June 17, 2026 • 39 mins
What Americans consider ordinary and routine can seem surprisingly fascinating to international visitors. Everyday conveniences we often take for granted—such as ice makers and sprawling supermarkets—can be eye-opening for many travelers. World Cup visitors are going viral for their takes on ordinary American life, and Dan shared some of their favorite discoveries as he talked with Dr. Rachel Fu, Professor of Tourism, Hospitality, and Event Management at the University of Florida.
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
It's night with Dan Ray one Boston's.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
News radio Zori Welcome back. We are going to talk
with a very distinguished professor from the University of Florida.
But in order to set up this interview, I would
like to play a response or two that we got
from some of the folks who are visiting the city
(00:26):
of Boston. We're going to focus on what rave reviews
Boston and Bostonians have had from some of our visitors
from the World Cup teams, specifically folks from Norway and Scotland.
Also Haiti have been here and there will be other groups,
but all along the group seemed to be very happy
(00:49):
with what's going on. And we had the Scottish group,
the so called Tartan Army. They followed their team wherever.
This was a report by one of our reporters, Jeremy
Russ cut number C, which deals with the Norwegian team
six to seven thousand Norwegians coming to Boston to follow
(01:12):
their team who was victorious yesterday. This is cut Sea rob.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
Back home in Norway. I have two weddings to go
to during the group stage, but we dropped it to
be here in the US.
Speaker 4 (01:22):
It took hoors Rasmius in twenty four hours to get
here from Norway.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
It's quite low the city.
Speaker 4 (01:27):
Actually, he's soaking in all Boston has to offer. Before
heading down to Foxboro for Norway's match with a Rock tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
I've never been to the US before, so yeah, it's
nice to see how things are the Atlantic.
Speaker 4 (01:39):
Coaching Nina Elvis Dad with the Norwegian Football Federation says
there are six to seven thousand Norwegians in Boston for
the match.
Speaker 5 (01:46):
You know that's really cool.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
We haven't been in a World Cup for twenty eight
years and now we have a really good squad.
Speaker 5 (01:53):
And also you know they are fantastic people as.
Speaker 4 (01:55):
Well, so it meet us a lot after tomorrow. Norway's
next match at Boston Stadium will be on the twenty
six against France. Jeremy Russ WBZ Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
And not only are the Norwegians happy, but the Scots
have been very happy. One other SoundBite here a brief
report I should say from Hile Shuffle. This is cut
number letterd B.
Speaker 6 (02:19):
Please rob With their first World Cup winning thirty six
years behind them, the Tartan Army kind of needs something
to do. Many fans are sticking around Boston until Friday's
match against Morocco, but that leaves them with a splitting
hangover in four days of downtime. Some have decided to
get as American as possible.
Speaker 5 (02:34):
He's never show any weapons.
Speaker 6 (02:36):
I'm going to take him down to the shirt and range.
I'll just want to get the quintessential Boston tourist experience done.
A ride in the duck boats, a tour through Harvard Yard,
and of course, yeah you're going to see a socks game.
We're going to that to d baseball at Fenway. The
overwhelming feeling I got from Scotland fans is gratitude for
a warm welcome.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
We'll just enjoy the city the way that people of
Boston have embraced us. We'll embrace the f coach off
and they'll go and do things they need.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
To tell them.
Speaker 6 (03:00):
We only ride up boats when somebody wins a title.
Some fans are even headed to Florida for a third
match later this month for the.
Speaker 7 (03:06):
Tecades, for the Sea matches.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
I don't have any money left.
Speaker 6 (03:09):
Off the list, but and walking around with much lighter
wallet's a show for it. Kyle Shaffle to BBC Boston's
Neice Radio.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
So Boston has gotten very positive reviews from the folks
from across the Atlantic and around the world. Joining us
now is a professor of the Department of Tourism, Hospitality
and Event Management Director, Doctor Rachel A. Professor Rachel jc
(03:39):
Fou Professor FU. Welcome to Nightside.
Speaker 7 (03:44):
Thank you for having me.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
So the question that I want to get at here
is that we in Boston have a reputation. Maybe it's
because of the weather, but we in Boston have a
reputation of being kind of stand offish and a little cool.
We're not, you know, someone who who wraps our arms
around people. We shake hands politely and say how are
(04:09):
you good afternoon, But I think our image has been
warmed up a little bit by the experience with all
of the World Cup people here. How important it is
is it to a city to develop a reputation that
folks can come and visit the city and be well
(04:29):
received and welcomed.
Speaker 7 (04:32):
Definitely, it's very important. So this is how we call
in the tourism area, we call this as the mirror effect.
So lots of time when the residents, we live in
a community for such a long time and we feel
like Okay, it's a cold weather. It's a very effective community.
(04:55):
But now with a group of people they have devoted
them money that they have devoted their life, and they
spend time in the city, they expect to experience the locals.
So visitors often notice strength the locals overlook. So for
all the updates and the news you have just shared
(05:17):
with with with all of us. So those videos, those
voices reminding us hospitality, mining kindness, and abundance and optimism,
everything is very important. So through the eyes of the
international tourists or outside of the localsts, they will give
(05:38):
us fresh perspectives.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
Well, you know, it's interesting. I looked at your bio,
very impressive bio. You were educated and receive your bachelor's
degree at the National Chang Chi University in Taiwan. You
have your masters and your doctorate from North Carolina State University.
You have taught at Yale, and now you are chair
and professor at the University of Florida. And I don't
(06:06):
know if if you've read a lot of the articles,
but I've read across the country is that the phenomenon
is that the folks who have been coming here, and
a lot of them are are well that that we've
seen here of Norway and Haiti. We have a large
Haiti Populaitian population, but there was a very warm welcome
for the Haitian team UH in Scotland and Norway. As
(06:30):
I've as I've mentioned, UH, we're getting America is getting
pretty good reviews from these folks. I've read stories which
which suggest that they're surprised at at a lot about America.
That that some of the stories that I read today
suggested that they think that the country is much more
(06:54):
beautiful than they they were led to believe that people
are more friendly that I just have some of these
quotes here from individuals. This was a story that we
picked up here and said, in the supermarket, you have
like one hundred thousand different versions of each food. I've
(07:15):
never seen so many different types of orioles in my life.
Sort of stuff that we, you know, we take for granted.
Everyone is another tourists. This quota is saying everyone calling
me honey, love and sweety. Those words and tears of
endearment aren't used at casually over here in the Netherlands,
and it just it went on and on there. One
(07:39):
person from Germany entering a store in Germany, opening the
door to silence or a brief hello. Entering a store
in the US, Hello, how are you today? What can
I do for you? Rah? He says, you just kind
of ignore me, like at home. That was way too
much communication. But it sounds as if we're getting this
surprise at the size of the cars. They're surprised that
(08:03):
again our warmth. Are you surprised as a professor the
teachers in this area that America is getting positive reviews
from the people who are coming here to watch a
soccer game, but they are becoming very much exposed to
Americans and to our culture.
Speaker 7 (08:27):
I would say I'm surprised from the reality of being
a human you and I. So the happiness is contagious.
So we are talking about a group of people. They
have been saving money and they have been waiting for
the moment to come to the USA to enjoy the experiences.
(08:49):
They come to support their teams, but outside of the
sport tournaments, they travel and they experience the daily life
that we are in. So the the good things that
you have shared is that why do foreigners, the international
tourists seem to appreciate America more than Americans do? So
(09:13):
Familiarity sometimes can make blessings invisible. So when we live
in something every day, we stop noticing or the environments
and the good people.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
Which so yeah, So what I think you're saying is
that we're here every day. And I don't want to
put words in your mouth, but we have a tendency
to take things for granted.
