A friend of mine, having lived in India and been outside the US for a long time, now lives in both the US and abroad. He was amazed by "how difficult it is to be in the US and maintain a global perspective."
He shows his understanding by saying, I don't blame those in the US for their narrow vision because the media is so provincial and inward-looking that "most people can't even begin to understand the unknown unknowns of what's out there and what they're missing."
Because of this, there's little chance of improvement if you are not aware of your own naivety and ignorance. Reading extensively won't help, because there's no substitute for traveling and soaking yourself in the world to fully grasp the vast and unexpected extent of one's ignorance.
I recall one of my young relatives, who was only 9 years old at the time, believing he was smarter than everyone else in every way, except for our knowledge of English. He couldn’t be blamed for this perspective because, at that age, he simply didn’t know what he didn’t know.
Ultimately, at some point, you must challenge all the assumptions you once accepted as truths and try to think differently from your old self. My friend said, "the more I delve into new markets, the more I realize the overwhelming extent of my own ignorance. I consider myself fortunate to at least be aware of this fact."
The takeaway message is that average Americans live in a state of being isolated or detached from outside influences or experiences because of the insularity of media, not much different from my young relatives. The key to breaking out of this isolation is traveling outside the U.S. and immersing oneself in different cultures. While being exposed to different realities, ideas, and perspectives, it's crucial to be open-minded and humble enough to admit your ignorance and naivety and be ready to be challenged.
A Chinese saying fits here perfectly, 井底之蛙 (Jǐng dǐ zhī wā), meaning "a frog at the bottom of a well" who thinks the sky is as large as the top of the well. It refers to someone with a limited outlook or narrow perspective, unaware of the broader world outside their immediate experience. It captures the idea of being confined to a small view, much like the insular perspective described about people living in the U.S.
In a world that is increasingly interconnected, it is essential to understand the confines and limitations of media-built info wells.
Only by being courageous enough to expose ourselves to different ideas and perspectives and by stepping out of our frog well can we hopefully overcome the insularity of the mainstream media, start seeing our naivety and ignorance and explore the vast horizons beyond.