Journal 1

                I believe the importance of Gaudium et Spes in regards to travel writing, would have to be the idea of money and the large difference of such across the world. Obviously to travel requires money, and let us face it, there are some countries, and those within it whom do not have the money needed to travel to places which they desire. There was an idea which Rick Steves said in his video which really seemed fitting to me. It was the idea that citizens of our countries spend more money on diet products in one day, than which some countries spend in one week on food for one person. When you think of this, then obviously citizens of our country are going to have more money to invest in let us say a trip to Europe. Money is simply not a concern for the people of our country, whether we have the money or not, access to credit cards, and excess amounts of debt allow us to live well beyond our means, and to satisfy even the most exotic endeavors. However, considering how blessed those of us are who are able to partake in such endeavors, I feel it is their responsibility to write about their experience while traveling, hence the phrase, travel writing. Travel writing gives the rest of us, who are unable to afford such travels the chance to see what else is out there, and depending on the author’s descriptive writing abilities, the chance for readers to have a second hand experience about the travels which they are unable to partake in.

Reading about what you are able to do based on income gives the notion that people are not only separated by economic class, but also by who they are as people. This notion can branch off a million ways, but most importantly we must understand that when looking at this idea from a religious aspect we must understanding that we are bound by moral conscious to help those less fortunate than us. The idea must be identified and remembered that economic class does not justify the type of person that you are. In addition to that we must also remember that travel writing is not only limited to the idea that you about trips that you go on, but also experiences, hardships, jobs, and other stories about people’s lives would also classify. Essentially we must always remember that, we all have a story to tell.