Speaker 7 (09:37):
Yes, I think that's our human nature. And sometimes it
takes in America through fresh eyes to riscover what we
have and who we are. So think about when now
we're Americans complain about our giant grocery stores and then
someone from Scotland or other trees post TikTok saying you
(10:02):
mean there are forty or hundred kinds of orange juice
or Syria and optic supermarkets become a tourist attraction, which
is great.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
Yeah, this is this is a plus. You know, we
have a reputation and I don't know if you would
agree with this, but there was this reputation of Americans
going when we travel abroad that we have been accused
of being the ugly Americans. You know, we expect to
(10:35):
be waited on and all of that. I don't know
where that came from, but have have you heard of
that that comment. You know, Americans when they travel sometimes
act I don't know that they expect to be to
be treated better than others. Have you heard the phrase
the ugly American? I assume.
Speaker 7 (10:59):
Not direct, but it's the other way around.
Speaker 8 (11:03):
I think.
Speaker 7 (11:04):
I remember a few years ago I was in Paris
and turn now. I ran into a few tourists who
are who are from America, uh directly, and they were
talking about sometimes the local people were not nice to them.
But the experience I had was fantastic because I basically
(11:26):
I talked to those people in the local cost. I said,
I can't I don't speak French. Can you speak Taiwanese
because that's where I grew up? And they said no,
and they said how about English? And they said of
course and we left. Other than I received very old
it's ordinary service. So people there are very friendly. So
so when I share my experience, some I would say,
(11:49):
perhaps some Americans that really I didn't experience this. So
I think it's really about sometimes the way we carry
our energy, and they are I believe they are very
friendly people, and there are also some unfriendly people everywhere.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
Okay, well, well, doctor Freu, I really appreciate your perspective.
You have a very interesting life, obviously, having been born
and educated in Taiwan and coming here and traveling. I
just think that maybe maybe the experience that people are
having with the World Cup here, particularly people who are
coming here for the first time, it's going to readjust
(12:27):
their attitude toward America, I hope, and they will look
at US as a much more friendly and open and welping,
welcoming nation than perhaps they expected. I thank you for
joining us tonight and having a conversation with me, and
people can follow you, I assume through the University of Florida.
Your last name is spelled simply just the letters Fu
(12:49):
doctor Fu.
Speaker 7 (12:51):
Yeah, so I would just say us for about us.
So I said for Florida, you said for university. And
I love the state, the count and by the way,
I have a final comments. It's about the international basitors.
They are not posting viral videos about Congress. They are
posting videos about firefighters who have been children with in children,
(13:14):
trangers holding door open, so servers checking on them, and
the neighbors tracking up conversations, and those ordinary moments are
cevics in action.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
That's great, that's great. Doctor fool. Thank you very much.
I really appreciate your time, and we'll have you back,
I hope. Thank you so much.
Speaker 7 (13:33):
Thank you, Dan, Very welcome, very welcome.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
Okay, we came back. I want to have you address
the issue. If you've been out and about and you've
had any sort of an interaction with any of our
international guests, love to hear about it. If you've gone
to either of the games that have been played so far,
love to hear about how that has been. But one
(13:59):
of the the aspects of the story that I want
to talk about is I think many of us are
I don't know. We need to be prouder of our country.
And this has nothing to do with politics. Has that
nothing to do with who might be the president of
the United States at any given time. We have some
(14:20):
ideals which I'm hoping that maybe this experience in people
understanding that you can come here and you can say
what you want that doesn't happen in a lot of
countries around the world. That you can come here and
you have a cornucopy of opportunities to buy things to
go eat whatever type food you want. I mean, we
(14:41):
are such a cosmopolitan country and I just think that
we've been We've beaten ourselves up for the last few years,
maybe even beyond the last few years, maybe for the
last few decades, and I think that we have undervalued
this country. That we're about to celebrate the two hundred
and fiftieth anniverse of this country, and we have to
(15:02):
be smart and we have to understand it is a
special place. Every once in a while, we'll hear people
want to leave. Okay, if that's the way you feel,
I don't understand that, but you know, don't let the
door hit you on the way out, just the way
I would like to think about it. And I'd love
to hear from some of you. I listened to de
(15:23):
Niro the other day down in New York, and I
think Jane Fonda was there, and it's like they're just
bitter and down and negative. I want to hear something positive.
We're going to be talking about the two hundred and
fiftieth anniversary all the way up until the fourth of July.
I hope, I hope that that two hundred and fiftieth
anniversary in the celebration is totally bipartisan, and that everyone
(15:46):
has a right to celebrate in America and celebrate America.
Whoever you are, however you got here, and whatever you do,
whether you're a multi millionaire or or someone who teaches,
or if you work in the trades, we need everyone.
Six one, seven, two, five, four ten thirty six one seven,
(16:10):
nine three one ten thirty. Let's express some pride in
this country. It is indeed the greatest country on the
face of the earth, and it has been for a
long long time, and long may it wave. We're coming
back on Nightside.
Speaker 6 (16:24):
It's night Side with Dan Ray on w Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (16:29):
Only have a couple of minutes left here before the
news break. I don't want to short change anyone, but
but well, you know what, let me go to Nina
in Shrewsbrey. Nina. I don't want you to have to
hold through the news. You're next on your first this
hour Nightside. Hi, Nina, how are you.
Speaker 4 (16:45):
Hi?
Speaker 2 (16:45):
Then?
Speaker 9 (16:45):
Nice to talk to you after a long time.
Speaker 2 (16:48):
It has been a long time. I hope you're still listening.
Speaker 9 (16:53):
I am still listening. But you don't take cars in
the PM hour.
Speaker 5 (16:56):
But anyway, whoa whoa will?
Speaker 2 (16:58):
That now has changed as of last week, we're back
to the eight o'clock hour, So it's four hours of talk.
We have just dispensed with the four mini interviews that
we had done for about three years. So you turn
us on at eight o'clock and whatever we'll be talking about,
we will always take calls. You go right ahead, Nina, Well,
(17:21):
thank you.
Speaker 9 (17:22):
So anyway, since I have a short time, I just
wanted to say.
Speaker 5 (17:26):
You know, you're touched upon a very important subject. And
it always happens.
Speaker 9 (17:32):
Which ever country you are from, wherever you grow up,
even the state for example, you don't realize how good
it is until you leave that place and go somewhere else.
And so that's exact phenomenon we are observing. And the
second point is that as Americans were very entitled, we
just think this is how life is, so we don't
(17:54):
realize how good we have it here. And the third
point I would like to make is that we're all
human beings and we really love wherever we get love
and smile.
Speaker 5 (18:07):
So having traveled all across Europe and other countries is
the same experience you have in some other place when
people are nice to you, and it's the same thing.
The greatest thing about it is such a melting clot.
Speaker 2 (18:23):
Yes, Nina, you're breaking up a little bit, Rob Why
don't you help Nina? You broke up a little bit?
Repeat that last thought please.
Speaker 5 (18:34):
Oh that we have so many cultures amalgamated together.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
Yes, And I just think that that we like Americans.
There's a lot of Americans that like to beat them
beat ourselves up, and we need to every once in
a while take a step back. And it's okay to
have some pride in the country. And it's got nothing
to do for some reason, it's the I don't know,
(18:59):
maybe we get too involved in the politics if we
don't like you know, look, if we don't like a
specific politician who happens to be in high office, whoever
that might be. And there's a lot of people who
don't like Donald Trump. And I know that there's a
lot about Donald Trump that is unlikable. He's you know,
he's pretty narcissistic. But but he's the president. And let's
(19:24):
get past that because there will come a time in
the not do distant future when he won't be president.
