An ode -- and then some -- for Rick Steves

"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness," Mark Twain said. I couldn't agree more.

Travel is the single greatest experience a young person can have. While one of the biggest regrets of outgoing college seniors is not having traveled enough, the nation's savviest explorer happens to be a Husky alum: Rick Steves.

I'll admit it -- I'm a proud Ricknik. I drink the Kool-Aid, brewed by a nerd from Edmonds, that says to be independent and connect with the locals. Steves proclaims that "travel is freedom ... one of the last great sources of legal adventure."

Those who have seen his thick glasses and floppy hair grace PBS understand the priceless subtleties of Europe he exposes. Rather than spoiling these treasures with his coverage, he inspires us to create our own experiences. His observations are so sophisticated that he has made a travel show on radio electrifying.

Best of all, the former Husky with the best job on Earth has not become complacent. From ricksteves.com: "Lessons I've learned far from home combined with passion for America have heightened my drive to challenge my countrymen to higher ideals," meaning he is using his fame and fortune to advocate for a more progressive American Dream.

To understand the genius that is Rick Steves, one must first distinguish between travel and vacation. Travel is not lounging on a deck of a cruise-ship taking pictures of exotic people -- it's getting off the boat, entering the villages and sharing dinner with the locals. It's getting to know the country being visited, which is best done through open-mindedness and endless conversation.

An independent traveler since his college days, Steves is equipped with experience, and only gets wiser with each voyage. A former Reaganite, travel has taught him to better understand America by looking at it through a foreign lens. For a society that cares more about Paris Hilton than riots in Paris, this is a lesson worth examining.

Travel puts a human face on all of the dreadful statistics about global inequality, but also redefines happiness. It enables us, as Steves writes, to "treasure -- rather than fear -- the world's rich diversity."

Travel is a privilege we Americans must not take for granted, for our wealth provides us the opportunity to broaden our horizons. Through travel, we are more likely to realize how our actions in the United States impact the global community -- and thus have a judicious sense of how to use our influence.

I do have my criticisms of the demi-god that is Rick Steves. Although he has explored much of the world, Steves only does shows in Europe, and everyone is waiting for Mongolia: Through the Back Door. He also ruined Italy's Cinque Terre, once known for its authenticity and seclusion. This summer only one of eight people in my hostel did not have a Rick Steves book.

It's too bad Steves, who resembles the lovechild of Indiana Jones and Lara Croft, can never run for political office, because his shows always include him getting drunk. Considering how many museums and cathedrals he must endure, we should let him off the hook.

Despite these failings by Rick "Dragon-Wrestler" Steves, he has dedicated his life to inspiring others to travel because of a strong conviction that it broadens our perspectives and helps us understand our place in the world. He is not only trying to sell books and backpacks -- he is trying to save the world.

Rick, I know you are reading The Daily while sipping wine, munching on a baguette and battling oil tankers with your superhero friends. I just want to let you know the UW salutes you (in a friendly, non-militaristic sense, because we know you would not stand for such neo-fascist rituals).