Yeah really I think Americans general non-understanding of international politics and their inability to travel light are related!  Why do people have a vacation packing list which would see them self-sufficient for a six month global expedition even if they are going on a 10-day beach vacation? 

Fear – first and formost – not only do would-be travelers get bombarded with a plethora of “must have” security devices which vary from the down-right dangerous and illegal in many countries (pepper spray) to just plain sill (Pacsafes) – but also because they are often so nervous and ignorant of world politics they overpack for every conceivable ocaision. 

Rather than padding your vacation packing list to deal with all sorts of unlikely or impossible eventualities – I suggest the concerned would-be traveler do a bit of reading and gain more understanding f the countries they are planning on visiting. Even minimal resarch will point out that the US is one of the most dangerous countries in the world and for most Americans being abroad will be less not more dangerous. 

Trimming your vacation list iwll mean you have only one light baag which should make your vacation a much easier and enjoyable experience – and if the unlikely does happen and you get caught in some unrest- it will be a lot easier to move out fast if you carry less junk with you