Someone else would be president. Maybe that's someone else would
be a Democrat. It doesn't matter. I've lived my life
and there have been good presidents from both parties and
ineffective presidents from both parties and presidents who you know,
(19:45):
who are likable, presidents who are not likable. You got
to look past that. You've got to look at all
that we have, as you mentioned, h and and celebrate
each other.
Speaker 5 (19:57):
Well, if I may say, it's you know, general citizen
has nothing to do with what happens at the top
in politics. We are all human beings whichever country we
go to, and so every country is whatever we read
our experience at higher level in politics. General public just
(20:17):
wants peace and happiness and those few moments of pleasure,
and so that's.
Speaker 8 (20:24):
What it is.
Speaker 2 (20:26):
Couldn't agree with you more, doctor Nina. Always good to
talk to you, and thank you for the profession that
you have chosen. I know from a past experience that
you are a physician and a doctor, and I just
wanted to acknowledge that and thank you for all that
you do for your patients.
Speaker 9 (20:49):
Thank you, Dan, and you're quite welcome and look forward
to're talking to you soon now.
Speaker 2 (20:53):
Oh now, eight o'clock. It's four hours from eight to
midnight right here on night side. Thanks Thanks Nina, talk
to you soon, Okay, bye bye, all right, let's keep
this conversation rolling here. If you've had a chance to
talk with someone who's visiting, I'd love to know what
their reaction has been. Uh. This is to me a
(21:17):
great sort of social experiment we can do here on Nightside.
I'm just reading some of the comments that people have
made from other parts of the country. Someone here writes,
everything is so big, cars, food, portions, tips, roads, people
and attitudes always fun. Though you guys have air conditioning
(21:39):
in your house. I was astonished. It's just this amazing.
The work too. You drop culture. There have been people
who are proud of the fact that they don't see
their families or miss occasions because they have to go
to work for their company. I used to work for
a grocery store while I was here, and it was
close to a cult, seeing guns just hanging there like
(22:03):
casual groceries in Walmart. These are people who have come
to the US. Uh and Uh. This is some of
the impressions that that I've picked up. There have been
stories that have been written. So if you were here
for the first time, and you probably are not listening
to Night's Side, but if there is someone who is
maybe in your home who's listening to this program. I'd
(22:25):
love to get your impressions of America. And if you've
bumped into people on the streets of Boston, or on
the streets of New England or wherever. Six one seven, two, five,
four ten thirty, six one seven, nine three thirty, and
I think it's time all of us, all of us
need to get some sort of a pride injection, if
(22:46):
you will, about being Americans. We are a special people.
We have come from all corners of the earth. Uh.
If not us directly, our predis our family arrived here.
And I know my family came came from Ireland on
(23:06):
both sides. Other families came in different ways. I don't
want to get into the politics of what way they came.
We're not doing that. People are here, uh, and if
they consider themselves Americans, or if they are Americans, they
have pride in the country. And I want to see
more people. What bothers me is people who get so upset,
(23:28):
so upset that they want to somehow disparage what this
country is all about. Six one seven, two, five, four
ten thirty, six one seven, nine three one ten thirty
Jump on board, coming back on Nightside.
Speaker 1 (23:41):
It's Night Side with Dan Ray on.
Speaker 6 (23:45):
Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (23:47):
We had a couple of calls who dropped off, So
I'm going to reset this and I hope that some
of you can understand what I'm trying to say. It
was funny. I was listening to Mike Macklin's report there
about Mayor WU talking about Bunker Hill Day June seventeenth,
and it's one of those holidays that you need to
think about. Everybody understands the fourth of July. But the
(24:09):
point that I'm trying to make is that all the
reporting that I have seen about the World Cup, and
I was not a big fan of the World Cup,
frankly because I thought to myself that this is a
it's a competition that is going to involve people from
other parts of the world, and it doesn't necessarily it's
(24:29):
not a game that I really am. I didn't grow
up with soccer. I grew up with baseball and hockey
and basketball and football, and that's where my sporting interests are.
Soccer wasn't even an afterthought in this country until Pele
came here. I think it was nineteen somewhere in the
late sixties on an exhibition tour from Brazil, and they
(24:53):
thought that that was going to light the fuse of soccer,
and it didn't. Do I think that the World Cup
here and again, games are being played in Canada, Mexico,
and the United States, most prominently in the United States,
from countries all over the world. And do I think
that will get younger kids more interested in soccer? Absolutely,
(25:16):
no question, Absolutely no question. But I think the secondary
benefit of the World Cup twenty twenty six to me
as an American is people have come here and despite
what they might have heard in their home countries about
America and about America's people, and about our tradition and
about our culture and whether or not we're friendly and
(25:39):
you know, whether we are reflected by the person in
the White House. No, they have come here that they
have met us on our turf, on our terms, and
they seem to have liked us from what everything that
I've read and everything that I've seen. Listen to the
(26:00):
WBZ reports over the last few days, I've listened to
the TV reports, watched the television reports on the local channels,
and it seems as if everybody who has come to
Boston has been disappointed. You know, you always hope and
pray that no one comes here and falls victim to
(26:22):
crime or anything like that. You want everyone to have
a good time, and from what I can see, there
has been no adverse incident whatsoever, which is great. It's
a I think it's a reflection of who we are
and a reflection of how welcoming we actually can be.
So I'm hoping that some of you might want to
(26:45):
join me in just saying that. Look, I'm very proud
of the way Bostonians have welcomed everyone. As they say.
For me, the World Cup is yes, it's a big event.
I don't quite get the word, you know. I keep saying.
I haven't got FIFA, FIFA fee of FIFA fever, the
(27:05):
the fi f A, the sponsors of the World Cup,
not going to go to any of the games, you know,
I don't have the time. Maybe you have if you've
been out to a game and you've had a chance
to interact with folks from other parts of the world,
I would love to know how you have been treated
(27:27):
and how you have treated them. Uh. And I'm just
reading all I read today, several newspaper articles from around
the country of people who were just thrilled the way
that they've been treated here, which is good for us,
because we are not the ugly Americans. You've heard me
say that for years, and because it is it's right
(27:48):
here in front of us that the people from different
parts of the world are going to take their experiences
home and they're going to tell people back in their
countries how they treated, what they saw, what they experienced,
and it's all good. Now. There were a couple of
callers who are on the line who had dropped off
during the newscast, So I'm gonna just give the number
(28:11):
one more time. Six one seven, two five four ten
thirty six one seven nine three to one, ten thirty.
My name's Dan Ray. This is night Side. Feel free
join the conversation. I think it is time for us
to take advantage of this entire opportunity, uh and look
at one another as Americans and say, guess what we're
(28:33):
doing ourselves? Proud here. Hopefully the rest of the tournament
will will go off without a hitch, no idea who's
gonna win. I don't particularly care who's gonna win. Do
I think the USA is gonna win? I don't really
think so, but who knows, you know. As one of
the ads with Michael RUZIONI has do you believe in miracles?
You never know, But this is just an opportunity for
(28:54):
you to chat about what you've experienced or what you
have seen others. Six one, seven, two, five, four ten
thirty six one seven, nine three, one ten thirty. Light
them up. We'll be right back on Nightside.
Speaker 6 (29:07):
You're on night Side with Dan Ray on WBZ, Boston's
news radio.
Speaker 2 (29:13):
Well, no one is going to join me in this,
but that's okay because I'm sticking with it. Okay, I'm sick.
