Will Travel for Food:
On Travel and Minimal Impact
John Morris
Issue date: 4/15/09 Section: News
By John Morris
As we finish another break in classes, I'm reminded of vacations, commonly desired destinations and modes of travel. If you've been reading this series from the beginning, you're probably aware of my ideas on travel. I've long meant to write a long article for some major publication titled, "On Travel and Minimal Impact" discussing the methods of travel that will best preserve the world for future travelers. The following is a short version of that article.
Understand that I'm not condemning anyone, but that, as a traveler, I have a deeply vested interest in the world. I don't want it to change. Is it selfish? Am I wrong to want to maintain the way of life of people on the other side of the world so I can go see it? I don't think so and I want to explain why.
There's a dangerous undercurrent in the world that many Americans may never understand. We're used to many cultures coming in, and, while we give each its song and dance to promote diversity, they're typically relegated to the ideological front and we don't afford them much thought. "Sure, immigration's great," we say. But mostly it doesn't immediately affect us.
This undercurrent, however, directly affects other cultures. Down in Creel, a small town in the Chihuahua region of Mexico, in the dirt-floor family room/"lobby" of the Hotel Tarahumara, a young local girl awkwardly danced to a Britney Spears music video blaring out of the family TV. I see the same thing the world over.
American culture is spreading… has spread all over the world. For travelers whose ideal is the exotic, the sight of that girl dancing to Spears is almost nauseating. Listening to Mexicans in Monterrey blaring rap out of their cars, not knowing what the words meant but singing along all the same, left the same impression. American is good. American is popular. If you have something American, it gives the impression that you really have something -almost that you are someone- separating you from the others.
As we finish another break in classes, I'm reminded of vacations, commonly desired destinations and modes of travel. If you've been reading this series from the beginning, you're probably aware of my ideas on travel. I've long meant to write a long article for some major publication titled, "On Travel and Minimal Impact" discussing the methods of travel that will best preserve the world for future travelers. The following is a short version of that article.
Understand that I'm not condemning anyone, but that, as a traveler, I have a deeply vested interest in the world. I don't want it to change. Is it selfish? Am I wrong to want to maintain the way of life of people on the other side of the world so I can go see it? I don't think so and I want to explain why.
There's a dangerous undercurrent in the world that many Americans may never understand. We're used to many cultures coming in, and, while we give each its song and dance to promote diversity, they're typically relegated to the ideological front and we don't afford them much thought. "Sure, immigration's great," we say. But mostly it doesn't immediately affect us.
This undercurrent, however, directly affects other cultures. Down in Creel, a small town in the Chihuahua region of Mexico, in the dirt-floor family room/"lobby" of the Hotel Tarahumara, a young local girl awkwardly danced to a Britney Spears music video blaring out of the family TV. I see the same thing the world over.
American culture is spreading… has spread all over the world. For travelers whose ideal is the exotic, the sight of that girl dancing to Spears is almost nauseating. Listening to Mexicans in Monterrey blaring rap out of their cars, not knowing what the words meant but singing along all the same, left the same impression. American is good. American is popular. If you have something American, it gives the impression that you really have something -almost that you are someone- separating you from the others.
Be the first to comment on this story