to make arrangements in advance. This way people know you are coming, and you can know that your visit will be convenient for them. Then, be on time. If you must be late, be sure to telephone. You generally do not tip or pay any fee (except for factories that have become tourist attractions), but a thank-you letter afterward will be much appreciated.

You can visit most kinds of factories and watch men and women working at heavy industry, precision manufacturing, or food processing. You can call on various kinds of schools, watch courts in progress, listen to hearings before government committees, and attend town meetings or meetings of school boards. Rarely are any of these private. Usually the public is admitted, although sometimes only by previous arrangement. Often there are tours for the public "behind the scenes" in such places as department stores, post offices, or newspaper plants. Again, contact the local Chamber of Commerce.

In this country you should not be shy or retiring. A little effort on your part will provide you with a great deal of insight into the American way of life. We welcome guests, we are flattered to have people interested in what we are doing, and we are proud to show them what we have.

Sports | Finding Friends and Having Fun

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Newcomers to the United States often find it difficult to participate in the particular sports they enjoy. Actually, it need not be so. Almost all sports are available everywhere, even in a crowded city such as New York. One of the first places to investigate if you are interested in swimming, tennis, badminton, gym classes, modern dance, or any indoor sports is the nearest Jewish Community Center, YMCA, or YWCA. Most of these are well equipped and provide excellent facilities for reasonable fees. There are fancier and more expensive facilities for all such sports as well, often at clubs or hotels. Also, don't forget that any good bookstore has books on virtually every kind of sporting or recreational (including travel) activity by locality. Some colleges and universities also sell memberships to their indoor sports facilities, which are often of excellent quality.

Swimming
Many swimming pools are open to the public. In addition to those run by the YWCA or YMCA, others are operated by the cities or towns themselves or by hotels or swimming schools. When weather permits, there are often public pools and beaches available within a reasonable distance. Usually these can be reached by public transport — either bus or train — as well as by private car. Look in the Yellow Pages under "Swimming" or "Sports."

Other Sports
Read the newspapers or look in the telephone book under the name of whatever sport interests you: ski clubs; walking clubs; fencing, gymnastics, judo, karate, and aerobics classes; ice skating; squash and racquetball clubs; bicycle clubs; bowling clubs; riding groups; and bird-watching clubs. Golf and tennis are very popular. In addition to private clubs, nearly all cities maintain numerous tennis courts and golf courses, which are open to the public for a fee. Soccer (football) has gained popularity in recent years, especially in programs for children. Cricket, however, is still very hard to find, although not impossible. Ask your local Department of Parks and Recreation for booklets describing its sports facilities or visit the Chamber of Commerce or the Visitors Center.

Those who like baseball need only drift around the parks. Many games will be going on. Employees often form softball or baseball teams connected with different departments and have a full schedule of games. Usually they need, and welcome, additional players. Roller-skating, Frisbee throwing, and kite flying are all popular, especially in parks; one can also find paths for biking, jogging, or walking in these areas. However, it is not wise to visit many parks after dark.

Spectator Sports
Many Americans prefer to watch sports rather than to participate in them. American football, basketball, and hockey all have devoted fans, but baseball is considered the national sport. Soccer has also gained a growing audience in this country.

In addition to the endless seasons of professional sporting events, there are often second-tier events such as minor league baseball, where smaller cities pit their teams against one another. College and even high school sports are enormously popular spectator opportunities as well.

Camping and Hiking
In most locations you will find excellent camping facilities in both state and national parks as well as in nearby private campgrounds.

You can get free booklets and maps describing public camping facilities and park areas by writing to both the individual state parks department and the National Park Service in Washington, D.C. When you write, state your specific interests. Information centers along major highways or in towns also offer booklets or maps of both public and private camping and recreational vehicle facilities. Each state also has a Visitors' Bureau, which you can call or write to request information on recreational opportunities there.