I am sticking sticking with it here. Uh. These are
some of the comments that I have picked up in
newspapers and comments from a different website. Uh. If you
were born and raised in the US like me, this
(29:35):
is someone you may not realize how many unusual things
we experience on a daily basis because we're used to it.
Sometimes it takes an outside perspective to remind us of
the things we may consider totally normal might not be. Like,
maybe sandwidges aren't always a foot long. Someone wrote, my
(29:57):
interest was peaked when I saw a reddit user post
on Reddit to ask our friends from across the pond
Europeans that visited the States. What was the biggest culture
shock you experienced. I definitely wanted to know what was
so American that it led to Europeans to experience a
reverse Wizard of Oz moment where people thought, Toto, I
(30:20):
have a feeling we are in Kansas. If you were
was curious, I was to find out how non Americans
really see us keeps growing. Everything is so big, cars,
food portions, dips, roads, people attitudes always fun. Though I
read a couple of those earlier I've lived in you now,
(30:41):
they were people who were a little felt differently. I've
lived in the US my entire life, and the gun
stuff still weirds me out. I have a conversation with
a friend about how he absolutely doesn't need his gun
if we're meeting up at Applebee's. On and on it goes.
I just think that that we're very lucky to live here,
(31:02):
and I suspect, my bottom line is that I suspect
that a lot of the Europeans who have come here
would trade places with any one of us if they
were given the opportunity. Now that opportunity doesn't exist, I
think that it should for people who want to come here.
(31:24):
And again, I don't want to get political, but I
think that we need to increase legal immigration in this
country because we have been so focused on tightening the borders,
which is a good thing, that it is now time
to maybe open up things and increase legal immigration so
(31:47):
that more people can come here. Let me go to
Laurie in Idaho see what she has to think, quite
a distance across the country. Hey, Laurie, welcome, Thanks very
much for joining us. How are you tonight, I'll.
Speaker 8 (32:01):
Be your cricket. I'm good. Obviously we don't have much
of the activity out here, but I was the doctor
director of President who there. What I thought it was
really interesting with all these people here that are so
excited to be hearing about their just think about the Scots.
I mean, it's infectious, and I would think I would
hope that it would make us also feel that, you know,
(32:24):
the pride or the fun or just the excitement of
the excitement in the air. And I am very proud
of the country. I always have been. I always have
a flag on my tent, out on my car, and
I always have a flag at my house. And I'm
so excited for the two fiftieth this year, and I
just no politician can take that away from me.
Speaker 2 (32:40):
No, absolutely, And it's bigger than any politician because the
situation that we have in this country is you get
elected as president for four years, if you get elected
as a senator, are you going to be there for
six years? But then you're gonna have to stand for reelection.
If you get elected as a congressman. The day you
get sworn in, you've got to be thinking about your
next election, which is only two years away, which comes
(33:02):
back to another theme of mine that I want. And
we were trying to get a guest tonight, and I
think we will have her next week, a professor at
Harvard who I've had on before. She and I might
disagree on the way this should be implemented, but I
do think that one of the things that we have
not done a good job at in recent years is
teaching civics.
Speaker 1 (33:23):
Uh to No, I'm serious.
Speaker 8 (33:27):
In that, No, I am too. I absolutely agree.
Speaker 2 (33:29):
There is so many people in this country who are
voting in elections, and they have a right to vote
in elections, but there are so many people in this
country who were voting in elections. By the way, the
Red Sox just lost three to nothing, not much offense tonight.
I hate to be working. But the civics that that
we need, We just need to teach our children and
(33:52):
about Okay, yeah, there's a president, but the but you know,
there's checks and balances, there's the House and the Senate,
there's the surprise in court. There's federal courts, there's state courts.
I mean, there's a myriad of things that the founders
put in place which which prevent a president from becoming
a dictator. Uh and exactly thank god those, you know,
(34:17):
because we someday might elect someone who really wants to,
you know, somehow become a king or whatever. I just
think that there's so much talk in the last few
months about it and people leaving the country, and now
we're being taught by people who have come here how
great this country really is and all the things.
Speaker 8 (34:36):
Yeah, we take for greet so we don't we don't.
Speaker 2 (34:41):
No, but you know what I'm saying, We most days
we don't think about this. We we do take the
stuff for granted. You know the fact that in most
parts of this country you turn on water and the
water runs and the water is clean and uh, you know,
you can drink it. It's drinkable, potable, whatever you want
to call it. Yeah, I am. Look, I thank you
(35:03):
for for I thank you for calling here. It's I
just think it's important. I think that a lot of
us are embarrassed. We were not willing to to confront
other people and say, hey, you might not like this
particular candidate or this particular president, but this will this
(35:23):
will change, and the next candidate who might be elected,
you might like, we're too. We're too anyway. I'm first,
I'm frustrated, Laurie, as I'm sure you could tell.
Speaker 8 (35:35):
I know, I know, but you know, I just I
never lose I love the way we won the country.
I love the battles. I love everything about how this
country was formed, and the fact that we still have
the same document that is the governance of our country.
It's just astounding. And I will never lose pride.
Speaker 2 (35:50):
In that well. And I also think that we need
to make sure that that with civics, our young people
better understand. I mean, I've watched I've watched the TV
people in the street where they go out and they
ask people, you know, can you name one Supreme Court justice?
And people George Washington. I'm serious on the beach somewhere
(36:13):
in New Jersey, and it gives a bad wrap to
people from New Jersey. Laurie, thank you much. Want to
get one more in here. Thank you so much.
Speaker 8 (36:21):
Right, good night, good bye.
Speaker 2 (36:23):
Let me go next to Ron and Ron you were
next a nights. I appreciate your calling in Ron.
Speaker 1 (36:28):
Ye, Dan, I had to call in this. You know,
there are so so many things, as some of our
callers said that you don't realize until you've gone somewhere else.
Speaker 2 (36:44):
You know.
Speaker 1 (36:45):
I have to tell you. When I landed back Logan
following my trip on on one particular disaster response, I
was happy to have a toilet.
Speaker 3 (37:01):
Ye.
Speaker 2 (37:03):
Well, I'm happy whenever I land back at Logan. I mean,
I've had a chance to travel in other parts of
the world, but I like being home. And I don't
know what that says about me personally, but I'm excited
when I leave, and particularly when I'm not working on
a trip. That when I was in TV, i was
working on trips. But when you go on vacation and
(37:25):
you come back, it's there's no feeling like it. It's
like your home. This is home, and I can't understand
people who look at it any other way, you know,
particularly get.
Speaker 1 (37:39):
Fun, especially for the healthcare that we have so immediately
at hand, I mean I can get into an uber
and I have many times and just gone to the
emergency room or or a physician's appointment something because I
(37:59):
don't want and wrestle with the traffic. But the expertise
that we have that in the end gives us a
quality of life that.
Speaker 2 (38:12):
Look, there are kings and queens from all over the world,
and wealthy individuals from some of the most wealthy people
in the world will come here with suitcases full of
cash to be treated at some of our hospitals and institutions.
How can we plan I for granted, because we can
get treated at those hospitals and institutions.
Speaker 1 (38:33):
So when I was covering, as you know, at MGH
the the we had the folks from Saudi Arabia and
they came an entourage and they are self payers, self payers,
and not only did they have one room as itself,
(38:55):
I mean they were in the one of the best
floors in the hospital and they're pretty expensive by day,
but they had several and they come here once a
year at least for their evaluations. And one of my
good colleagues. Actually, he's a guest rom neurology motility specialist
(39:17):
and he's pretty well known around the world for his
for his work, and the Prince from Saudi Arabia flew
him over for recono.
Speaker 2 (39:29):
How about that, Hey, Ron, I am flat up against
the news, so I got to let you jump here.
