So I was listening to Michael Savage’s radio show yesterday (don’t ask), when he brought up this recent article in the L.A. Times, entitled “Athens overrated? Yes, and there’s more such travel spots”. I’m guessing what the author might’ve been shooting for is that there ARE more such travel spots. But I digress. Ol’ Mikey seemed rather perplexed by the notion that there could possibly be a reason to, like, go other places, because he likes “his bed” and “his curtains”.
Well shit, Cleetus, I ain’t got no idea why’s anyone would think goin’ to other places wouldn’t be no complete waste of time. What use do I got for fuhrners? Ah don’t wanna leave behind mah freedom fries and “Bless the Troops” car magnet just to go subject mahself to those feckin’ America hatin’ terrorists and their devil talk. They’s probably all a buncha ho-mo-sectuals anyhow.
Why would any self respecting person want to waste their time exposing themselves to different cultures? You have posed a question for the ages, Monsieur Savage.
Might it be to *gasp* learn a thing or two? Expand their worldview? I know, I know… those things are icky and knowledge is dangerous. But bear with me here, my real issue is with the ridiculous twit that wrote the article to which you are referring.
This dude had his own travel series on The Discovery Channel?! WTF mate? His top 5 most overrated “travel spots” are as follows:
- 5. Athens
- 4. Dubai (Thanks for specifying that you’re talking about Dubai, United Arab Emirates, you almost threw me for a loop with that one.)
- 3. Prague (Again, thanks for clarifying which Prague.)
- 2. Moscow
- 1. Paris
What are you, a recent high school graduate from Flyover Country, USA gaining his first glimpse of life outside his own state by “backpacking” through a few highly Westernized European cities? Do you mean to tell me that there are people who do not openly embrace Americans, areas of the world to which a casual jaunt might not be the safest of options, and entire Metropolitan areas in which the general population does not walk around with a perma-smile plastered across their face? Shirley you jest!
These two quotes do a fairly sufficient job of encapsulating the naive absurdity of the entire article:
“There seemed to be an invisible, impenetrable shield between us, and when I tried to break through it, I felt an uneasiness and a sense of mistrust. I didn’t get that vibe in the Westernized parts of town…”
“And my spirit never felt challenged.”
Well fuck me sideways, your spirit never felt challenged! I guess the rest of the world has lost sight of the fact that they, and their cultures, exist primarily for this purpose. That was established as law at Nuremberg, right?
The basic premise of this guy’s otherwise worthless article does have me a bit curious though. Which perennially popular travel spots could you not care less about visiting? I actually might have to toss my hat in the ring with this guy when it comes to Paris. I like the idea of backpacking through France’s countryside and checking out their amazing Gothic Cathedrals in places like Amiens and Chartres, though. Unsanctioned exploration of the Odessa Catacombs in Ukraine? Now we’re talkin’!
(What, you’ve already seen this video eleventy billion times? Too bad.)
