Travelism 101

It's true. The Mayans can't be wrong. But if the end is nigh, I feel alright.

The best place to begin: the end. 
It is now one day and one hour before the Mayan calendar predicts the end of the world (as we know it), so I figure it's a pretty good time to start writing. And in true araba form, I'm starting at the end, and working my way backwards. In true d form, I'm need to counter that with a quick preface of a story that happened, eons ago...

In true zeta form, it'll all come together in the end.
it always does...

(originally written in winter 2007/08)

COMMUNISM VS. RETAILISM
-or-
THE RETAILIST WAY

"i have... i've been to graceland. [short pause] 3 times."

blank, then questionable stares return my gaze. i could read the question on sheils' lips, but it was gags who actually voiced his concern: 

"why?" 

but i'll tell you that story another time... 

My current situation leaves much to be desired, and - or rather, but...

much to the imagination.

I look at the state of politics throughout the world, and wonder: how,,, why is there war? There is logically no reason or necessity for bloodshed and hatred - the world should be utopic by this day and age.

       And then

I see the faces of the people who walk in, and the realisation sinks in. War, strife, famine, greed, ogliarchy - capitalism - it's alive, well, and manifested in the heart of retail.

(ouch. a harsh realisation for a glorious sunday afternoon)               But it's true. 

       Why? WHY!?

What makes one person better than another? 

Here, in retailism, it's the mighty dollar. The dollar rules. The dollar wins. The more dollars you have, the more superior you are enabled to feel - retailism demands this as it's first law. A commandment of sorts, because retailism, too, is a god-fearing entity.

So how is my world hypocritically a vision of utopia? Because despite working for the devil, my world is seen through the rose-coloured glasses of TRAVELISM.

Tra-vûl-iz-im: a conspiracy amongst those who travel in search of experience, and not just alcohol-induced sex on a beach, that the world is actually a place to be explored and discovered for it's beauty and culture. followers of travelism are known for their annoyingly pleasant demeanour, their ability to wear the same clothes more than once on a single trip, and a facial glitch that causes them to twist the outer edges of their mouths in an upward 'u' shape, also known as 'smiling'. 

With travelism, the dollar is not the law. True, the dollar can buy you some comforts, but travelism demands conversation and interaction; an understanding of culture and history... of humanity. In travelism, we are all united and equal. We share the common bond of adventure and a thirst for knowledge mentality. We are all bound to the laws of the unusual, because everything is "not how it's done where I come from". 

And that's why here, in the heart of travelism, your dollars mean squat.