Thanks so much for calling and joining the conversation. I
appreciate it very much.
Speaker 1 (39:37):
We'll talk, we'll talk, Thank you much.
Speaker 2 (39:40):
Here comes the news. We could be back on the
other side
It's night with Dan Ray one Boston's.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
News radio Zori Welcome back. We are going to talk
with a very distinguished professor from the University of Florida.
But in order to set up this interview, I would
like to play a response or two that we got
from some of the folks who are visiting the city
(00:26):
of Boston. We're going to focus on what rave reviews
Boston and Bostonians have had from some of our visitors
from the World Cup teams, specifically folks from Norway and Scotland.
Also Haiti have been here and there will be other groups,
but all along the group seemed to be very happy
(00:49):
with what's going on. And we had the Scottish group,
the so called Tartan Army. They followed their team wherever.
This was a report by one of our reporters, Jeremy
Russ cut number C, which deals with the Norwegian team
six to seven thousand Norwegians coming to Boston to follow
(01:12):
their team who was victorious yesterday. This is cut Sea rob.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
Back home in Norway. I have two weddings to go
to during the group stage, but we dropped it to
be here in the US.
Speaker 4 (01:22):
It took hoors Rasmius in twenty four hours to get
here from Norway.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
It's quite low the city.
Speaker 4 (01:27):
Actually, he's soaking in all Boston has to offer. Before
heading down to Foxboro for Norway's match with a Rock tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
I've never been to the US before, so yeah, it's
nice to see how things are the Atlantic.
Speaker 4 (01:39):
Coaching Nina Elvis Dad with the Norwegian Football Federation says
there are six to seven thousand Norwegians in Boston for
the match.
Speaker 5 (01:46):
You know that's really cool.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
We haven't been in a World Cup for twenty eight
years and now we have a really good squad.
Speaker 5 (01:53):
And also you know they are fantastic people as.
Speaker 4 (01:55):
Well, so it meet us a lot after tomorrow. Norway's
next match at Boston Stadium will be on the twenty
six against France. Jeremy Russ WBZ Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
And not only are the Norwegians happy, but the Scots
have been very happy. One other SoundBite here a brief
report I should say from Hile Shuffle. This is cut
number letterd B.
Speaker 6 (02:19):
Please rob With their first World Cup winning thirty six
years behind them, the Tartan Army kind of needs something
to do. Many fans are sticking around Boston until Friday's
match against Morocco, but that leaves them with a splitting
hangover in four days of downtime. Some have decided to
get as American as possible.
Speaker 5 (02:34):
He's never show any weapons.
Speaker 6 (02:36):
I'm going to take him down to the shirt and range.
I'll just want to get the quintessential Boston tourist experience done.
A ride in the duck boats, a tour through Harvard Yard,
and of course, yeah you're going to see a socks game.
We're going to that to d baseball at Fenway. The
overwhelming feeling I got from Scotland fans is gratitude for
a warm welcome.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
We'll just enjoy the city the way that people of
Boston have embraced us. We'll embrace the f coach off
and they'll go and do things they need.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
To tell them.
Speaker 6 (03:00):
We only ride up boats when somebody wins a title.
Some fans are even headed to Florida for a third
match later this month for the.
Speaker 7 (03:06):
Tecades, for the Sea matches.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
I don't have any money left.
Speaker 6 (03:09):
Off the list, but and walking around with much lighter
wallet's a show for it. Kyle Shaffle to BBC Boston's
Neice Radio.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
So Boston has gotten very positive reviews from the folks
from across the Atlantic and around the world. Joining us
now is a professor of the Department of Tourism, Hospitality
and Event Management Director, Doctor Rachel A. Professor Rachel jc
(03:39):
Fou Professor FU. Welcome to Nightside.
Speaker 7 (03:44):
Thank you for having me.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
So the question that I want to get at here
is that we in Boston have a reputation. Maybe it's
because of the weather, but we in Boston have a
reputation of being kind of stand offish and a little cool.
We're not, you know, someone who who wraps our arms
around people. We shake hands politely and say how are
(04:09):
you good afternoon, But I think our image has been
warmed up a little bit by the experience with all
of the World Cup people here. How important it is
is it to a city to develop a reputation that
folks can come and visit the city and be well
(04:29):
received and welcomed.
Speaker 7 (04:32):
Definitely, it's very important. So this is how we call
in the tourism area, we call this as the mirror effect.
So lots of time when the residents, we live in
a community for such a long time and we feel
like Okay, it's a cold weather. It's a very effective community.
(04:55):
But now with a group of people they have devoted
them money that they have devoted their life, and they
spend time in the city, they expect to experience the locals.
So visitors often notice strength the locals overlook. So for
all the updates and the news you have just shared
(05:17):
with with with all of us. So those videos, those
voices reminding us hospitality, mining kindness, and abundance and optimism,
everything is very important. So through the eyes of the
international tourists or outside of the localsts, they will give
(05:38):
us fresh perspectives.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
Well, you know, it's interesting. I looked at your bio,
very impressive bio. You were educated and receive your bachelor's
degree at the National Chang Chi University in Taiwan. You
have your masters and your doctorate from North Carolina State University.
You have taught at Yale, and now you are chair
and professor at the University of Florida. And I don't
(06:06):
know if if you've read a lot of the articles,
but I've read across the country is that the phenomenon
is that the folks who have been coming here, and
a lot of them are are well that that we've
seen here of Norway and Haiti. We have a large
Haiti Populaitian population, but there was a very warm welcome
for the Haitian team UH in Scotland and Norway. As
(06:30):
I've as I've mentioned, UH, we're getting America is getting
pretty good reviews from these folks. I've read stories which
which suggest that they're surprised at at a lot about America.
That that some of the stories that I read today
suggested that they think that the country is much more
(06:54):
beautiful than they they were led to believe that people
are more friendly that I just have some of these
quotes here from individuals. This was a story that we
picked up here and said, in the supermarket, you have
like one hundred thousand different versions of each food. I've
(07:15):
never seen so many different types of orioles in my life.
Sort of stuff that we, you know, we take for granted.
Everyone is another tourists. This quota is saying everyone calling
me honey, love and sweety. Those words and tears of
endearment aren't used at casually over here in the Netherlands,
and it just it went on and on there. One
(07:39):
person from Germany entering a store in Germany, opening the
door to silence or a brief hello. Entering a store
in the US, Hello, how are you today? What can
I do for you? Rah? He says, you just kind
of ignore me, like at home. That was way too
much communication. But it sounds as if we're getting this
surprise at the size of the cars. They're surprised that
(08:03):
again our warmth. Are you surprised as a professor the
teachers in this area that America is getting positive reviews
from the people who are coming here to watch a
soccer game, but they are becoming very much exposed to
Americans and to our culture.
Speaker 7 (08:27):
I would say I'm surprised from the reality of being
a human you and I. So the happiness is contagious.
So we are talking about a group of people. They
have been saving money and they have been waiting for
the moment to come to the USA to enjoy the experiences.
(08:49):
They come to support their teams, but outside of the
sport tournaments, they travel and they experience the daily life
that we are in. So the the good things that
you have shared is that why do foreigners, the international
tourists seem to appreciate America more than Americans do? So
(09:13):
Familiarity sometimes can make blessings invisible. So when we live
in something every day, we stop noticing or the environments
and the good people.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
Which so yeah, So what I think you're saying is
that we're here every day. And I don't want to
put words in your mouth, but we have a tendency
to take things for granted.
