Of course, I did it 23 years ago…but not much has really changed. The wonderful thing about Europe is the hypocrisy. Seriously. Europeans, generally, have little good to say about the US, but meet an American, and they LOVE us! Except for the Frogs, who I have no time for, as they had little for any of us.
That said, it’s the sheer wonderful nature of Europeans (who really can be classified as one group, just as Americans can even if they’re from Kansas or New York) that makes this a goal worth doing. And if you think Bush has ruined things, then you should have tried backpacking when Reagan was President. It isn’t about politics, so these guys really don’t impact our ability to enjoy foreign travel (unless you let them).

Fact is, nothing beats putting on your backpack, sticking out your thumb, and hitching a ride through Germany, Ireland, or Denmark…or anywhere! Can’t hitch? Get a rail pass, too. Saves you time when you’re tired, and goes ALOT faster.

When you reach my age, and you’re no longer able to do this sort of thing in the manner you’d like, it’s nice to have the ability to look back and remember what great times those were, and what great sights you’ve seen.

Keep the politics out. Nothing real in life is related to politics. Politics were created to maximize divisions, not reduce them. The fact anyone thinks politics can IMPROVE anything is just an indicator of immaturity (I should know, I was remarkably outspoken as a young adult, but the one thing I had was copious amounts of knowledge to back up my comments…something sorely lacking in most young adults today! That said, knowledge is no substitute for experience. Which just goes to show how immature I really was.).

Travel for the love of travel. See Europe and see our roots (EVERY culture has roots in Europe. Just as EVERY culture has roots in Asia, Africa, etc. This isn’t a world with walls.). See some of the great architecture, the great historical hotspots, and above all LEARN what it means to be a citizen of the world.