(From Easter Weekend, 2003) I am currently spending my weekend in a chalet in Gatlinburg, Tennesee. I will not go into detail about exactly why I am here, but that point is not relevant to the story. For those of you that are not familiar with Gatlinburg, it is an utterly complete tourist trap, albeit with many more Christian images. This is the major problem with the city . Every single thing in the city is a shallow, hollow representation of a real city. Every single block has on it a souvenir shop, a "as seen on tv" shop, and numerous fast food places. Also, the omnifamous Dollywood calls Gatlinburg home.

Why do all sorts of people go to these cities, these Gatlinburgs, these Niagara Falls, these Atlantic cities. Why do they feel like they have to go to a city that has every single amenity that they can buy in their own city? Simply, my readers, people are afraid of doing something new, seeing something new, or even changing the slightest thing uin their life. It is simple so much better to say that you've eaten Arby's in France, bought Marlboros in the Amazon, or even went to a mall in Israel.

The rise of consumer culture, of the McDonals and Burger Kings and Wal-Marts, is why the Glorbal North countries are so completely wrack by apathy. The complete ease of getting a seeming myriad of services, food, and the like have really attacked the former character and general individualities of people. It is almost not possible to win these minds and souls of the converted, but certain individuals can create individual stores, ideals, and the like to win those that matter - the youth of society. And this can be done in a way that does not smack of proselytizing winds. Make the options open to people, and people will come. If you have children, make sure that this option is available to them. Soon enough all the Wal-Mart's, all the McDonas, and the mall culture will go by the wayside, with a viable alternative able to fill a void that is painfully visible in current society.