Speaker 7 (09:37):
Yes, I think that's our human nature. And sometimes it
takes in America through fresh eyes to riscover what we
have and who we are. So think about when now
we're Americans complain about our giant grocery stores and then
someone from Scotland or other trees post TikTok saying you
(10:02):
mean there are forty or hundred kinds of orange juice
or Syria and optic supermarkets become a tourist attraction, which
is great.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
Yeah, this is this is a plus. You know, we
have a reputation and I don't know if you would
agree with this, but there was this reputation of Americans
going when we travel abroad that we have been accused
of being the ugly Americans. You know, we expect to
(10:35):
be waited on and all of that. I don't know
where that came from, but have have you heard of
that that comment. You know, Americans when they travel sometimes
act I don't know that they expect to be to
be treated better than others. Have you heard the phrase
the ugly American? I assume.
Speaker 7 (10:59):
Not direct, but it's the other way around.
Speaker 8 (11:03):
I think.
Speaker 7 (11:04):
I remember a few years ago I was in Paris
and turn now. I ran into a few tourists who
are who are from America, uh directly, and they were
talking about sometimes the local people were not nice to them.
But the experience I had was fantastic because I basically
(11:26):
I talked to those people in the local cost. I said,
I can't I don't speak French. Can you speak Taiwanese
because that's where I grew up? And they said no,
and they said how about English? And they said of
course and we left. Other than I received very old
it's ordinary service. So people there are very friendly. So
so when I share my experience, some I would say,
(11:49):
perhaps some Americans that really I didn't experience this. So
I think it's really about sometimes the way we carry
our energy, and they are I believe they are very
friendly people, and there are also some unfriendly people everywhere.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
Okay, well, well, doctor Freu, I really appreciate your perspective.
You have a very interesting life, obviously, having been born
and educated in Taiwan and coming here and traveling. I
just think that maybe maybe the experience that people are
having with the World Cup here, particularly people who are
coming here for the first time, it's going to readjust
(12:27):
their attitude toward America, I hope, and they will look
at US as a much more friendly and open and welping,
welcoming nation than perhaps they expected. I thank you for
joining us tonight and having a conversation with me, and
people can follow you, I assume through the University of Florida.
Your last name is spelled simply just the letters Fu
(12:49):
doctor Fu.
Speaker 7 (12:51):
Yeah, so I would just say us for about us.
So I said for Florida, you said for university. And
I love the state, the count and by the way,
I have a final comments. It's about the international basitors.
They are not posting viral videos about Congress. They are
posting videos about firefighters who have been children with in children,
(13:14):
trangers holding door open, so servers checking on them, and
the neighbors tracking up conversations, and those ordinary moments are
cevics in action.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
That's great, that's great. Doctor fool. Thank you very much.
I really appreciate your time, and we'll have you back,
I hope. Thank you so much.
Speaker 7 (13:33):
Thank you, Dan, Very welcome, very welcome.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
Okay, we came back. I want to have you address
the issue. If you've been out and about and you've
had any sort of an interaction with any of our
international guests, love to hear about it. If you've gone
to either of the games that have been played so far,
love to hear about how that has been. But one
(13:59):
of the the aspects of the story that I want
to talk about is I think many of us are
I don't know. We need to be prouder of our country.
And this has nothing to do with politics. Has that
nothing to do with who might be the president of
the United States at any given time. We have some
(14:20):
ideals which I'm hoping that maybe this experience in people
understanding that you can come here and you can say
what you want that doesn't happen in a lot of
countries around the world. That you can come here and
you have a cornucopy of opportunities to buy things to
go eat whatever type food you want. I mean, we
(14:41):
are such a cosmopolitan country and I just think that
we've been We've beaten ourselves up for the last few years,
maybe even beyond the last few years, maybe for the
last few decades, and I think that we have undervalued
this country. That we're about to celebrate the two hundred
and fiftieth anniverse of this country, and we have to
(15:02):
be smart and we have to understand it is a
special place. Every once in a while, we'll hear people
want to leave. Okay, if that's the way you feel,
I don't understand that, but you know, don't let the
door hit you on the way out, just the way
I would like to think about it. And I'd love
to hear from some of you. I listened to de
(15:23):
Niro the other day down in New York, and I
think Jane Fonda was there, and it's like they're just
bitter and down and negative. I want to hear something positive.
We're going to be talking about the two hundred and
fiftieth anniversary all the way up until the fourth of July.
I hope, I hope that that two hundred and fiftieth
anniversary in the celebration is totally bipartisan, and that everyone
(15:46):
has a right to celebrate in America and celebrate America.
Whoever you are, however you got here, and whatever you do,
whether you're a multi millionaire or or someone who teaches,
or if you work in the trades, we need everyone.
Six one, seven, two, five, four ten thirty six one seven,
(16:10):
nine three one ten thirty. Let's express some pride in
this country. It is indeed the greatest country on the
face of the earth, and it has been for a
long long time, and long may it wave. We're coming
back on Nightside.
Speaker 6 (16:24):
It's night Side with Dan Ray on w Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (16:29):
Only have a couple of minutes left here before the
news break. I don't want to short change anyone, but
but well, you know what, let me go to Nina
in Shrewsbrey. Nina. I don't want you to have to
hold through the news. You're next on your first this
hour Nightside. Hi, Nina, how are you.
Speaker 4 (16:45):
Hi?
Speaker 2 (16:45):
Then?
Speaker 9 (16:45):
Nice to talk to you after a long time.
Speaker 2 (16:48):
It has been a long time. I hope you're still listening.
Speaker 9 (16:53):
I am still listening. But you don't take cars in
the PM hour.
Speaker 5 (16:56):
But anyway, whoa whoa will?
Speaker 2 (16:58):
That now has changed as of last week, we're back
to the eight o'clock hour, So it's four hours of talk.
We have just dispensed with the four mini interviews that
we had done for about three years. So you turn
us on at eight o'clock and whatever we'll be talking about,
we will always take calls. You go right ahead, Nina, Well,
(17:21):
thank you.
Speaker 9 (17:22):
So anyway, since I have a short time, I just
wanted to say.
Speaker 5 (17:26):
You know, you're touched upon a very important subject. And
it always happens.
Speaker 9 (17:32):
Which ever country you are from, wherever you grow up,
even the state for example, you don't realize how good
it is until you leave that place and go somewhere else.
And so that's exact phenomenon we are observing. And the
second point is that as Americans were very entitled, we
just think this is how life is, so we don't
(17:54):
realize how good we have it here. And the third
point I would like to make is that we're all
human beings and we really love wherever we get love
and smile.
Speaker 5 (18:07):
So having traveled all across Europe and other countries is
the same experience you have in some other place when
people are nice to you, and it's the same thing.
The greatest thing about it is such a melting clot.
Speaker 2 (18:23):
Yes, Nina, you're breaking up a little bit, Rob Why
don't you help Nina? You broke up a little bit?
Repeat that last thought please.
Speaker 5 (18:34):
Oh that we have so many cultures amalgamated together.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
Yes, And I just think that that we like Americans.
There's a lot of Americans that like to beat them
beat ourselves up, and we need to every once in
a while take a step back. And it's okay to
have some pride in the country. And it's got nothing
to do for some reason, it's the I don't know,
(18:59):
maybe we get too involved in the politics if we
don't like you know, look, if we don't like a
specific politician who happens to be in high office, whoever
that might be. And there's a lot of people who
don't like Donald Trump. And I know that there's a
lot about Donald Trump that is unlikable. He's you know,
he's pretty narcissistic. But but he's the president. And let's
(19:24):
get past that because there will come a time in
the not do distant future when he won't be president.
