It's Texas AND America!

San Antonio
The market place once was where people used to buy the necessary groceries. Now necessity is recognized on nearly the same level as desired for some people. This is found in all the stupid gift shops! I apologize for any harshness, but only a little (I really feel strongly about them). Each one is the same over and over. The stamp on the shirt or shot glass is different with the location’s name is different but that is pretty much it. Yet people continue to buy earnestly. Taking us back once again to consumption! Oh us American’s and the pleasure we seek from buying things. Oh I just go tso excited about this post. It may be long f.y.i.

So today we were in San Antonio. They have the Alamo, remember? They sure hope you won’t so you will want to buy that little trinket so you can remember! Thank goodness for the opportunity to buy a GI Joe from the gift shop of this important place where real people’s blood was spilled for something meaningful…because of that little thing I am certain to “Remember the Alamo!” Whew that’s a big relieve. However don’t let me seem to harsh on only this city, because they all have them. It is one of the things that link them.

Why do people buy this stuff that will wind up in a bag for Goodwill or a yard sale in a few years? I think maybe it is because American’s are so rushed to do stuff and be stuff that they try to find the easiest way for everything. This being true for creating memories of those special times when their loved ones did get to spend time together for a change. When people were happy because, for just little while things seemed okay. Maybe that is because they have escaped into a simulated world or maybe it’s simply because the person beside you was smiling both at you because of their own personal happiness but also because of yours that is shines through a person’s eyes. In our desire to cut down on brain clutter though we buy stuff to initiate a memory instead of having to actively store away in head for a later reference. How sad.

Another thing about the Alamo’s gift shop was it looked so fitting. It blends in beautifully with its surroundings. So a person walks in assuming it is another barrack or something. Then they include a few artifacts just to make sure you take those key first steps into the store. But! I read the signs again and was left with a feeling of confusion and annoyance. This nice building was built with a grant from the government. The very same government that the Daughters of the Republic of Texas claim to not accept money from for the upkeep of this attraction! Then Ken pointed out another sign saying that “the sacred shrine [is to] be saved from the encroachments of commercialism.”! Oh how very contradicting. D.R.T.
There was also the Riverwalk in San Antonio. It is very quaint and pretty. I liked it at least. But it was so strategic I wanted to scream! You are having a nice time meandering down this walk absorbing the various sights and sounds then you actually read the signs as opposed simply smiling about the pretty colors of it. The restaurants aren’t new or special. In fact they are the same ones you can find in any other city or even suburb. Oh look! There is Joe’s Crab Shack and of course the all important Starbucks. So they create something special and unique but not too different. You don’t want to scare away the tourist after all.

Money and commercialism seem to be weaved into everything, very intricately but still there!