Levis and Marlboros

When I was 17, I stayed with a family in Austria for a summer. My German was so-so, but certainly a lot better than that of other Americans who were in the program (the program, should you be wondering, was the Experiment in International Living). The family that hosted me had a son my age. We didn't have much in common. He had a friend, though, who raised racing pigeons. I came to be friendlier with his friend than I was with him.
The friend and I corresponded. He sent me updates on the wins and losses of his feathered friends. He was not academic and he wound up getting a job at the bank across the street from where he lived. He took deposits, gave withdrawal cash, wrote checks, wired funds, sent the equivalent of ACH payments, made transfers and converted currencies. He wound up leaving work earlier than most due to stress.
When I was growing up in the 60s and 70s, everyone wanted things from the USA. Three of the hottest commodities that I knew of were tobacco, denim (Levis), and music (cassettes). Marlboro reds were more valuable trading than cash.
So what's change?
... TUNE IN...
My friend became a rabid conservative. He also expressed xenophobic, racist comments that came across as the rants of a white supremacist. He didn't like it when Middle Easterners from Syria, Lebanon, or Jordan were showing up in Austria and looking for government assistance with refugee status. He also didn't like the imposition of quarantines or mask mandates during the era of COVID.
I copied this from a George Washington University blog (no year provided)

THE INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS REVIEW

The Refugee Crisis In The Arab World
Oct 27
Written By Yuval Cohen, Staff Writer

The international world has been facing refugee crises since the late 1700s, but it was not until 2011 that the Syrian government was responsible for the displacement of millions. There are refugees throughout the globe, but those in the Arab world are placed at a greater disadvantage because they do not receive significant media coverage. The refugee crisis in the Arab world is a significant issue that must receive the attention it deserves. The Middle East is typically associated with conflict and turmoil. The region has undergone war, political unrest, religious persecution, ethnic violence, poverty, occupation, and more. As a result, out of the 60 million people that are displaced worldwide, 40 percent originate from the Arab region. Iraq, Libya, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen are just a few of the countries that have hundreds of thousands of refugees searching for a better quality of life. Countries in the Arab world that cannot sustain their people, let alone refugees, struggle for stability and security.

He then began to criticize America (I am generally tolerant of this type of crap during the 45 administration because the president was an a**wipe and a joke). But this guy's complaints were that we are a dictatorship that should not be sending money for Ukraine to defend itself. The same went to Israel. Talking sh*t like that to someone who is Jewish is a big boo-boo. Being Austrian and calling America a dictatorship is laughable. He declared his not wanting anything from America... but he didn't seem to sad when he got a delivery of some smokes.

SHRUG

My relationship with this man has diminished. He gets a birthday card in Spring and a holiday card in December. No more emails. No more updates. No more stories of my hopes, dreams, or travels. Not even a picture post card will be sent during my trips outside the hometown.

We no longer produce much of anything here. I wonder if our cars are even really manufactured here any more. Oh well... we once were a proud nation that made cotton clothing. Now you have to turn to Pakistan or Korea.