Someone else would be president. Maybe that's someone else would
be a Democrat. It doesn't matter. I've lived my life
and there have been good presidents from both parties and
ineffective presidents from both parties and presidents who you know,
(19:45):
who are likable, presidents who are not likable. You got
to look past that. You've got to look at all
that we have, as you mentioned, h and and celebrate
each other.
Speaker 5 (19:57):
Well, if I may say, it's you know, general citizen
has nothing to do with what happens at the top
in politics. We are all human beings whichever country we
go to, and so every country is whatever we read
our experience at higher level in politics. General public just
(20:17):
wants peace and happiness and those few moments of pleasure,
and so that's.
Speaker 8 (20:24):
What it is.
Speaker 2 (20:26):
Couldn't agree with you more, doctor Nina. Always good to
talk to you, and thank you for the profession that
you have chosen. I know from a past experience that
you are a physician and a doctor, and I just
wanted to acknowledge that and thank you for all that
you do for your patients.
Speaker 9 (20:49):
Thank you, Dan, and you're quite welcome and look forward
to're talking to you soon now.
Speaker 2 (20:53):
Oh now, eight o'clock. It's four hours from eight to
midnight right here on night side. Thanks Thanks Nina, talk
to you soon, Okay, bye bye, all right, let's keep
this conversation rolling here. If you've had a chance to
talk with someone who's visiting, I'd love to know what
their reaction has been. Uh. This is to me a
(21:17):
great sort of social experiment we can do here on Nightside.
I'm just reading some of the comments that people have
made from other parts of the country. Someone here writes,
everything is so big, cars, food, portions, tips, roads, people
and attitudes always fun. Though you guys have air conditioning
(21:39):
in your house. I was astonished. It's just this amazing.
The work too. You drop culture. There have been people
who are proud of the fact that they don't see
their families or miss occasions because they have to go
to work for their company. I used to work for
a grocery store while I was here, and it was
close to a cult, seeing guns just hanging there like
(22:03):
casual groceries in Walmart. These are people who have come
to the US. Uh and Uh. This is some of
the impressions that that I've picked up. There have been
stories that have been written. So if you were here
for the first time, and you probably are not listening
to Night's Side, but if there is someone who is
maybe in your home who's listening to this program. I'd
(22:25):
love to get your impressions of America. And if you've
bumped into people on the streets of Boston, or on
the streets of New England or wherever. Six one seven, two, five,
four ten thirty, six one seven, nine three thirty, and
I think it's time all of us, all of us
need to get some sort of a pride injection, if
(22:46):
you will, about being Americans. We are a special people.
We have come from all corners of the earth. Uh.
If not us directly, our predis our family arrived here.
And I know my family came came from Ireland on
(23:06):
both sides. Other families came in different ways. I don't
want to get into the politics of what way they came.
We're not doing that. People are here, uh, and if
they consider themselves Americans, or if they are Americans, they
have pride in the country. And I want to see
more people. What bothers me is people who get so upset,
(23:28):
so upset that they want to somehow disparage what this
country is all about. Six one seven, two, five, four
ten thirty, six one seven, nine three one ten thirty
Jump on board, coming back on Nightside.
Speaker 1 (23:41):
It's Night Side with Dan Ray on.
Speaker 6 (23:45):
Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (23:47):
We had a couple of calls who dropped off, So
I'm going to reset this and I hope that some
of you can understand what I'm trying to say. It
was funny. I was listening to Mike Macklin's report there
about Mayor WU talking about Bunker Hill Day June seventeenth,
and it's one of those holidays that you need to
think about. Everybody understands the fourth of July. But the
(24:09):
point that I'm trying to make is that all the
reporting that I have seen about the World Cup, and
I was not a big fan of the World Cup,
frankly because I thought to myself that this is a
it's a competition that is going to involve people from
other parts of the world, and it doesn't necessarily it's
(24:29):
not a game that I really am. I didn't grow
up with soccer. I grew up with baseball and hockey
and basketball and football, and that's where my sporting interests are.
Soccer wasn't even an afterthought in this country until Pele
came here. I think it was nineteen somewhere in the
late sixties on an exhibition tour from Brazil, and they
(24:53):
thought that that was going to light the fuse of soccer,
and it didn't. Do I think that the World Cup
here and again, games are being played in Canada, Mexico,
and the United States, most prominently in the United States,
from countries all over the world. And do I think
that will get younger kids more interested in soccer? Absolutely,
(25:16):
no question, Absolutely no question. But I think the secondary
benefit of the World Cup twenty twenty six to me
as an American is people have come here and despite
what they might have heard in their home countries about
America and about America's people, and about our tradition and
about our culture and whether or not we're friendly and
(25:39):
you know, whether we are reflected by the person in
the White House. No, they have come here that they
have met us on our turf, on our terms, and
they seem to have liked us from what everything that
I've read and everything that I've seen. Listen to the
(26:00):
WBZ reports over the last few days, I've listened to
the TV reports, watched the television reports on the local channels,
and it seems as if everybody who has come to
Boston has been disappointed. You know, you always hope and
pray that no one comes here and falls victim to
(26:22):
crime or anything like that. You want everyone to have
a good time, and from what I can see, there
has been no adverse incident whatsoever, which is great. It's
a I think it's a reflection of who we are
and a reflection of how welcoming we actually can be.
So I'm hoping that some of you might want to
(26:45):
join me in just saying that. Look, I'm very proud
of the way Bostonians have welcomed everyone. As they say.
For me, the World Cup is yes, it's a big event.
I don't quite get the word, you know. I keep saying.
I haven't got FIFA, FIFA fee of FIFA fever, the
(27:05):
the fi f A, the sponsors of the World Cup,
not going to go to any of the games, you know,
I don't have the time. Maybe you have if you've
been out to a game and you've had a chance
to interact with folks from other parts of the world,
I would love to know how you have been treated
(27:27):
and how you have treated them. Uh. And I'm just
reading all I read today, several newspaper articles from around
the country of people who were just thrilled the way
that they've been treated here, which is good for us,
because we are not the ugly Americans. You've heard me
say that for years, and because it is it's right
(27:48):
here in front of us that the people from different
parts of the world are going to take their experiences
home and they're going to tell people back in their
countries how they treated, what they saw, what they experienced,
and it's all good. Now. There were a couple of
callers who are on the line who had dropped off
during the newscast, So I'm gonna just give the number
(28:11):
one more time. Six one seven, two five four ten
thirty six one seven nine three to one, ten thirty.
My name's Dan Ray. This is night Side. Feel free
join the conversation. I think it is time for us
to take advantage of this entire opportunity, uh and look
at one another as Americans and say, guess what we're
(28:33):
doing ourselves? Proud here. Hopefully the rest of the tournament
will will go off without a hitch, no idea who's
gonna win. I don't particularly care who's gonna win. Do
I think the USA is gonna win? I don't really
think so, but who knows, you know. As one of
the ads with Michael RUZIONI has do you believe in miracles?
You never know, But this is just an opportunity for
(28:54):
you to chat about what you've experienced or what you
have seen others. Six one, seven, two, five, four ten
thirty six one seven, nine three, one ten thirty. Light
them up. We'll be right back on Nightside.
Speaker 6 (29:07):
You're on night Side with Dan Ray on WBZ, Boston's
news radio.
Speaker 2 (29:13):
Well, no one is going to join me in this,
but that's okay because I'm sticking with it. Okay, I'm sick.
I am sticking sticking with it here. Uh. These are
some of the comments that I have picked up in
newspapers and comments from a different website. Uh. If you
were born and raised in the US like me, this
(29:35):
is someone you may not realize how many unusual things
we experience on a daily basis because we're used to it.
