The Problem with Tourism

This may upset many people, and to be honest, I hope it does so, in the right way. Lately I've had musings on church, racism and irrelevance. It all brought me to thoughts on tourism.

I like to travel, but I hate being a tourist. I don't mean I hate taking pictures or seeing great sites, as those help create memories and prompt unforgetable adventures. I just don't like the distance it seems to require from people.

When you're a tourist, you don't connect with the people who live in that place. You see many as obstacles, or means to an end. At best, they are in the background and don't factor much into your stories. I say "you", but I'm included here as well. It's reducing people to resources, and I hate it.

Recently a staff member at our school was talking about racism, and how many of us teachers couldn't understand because we are American. She was right. No matter where I go, I may even be the minority, but I'll get special treatment. I hate that as well.

I try to speak the language of people I come into contact with. I listen, try to learn from what I hear, and respond. I mess up a lot, but as Radall P. MacMurphy from One Flew Over the Cukoo's Nest would say, at least I try.

Christians remind me of tourists, again, myself included. I recently watched a Tyler Perry movie and almost applauded myself for enjoying it. Wouldn't it be better to actually interract with people who aren't as WASP-ish as myself? Movies would tell you all whites are stupid or gun-crazed. Yeah, let's leave that one alone. Still, you see my point.

We'll never make a difference if we insist on keeping a safe distance from those who are different from us.

Every Sunday we choose who to sit next to. Every Sunday we find people who are very similar to ourselves and sit by them. This inherant discrimination is shared by all. I'm guilty too, and I hate it.