[Eric]

I don't think that most people who've travelled around a bit, and met people, make so many generalisations about nationalities as a whole. But many Americans have never travelled abroad, except on those tours where you follow the guide around all the time. So they were sealed off from the local people.

However, this was surely also the case during Soviet times with Soviet citizens who were obliged to follow the guide when they travelled abroad with their special passports that they handed back to the authorities after their visit. So they too were sealed off from the local people.

I think it's healthier to be allowed to travel abroad freely, speak to the locals and try to understand their mentality. A lack of information, and falling back on prejudices and clichés, constantly make our world a more dangerous place.