Common Themes

Traveling the world, seeing different cultures, common themes of humanity emerge.

Religion:
In every single country and every single culture we have seen on our Big Trip, people believe in something for spiritual enlightenment or salvation and relief from earthly suffering.  They invest significant resources for places and spaces for enlightenment and/or worship and/or the afterlife.

The inside of the 700 year old Tlacolula Church

Violence:
In every single country and every single culture we have seen on our Big Trip, people have a history of oppressing each other and/or forcing their personal views or opinions or cultures on people with different views or opinions or cultures.  In some countries and cultures, the violence was hundreds of years ago.  In other countries and cultures, it was tens of years ago.

A reproduction of a Mexico government torture room from the 1970s

Art:
In every single country and every single culture we have seen on our Big Trip, people use art as a vehicle for expressing their world views, bearing witness to history, and/or protesting oppression and violence.

1970s art highlighting institutionalized violence in Mexico

Food:
In every single country and every single culture we have seen on our Big Trip, people savor the flavors and fill their bodies with more than just calories.

Chocolates, chili, and crickets - typical and delicious ingredients for Oaxacan food

Love:
In every single country and every single culture we have seen on our Big Trip, people have hope.  They love each other.  They fill their lives with color and joy.

Our house for two weeks in colorful Oaxaca City

Nadia

Free and Equal

Despite evidence to the contrary all over the world, I strongly believe that every person is born free and equal in dignity and rights.

First part of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, on the wall of the Museum of Memory and Human Rights in Santiago, Chile

In Chile, Augusto Pinochet ruled ruthlessly for almost twenty years.  Thousands of people disappeared.

Photographs of some of the many people "disappeared" during the Pinochet regime

Free speech and opposition to the regime were not allowed.  Art was used widely as a medium for expressing truth.

Traditional Chilean appliqué produced during the 1970's

The president's regime was overthrown by popular vote.  The opposition campaign, which won overwhelmingly, focused on the positive, was very upbeat, and asked people to vote "no" for an extension of the presidential term.

Photograph by Alfredo Jaar, of a billboard from the opposition campaign, asking "are you happy?"

Today, Chile is colorful and hopeful.

The girls in Valparaiso, Chile, sitting in front of a couple of the extremely common murals 

And many Chileans have learned from the past.

A typical weekend city park poster asking us not to forget about the missing Mexican university students.  

If only everyone would respect human rights and give peace a chance... the world would be a better place.  Spread the word.  Open your eyes.  Do what you can.

Nadia