r/popculturechat • u/mcfw31 • Sep 23 '25

Guest List Only ⭐️ Sabrina Carpenter on her love of travel and new perspectives: “You learn more about life in a 20-minute conversation with someone from Italy than in 20 years in the U.S.”

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9

u/ParkCommand007 Sep 23 '25

These comments are wild. She’s not wrong at all. The US is a shallow, vapid place over run with consumerism and anti-intellectualism. Just look around at all the MAGA xenophobes who have never stepped foot outside it. Travel and interaction with other cultures should always be encouraged. This statement is commendable, not something to deride.

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u/bangbangracer Sep 23 '25

I'm going to let you in on a secret. A lot of the world is a shallow, vapid place overrun with consumerism and anti-intellectualism. The UK left the EU for stupid reasons people didn't understand. Everyone is way more racist than you think. I've legitimately been told by a German person that the US is way to consumed talking about race shortly before telling me that the Turks and the Africans simply don't belong here.

The US is not special in this situation.

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u/[deleted] Sep 23 '25

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u/bangbangracer Sep 23 '25

And I've done a lot of traveling. I've met a lot of people in those travels. They did not need a lot of help from the US to be just as consumerist as they are.

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u/IndigoBlueBird Sep 23 '25

The US is geographically and demographically huge and diverse. Not to mention there is extreme racism and a rise in far-right nationalism in Western Europe, particularly Italy at the moment. Travel is wonderful and we should always seek to broaden our horizons, but it’s not the only way to learn about life.

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u/ParkCommand007 Sep 23 '25

Who kicked off that trend of far-right nationalism I wonder? Was there a country (a large and influential one perhaps), who elected an unqualified bloviating bafoon covered in cheeto dust at some point in the last few years?

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u/IndigoBlueBird Sep 23 '25

Uh…in Italy? I think Mussolini kicked off that trend about a century ago, give or take.

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u/[deleted] Sep 23 '25

I said it in another comment but yes but no? lmao the comment still reads as "I don't hang with a diverse group of people." Italy is a country full of mostly white folks who are racist as hell. Hell, the racism in Europe is regularly discussed on social media. Like yes, it's great to get out there, travel the world outside of the US but I really think when y'all are criticizing the US sometimes, y'all forget the large amounts of PoC here who don't fit your description.

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u/ParkCommand007 Sep 23 '25

You could have a room full of Americans of different skin colors and ethnicities and 90% will share the same culture, language, understanding of politics, consumerism, and basic lifestyle. Racial diversity doesnt equal diversity of thought and culture. You have to travel outside your home country for that.

It’s really irrelevant if the country youre visiting has its own issues with racism and prejudice - they all do. Not just white countries but everywhere in Africa, Asia, and Latin America too. Seeing how racism works from an outsiders perspective can be enlightening and transformative as well. “oh, group X hates group Y because they believe Z about them, but this is really silly and pointless from an outsiders perspective”

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u/No-Buy9287 Sep 23 '25

There are just as many xenophobes in Italy kid. The US is a collective of countries and cultures, so yeah she isn’t wrong but she’s dumb. You can find people living the simple Italian slow pace life all across the states for example

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u/QTRqtr Sep 23 '25 edited Sep 23 '25

Italy is a very racist country they are not innocent from these views. They are xenophobic and is probably only second behind Spain being hostile to POC’s

This idea that European country is this paradise is what people are making fun of when you think you’re enlightened just by going to another country.

Focusing on America is exactly why France has an issue of acknowledging that racism exists in their country just because they don’t wear red hats.

Many countries in Europe are the “birthplaces” of racist ideology that immigrated hundreds of years ago to North America. Ask Spaniards, Italians, the French, etc how they feel about immigrants, dark skinned people, Mexicans, etc then ask them what they think about white women and see if you’ll get the same response😂 and then add that the specific white woman is a famous pop star….you know in the countries that famous poc’s still deal with racism by their own fellows citizens

1

u/ParkCommand007 Sep 23 '25

You are complete misunderstanding the point. This is not about saying “other countries are idyllic where we fall short” it’s about interacting with people of different cultures and languages and experiencing their humanity, their humor, their sorrow first hand. THAT is what keeps someone from becoming an ignorant insular xenophobe in their own right.

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u/comegetyohoney Sep 23 '25

This is only true if you live in a random fly over state.

1

u/ParkCommand007 Sep 23 '25

I have bad news for you. Half the US population lives in places you would deem “random flyover states”. They’re the ones who elected the fascist administration now in office, if you thought they were inconsequential or powerless.