Why when we travel to foriegn countries are we expected to adhere to their laws/ customs, but not vice versa?

zoeksalamander

Get a life, will you?

nora22000

I used to be totally mystified by this.

I can only conclude that it is the extreme provincialism of Americans in general. Most have never traveled outside the country, and the few who have have only been tourists, getting accommodated and not realizing that it's different for those who live and work as expats.

peanutz

This is called law of the land, the laws applicable on the soil where you are and not your nationality.

neilcam2001

i expect there are people belonging to every country in the world asking exactly the same question as yours, only of course in their case the foreign country would be yours.

Martin14th

when you ask vice versa do you mean that others should adhere to our laws when they visit or that they should respect our laws when we visit them?

In the first instance the law of the land is the prevailing law, although there can be exceptions on forces bases for example, generally how ever when you are out and about in any foreign country you obey the laws of that country.

By the same token any visitor to this country is required to obey our laws and can expect the full force of the law to be brought to bear if they don't.

Dramafreak

It's reasonable for any country to expect foreign visitors to comply with the same laws as apply to its own citizens. As for customs, everyone should be free to follow their own provided they don't conflict with the laws of the host country. Tolerance of the lawful behaviour of others is the sign of a civilised society.

As to the second part of your question, I don't see how a foreign country can be expected to adhere to the laws and customs of any foreign national who happens to go there, since its own citizens will have had no voice in deciding those laws and customs.

Every country is organised, for better or worse, to suit the convenience and wishes of the indigenous population, not to please foreign visitors. Foreigners who don't like it should consider leaving.

saorsie

well its one for them and another for us.

deadly

Because Blair is a soft touch and everyone knows it.

timone

Laws yes
Customs no the police wouldn't know who to shoot

J Z

USA is the melting pot. All the social laws and customs of every nation thrown into one place and expected to be tolerant of each other. But in the country of origin those social laws & customs stand alone and can reign supreme.

Unfortunately for the United Kingdom, on whose flag the sun never sat, they also gained an influx of people from other lands. And being the kind people that they are, they have also tolerated and expect tolerance. Thank God the best British customs are alive and well.

Karen

Because we appear to be an idiotic country that bends the rules to suit others!!! (UK?) Indigenous people have very little say in things,its "others" that count!!!

Veritas

Because we have unpatriotic lefties and liberals running the country. I now understand why the education system has been dumbed down; it is to indocrinate young people into thinking that it is all for their own good. That is why they want to reduce the voting age to sixteen.

For the same reason why ppl from other countries want to come here so bad. Why do we have to be so welcoming and forgiving to everyone? Unfortunately I cant speak for my government, only myself.

EMA

I'm gonna get slaughtered for this but here goes anyway......I watch crimewatch and am i the only person who has noticed that the majority of crimes on there are commited by foreigners..

Would these people committ these crimes in their own countries???? i think not because their penalties are much higher for rapes, assaults, and robberies......Here....a slap on the wrist, if they can catch them.....

Pretorian

Its mad but true, esp in Arab countries.

A friend of mine was with the US Rangers in the first Gulf War. He was stationed in Saudi, defending the kingdom with Patriot missiles.

At Christmas they weren't allowed to have a Christmas service. The religious police turned up & sat in their cars outside the camp gates just to make sure.

He said a fellow Ranger was arrested in Jeddah (I think) for singing 'I'm dreaming of a White Christmas'...not sure I believe that though.

Robert Abuse

Silly boy, you abide by the laws of the country you are in, unless of course you are with a few thousand of your chums, armed to the teeth and extremely belligerent. Then you can impose any laws you wish upon the local population and do as you bloody well please.
But that is not tourism is it ?

brian m

because we are the lapdogs of modern society. we have been fed propaganda that we live in a free state with freedom of choice and freedom of expression but only if it doesnt offend any one individual or group. travelling abroad we aware that we should adhere to their customs and we accept this as it is 'thier customs' so common sense prevails and we respect this. britain has no respect from anyone anywhere bcause we are constantly bending over backwards (and forwards) whenever anyone suggests we are being racist or bigoted, our spineless governements do not have the cahonies to say, this is how we do things here and you can like it or lump it. just take a look at john howards stance in australia. he is hailed as the greatest pm they have ever had due to his zero tolerance attitude.
wake up britain, we are far from free.
the united kingdom of Bush is almost upon us and all we can worry about is whether posh is pregnant again or not.

Barry G

It is definitely right to follow the laws and customs of the country you visit or go to live in - what beats me is the English laws which are constantly being changed for the foreigners - we are losing, in fact have long lost, the true British traditions and cultures - the fault is Tony Blair and other politicians who have brought in, and changed, British laws for the last few decades - not for the best - that is why I emigrated years ago and I DO RESPECT THE LAWS AND CULTURE OF THE OTHER COUTRIES I HAVE SINCE LIVED IN - Now Spain.

Absent Glare

First of all, I'm assuming you're from the United States as anyone from another country would be in a different perspective so-as-to be specific in that respect.

That being said:
What are you talking about?

Did a band of immigrants rape, pillage and burn your home town?

If so, I would appreciate if you would limit your judgement to those who behaved in the manner that upset you. There are a LOT of bad people of all shapes, sizes, and colors. It is not fair to consider all people of a specific group as the same person!

Some places enforce very different law structures; if you break the law anywhere there are generally consequences.

I've traveled a fair amount, and I'd have to say there are an a LOT of police in the united states compared to other countries. That means laws are being enforced (hopefully) more often here. Whether or not that has anything to do with having more crime is a seperate issue. Sometimes when immigrants commit crimes, they are deported. In addition, immigrants tend to be the target of greater degrees of descrimination (as they are more likely a part of an outgroup to an average American).

If you still complain about immigrants breaking laws while only being exposed to a small, non-random sample of them (if exposed at all and not just making rash judgements), then you are statistically imparied and an unreasonable human being.

When you really get to know someone different then you, with a positive attitude, you can be pleasantly surprised with how much all humans have in common and how wonderful diversity really is. Diversity is quite possibly the greatest factor in contributing to the continued sustainability of the United States as a superpower. This is because the United States has always been quite open to immigrants and has a high standard of living; making it a desirable place for people who have the ability to move here from other countries (people with the ability to move tend to be those who succeed and are more likely to be smart, productive people that I am proud to have in our country).

Roxy

Because we live in a democratic society where anyone is free to practice their own customs and religions. Be thankful for that.

The Dictator

Because they are getting back at the rich white/British man aren't they?

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