American Mecca

April 19, 2008

I am finishing up a week in Orlando. My first, and quite possibly last time here. I had never been to Disney World, nor did I desire to go, not even back in elementary school when seemingly every other child had been. Turns out I didn’t really miss anything (aside from lots of country music and large Americans).

The good – kids do love it. Isaiah loved all the rides, all the water fountains, all the fun things to do. So did his cousins. And the trip itself was wonderful – Franny and I loved the time with her mother, her sister & family. Plus, Florida has beautiful weather.

The bad – commercialism. Overwhelming commercialism – everything is for sale, useless plastic crap, obnoxious strip malls. The parks were the worst. Sea World has stopped educating and is now an entertainment machine for ADD kids, passing out plastic crap that will pollute the ocean instead of teaching about plastic crap polluting the ocean. Not to mention Disney’s overall role in copyright extension (evil!) and their bought politician.

The creepy – tinfoil hat time. Every park requires visitors to give a fingerprint impression to enter. I bet large sums of money that these fingerprints are sold on to the government, tied to our credit cards & lots of other personally identifiable information. Remember kids, the FBI can’t legally compile this information on you, but they can purchase it from the free market where it is available! *Shiver*

An American Mecca – I am cognizant that the demographics encountered here are more American than my normal North-East surroundings, that I am outside of the mainstream in not wanting to be here. It is good to be humbled by this, to remember we are all different, and all equal. Especially if I want to build businesses selling to this large American market.

Filed under: general

  • To be very very clear - I have absolutely loved this vacation - seeing Isaiah and Elias play together was priceless (pics & movies will be posted soon), spending time with Liz, Chris, Uma, Sam and Elias was wonderful as well - we've missed them lots off in Norway. I even enjoyed the entire Disney experience, though honestly more as an observer of a phenomenon. And I enjoyed being reminded of what middle America lives like (and at the same time realizing how well off we all are as Americans).
  • mom
    Abe thanks for sharing these thoughts. Vicarious for me as I have never been to Disneyworld and like you, never particularly wanted to yet would go if occasion arose. I suspect I would express thoughts very like yours if I went. Try reading one of Tom Brown Jr's books now...what a contrast. Love your blog.
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