All over the United States, there are thousands of miles of walking trails, all kinds of lodges and huts for hikers, and a great many campsites where you can pitch tents and find water, but you need to know where to find them in order to avoid overcrowded highways and too many people. You need to make reservations months ahead in the most popular public parks such as the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone. However, millions of acres of national forest land are available for hiking and camping without prior permission. A parking permit is usually all that is required. Compared with hiking trails in Europe, most of ours remain blissfully uncrowded. For the national parks, check out the highly informational Website at www.nps.gov/, and for the national forests, see www.fs.fed.us/.

Fishing and Hunting
The state and national booklets mentioned above also include information on fishing and hunting. Both activities are highly regulated with regard to location, season, equipment, species, and the number of catches or kills you can make. Check local regulations to avoid problems. Many fishing areas are "catch and release" only. You can always find fellow enthusiasts in your own locality. Talk to your colleagues, read the sports columns in the newspapers, or chat with salespeople in the sporting goods stores. Through such contacts you can find out what clubs there are in the vicinity and then ask about the possibility of joining one. Public-owned facilities are sometimes crowded; joining a group or club gives you access to more private waters and woods. Most clubs have reasonably open membership rules and would welcome your inquiry. They range in price from moderate to high; the lower the price, the more welcoming they are in general, but also the more crowded. The expensive clubs are, of course, likely to be the most exclusive.

If you are a deep-sea fishing enthusiast, there are boats and captains ready to take you out at almost any marina or port. Prices per day are high, but if you form a group and go together, you can divide the cost among many of you.

Bird Watching
Those interested in birds should look up the nearest Audubon Society in the telephone book and ask about groups, activities, or sanctuaries in the area. The local library is another good source of information.

The Performing Arts

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The United States abounds in theater, music, and dance, both professional and amateur. Most large cities have their own symphony orchestras; there is a wealth of experimental music and drama being produced across the country in college theaters, community centers, and small neighborhood theaters. Traditional theater and music are also plentiful. Even if you do not live in New York City, you can see the Broadway favorites. Touring companies produce excellent, professional-quality performances in most large- and medium-sized cities throughout the country. For the fine arts, try to buy season tickets if you will be in the same town for a while. Not only will you save money, you will be sure to have a seat at even the most popular productions.

Tickets are often sold at the box office but also online and usually through agencies such as Ticketron and Ticketmaster. Beware of "scalpers" who sell tickets to sold-out events at inflated prices. Not only is the practice illegal, it often involves fake tickets. Imagine your disappointment when you come to an event, only to find that your tickets are no good! There are some legitimate ticket brokers, who advertise their services in the arts and leisure section of the newspaper. They get around scalping laws by operating in a state other than the one where the event is held. Prices are still inflated, but at least the tickets are genuine.

Movies, of course, are very popular in the United States, and there are many film festivals in medium and large cities. Many universities show foreign films, and this can be one of the few venues available for seeing them in a smaller town.

Museums

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If your idea of a museum is a dusty row of glass cases or rooms full of badly lit oil paintings, try going to some of the museums in U.S. cities and towns. The art of display itself has become highly developed in this country, so that museums have come alive to an extraordinary degree in recent years.

In addition to many fine art museums, look also for natural history or science museums. Children's museums are sprouting up all over the country and usually offer a wide range of fascinating, "hands-on" exhibits. Photographic exhibits are often a particularly good way to understand the social concerns of a country. Don't miss the many small museums of contemporary crafts, African American history, Native American history, musical instruments, or coins. While at the museum you can often join a group tour or rent a small tape-recorded guide, which will add much to your understanding (rental fees are generally modest). Sometimes they are available in several languages. Those going to Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, or San Francisco should plan to spend considerable time at the particularly fine museums in these cities.

Places like Williamsburg, Virginia, Dearborn, Michigan, and Sturbridge Village, Massachusetts, are whole villages, reconstructed as living museums to depict the life of our early settlers. At most times of the year there are live demonstrations of many old crafts, such as candle making, quilting, or the shoeing of horses. There are waterfront museums at Mystic, Connecticut, and the seaports of New York and Baltimore, where one may have the opportunity to board old sailing vessels. The old Spanish missions in California trace the history of Spanish settlements in southwestern United States. Smaller cities almost always have some sort of museum depicting the history of the area; Palm Springs, California, and Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona, for example, have desert museums.