The Innocence Method

I like to think that I’m aware, at least as aware as the average person, of the downside of our traditions and culture in the United States. People from Europe and other regions of the world criticize “Americans” for a variety of things, and I would say that some of these criticisms are quite valid.

And, I can’t help noticing something interesting about one of those criticisms in particular. Our culture is often denigrated for being overly commercial, too concerned with selling things. And yet as I’ve traveled pretty extensively across the United States and in Europe, my observation is that only in European airports is it impossible to reach one’s gate without passing through the shopping area.

That’s right; in every U.S. airport I’ve been through, if you prefer you can pass by all the shops and go directly to the gate where your airplane is waiting. In most (and here I’m hedging my bet, so to speak) of the airports in Europe, after going through passport control and security, the only way to reach an airplane is to walk directly through at least one store, surrounded by perfume and makeup, candies, whisky, vodka, and trinkets of every imaginable — and unimaginable — sort.

I just find this interesting.