Sometimes it takes an outside perspective to remind us of
the things we may consider totally normal might not be. Like,
maybe sandwidges aren't always a foot long. Someone wrote, my
(29:57):
interest was peaked when I saw a reddit user post
on Reddit to ask our friends from across the pond
Europeans that visited the States. What was the biggest culture
shock you experienced. I definitely wanted to know what was
so American that it led to Europeans to experience a
reverse Wizard of Oz moment where people thought, Toto, I
(30:20):
have a feeling we are in Kansas. If you were
was curious, I was to find out how non Americans
really see us keeps growing. Everything is so big, cars,
food portions, dips, roads, people attitudes always fun. Though I
read a couple of those earlier I've lived in you now,
(30:41):
they were people who were a little felt differently. I've
lived in the US my entire life, and the gun
stuff still weirds me out. I have a conversation with
a friend about how he absolutely doesn't need his gun
if we're meeting up at Applebee's. On and on it goes.
I just think that that we're very lucky to live here,
(31:02):
and I suspect, my bottom line is that I suspect
that a lot of the Europeans who have come here
would trade places with any one of us if they
were given the opportunity. Now that opportunity doesn't exist, I
think that it should for people who want to come here.
(31:24):
And again, I don't want to get political, but I
think that we need to increase legal immigration in this
country because we have been so focused on tightening the borders,
which is a good thing, that it is now time
to maybe open up things and increase legal immigration so
(31:47):
that more people can come here. Let me go to
Laurie in Idaho see what she has to think, quite
a distance across the country. Hey, Laurie, welcome, Thanks very
much for joining us. How are you tonight, I'll.
Speaker 8 (32:01):
Be your cricket. I'm good. Obviously we don't have much
of the activity out here, but I was the doctor
director of President who there. What I thought it was
really interesting with all these people here that are so
excited to be hearing about their just think about the Scots.
I mean, it's infectious, and I would think I would
hope that it would make us also feel that, you know,
(32:24):
the pride or the fun or just the excitement of
the excitement in the air. And I am very proud
of the country. I always have been. I always have
a flag on my tent, out on my car, and
I always have a flag at my house. And I'm
so excited for the two fiftieth this year, and I
just no politician can take that away from me.
Speaker 2 (32:40):
No, absolutely, And it's bigger than any politician because the
situation that we have in this country is you get
elected as president for four years, if you get elected
as a senator, are you going to be there for
six years? But then you're gonna have to stand for reelection.
If you get elected as a congressman. The day you
get sworn in, you've got to be thinking about your
next election, which is only two years away, which comes
(33:02):
back to another theme of mine that I want. And
we were trying to get a guest tonight, and I
think we will have her next week, a professor at
Harvard who I've had on before. She and I might
disagree on the way this should be implemented, but I
do think that one of the things that we have
not done a good job at in recent years is
teaching civics.
Speaker 1 (33:23):
Uh to No, I'm serious.
Speaker 8 (33:27):
In that, No, I am too. I absolutely agree.
Speaker 2 (33:29):
There is so many people in this country who are
voting in elections, and they have a right to vote
in elections, but there are so many people in this
country who were voting in elections. By the way, the
Red Sox just lost three to nothing, not much offense tonight.
I hate to be working. But the civics that that
we need, We just need to teach our children and
(33:52):
about Okay, yeah, there's a president, but the but you know,
there's checks and balances, there's the House and the Senate,
there's the surprise in court. There's federal courts, there's state courts.
I mean, there's a myriad of things that the founders
put in place which which prevent a president from becoming
a dictator. Uh and exactly thank god those, you know,
(34:17):
because we someday might elect someone who really wants to,
you know, somehow become a king or whatever. I just
think that there's so much talk in the last few
months about it and people leaving the country, and now
we're being taught by people who have come here how
great this country really is and all the things.
Speaker 8 (34:36):
Yeah, we take for greet so we don't we don't.
Speaker 2 (34:41):
No, but you know what I'm saying, We most days
we don't think about this. We we do take the
stuff for granted. You know the fact that in most
parts of this country you turn on water and the
water runs and the water is clean and uh, you know,
you can drink it. It's drinkable, potable, whatever you want
to call it. Yeah, I am. Look, I thank you
(35:03):
for for I thank you for calling here. It's I
just think it's important. I think that a lot of
us are embarrassed. We were not willing to to confront
other people and say, hey, you might not like this
particular candidate or this particular president, but this will this
(35:23):
will change, and the next candidate who might be elected,
you might like, we're too. We're too anyway. I'm first,
I'm frustrated, Laurie, as I'm sure you could tell.
Speaker 8 (35:35):
I know, I know, but you know, I just I
never lose I love the way we won the country.
I love the battles. I love everything about how this
country was formed, and the fact that we still have
the same document that is the governance of our country.
It's just astounding. And I will never lose pride.
Speaker 2 (35:50):
In that well. And I also think that we need
to make sure that that with civics, our young people
better understand. I mean, I've watched I've watched the TV
people in the street where they go out and they
ask people, you know, can you name one Supreme Court justice?
And people George Washington. I'm serious on the beach somewhere
(36:13):
in New Jersey, and it gives a bad wrap to
people from New Jersey. Laurie, thank you much. Want to
get one more in here. Thank you so much.
Speaker 8 (36:21):
Right, good night, good bye.
Speaker 2 (36:23):
Let me go next to Ron and Ron you were
next a nights. I appreciate your calling in Ron.
Speaker 1 (36:28):
Ye, Dan, I had to call in this. You know,
there are so so many things, as some of our
callers said that you don't realize until you've gone somewhere else.
Speaker 2 (36:44):
You know.
Speaker 1 (36:45):
I have to tell you. When I landed back Logan
following my trip on on one particular disaster response, I
was happy to have a toilet.
Speaker 3 (37:01):
Ye.
Speaker 2 (37:03):
Well, I'm happy whenever I land back at Logan. I mean,
I've had a chance to travel in other parts of
the world, but I like being home. And I don't
know what that says about me personally, but I'm excited
when I leave, and particularly when I'm not working on
a trip. That when I was in TV, i was
working on trips. But when you go on vacation and
(37:25):
you come back, it's there's no feeling like it. It's
like your home. This is home, and I can't understand
people who look at it any other way, you know,
particularly get.
Speaker 1 (37:39):
Fun, especially for the healthcare that we have so immediately
at hand, I mean I can get into an uber
and I have many times and just gone to the
emergency room or or a physician's appointment something because I
(37:59):
don't want and wrestle with the traffic. But the expertise
that we have that in the end gives us a
quality of life that.
Speaker 2 (38:12):
Look, there are kings and queens from all over the world,
and wealthy individuals from some of the most wealthy people
in the world will come here with suitcases full of
cash to be treated at some of our hospitals and institutions.
How can we plan I for granted, because we can
get treated at those hospitals and institutions.
Speaker 1 (38:33):
So when I was covering, as you know, at MGH
the the we had the folks from Saudi Arabia and
they came an entourage and they are self payers, self payers,
and not only did they have one room as itself,
(38:55):
I mean they were in the one of the best
floors in the hospital and they're pretty expensive by day,
but they had several and they come here once a
year at least for their evaluations. And one of my
good colleagues. Actually, he's a guest rom neurology motility specialist
(39:17):
and he's pretty well known around the world for his
for his work, and the Prince from Saudi Arabia flew
him over for recono.
Speaker 2 (39:29):
How about that, Hey, Ron, I am flat up against
the news, so I got to let you jump here.
Thanks so much for calling and joining the conversation. I
appreciate it very much.
Speaker 1 (39:37):
We'll talk, we'll talk, Thank you much.
Speaker 2 (39:40):
Here comes the news. We could be back on the
other side
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