Looking for love in all the wrong places? Stop it already . This holiday season, if, when you visit your family, your grandma announces that she's going on a cruise with friends, tackle her. While she's laid out on the floor amazed at your nerve, go search her room. Do a thorough search; don't be fooled by the neat and orderly appearance of the room. If you don't find anything, breathe a sigh of relief and blame your actions on the tryptophan and booze cocktail you just imbibed. Your granny will forgive you, trust me. If you do find something, namely condoms and skimpy beachwear, then it's time to stick your thumb in your mouth, lie down on the floor, and curl up into the fetal position. Being in that position will allow you let a somber realization sink in: your good ole' granny and her geriatric pals are going to be cruising alright--they are going to be cruising for sex. If you want, you can take relief in the fact that they won't be the only ones, as women from around the industrialized world -- the U.S., Britain, Canada, Ireland -- frequently travel looking for sex with hot younger men. Their travels take them around the world to the sandy beaches and blue, blue oceans of the Caribbean; resorts along Turkey's Anatolian peninsula; the red earthen shores of Kenya; and the tropical climate of Southeast Asia. The women who engage in sexual tourism are quick to say that they aren't doing anything wrong. The women get what they want -- a good time. And the men get what they want -- financial restitution. In that respect, according to women who in engage in sex tourism, their relationships are a symbiotic form of exploitation. And just like their colonial forefathers these women are out to spread a message to the lesser nations. However, instead of religion, democracy, capitalism or anything remotely beneficial, these modern-day ambassadors, who have benefited from all that the west has to offer, are spreading hedonism. As hedonists, these women don't care about anything but themselves. And they are teaching men in developing nations to adopt a "me first" attitude. And if "I" want something, whether it is sex or material wealth, "I" should get it. No wonder many developing nations have out-of-control rates of sexually transmitted diseases. It's not because developing nations aren't hearing the western message of abstinence and protection. It's because the message they are hearing is clouded with doublespeak. On the one hand, westerners are telling them to practice abstinence and use protection. Then at the same time western nations are telling them they are willing to pay for sex. Conflicting messages indeed. Can someone please say what they mean and mean what they say? Otherwise, evils like sexual tourism will always exist and the poor will always be victimized by the rich because money and sex are the two lubricants of life. POSTED BY tifforr@gmail.com (Tiffany) AT 3/23/2008 6:41 AM 0 COMMENTS » POST A COMMENT  |  DIGG IT « BACK HOME ABOUT ME Welcome to the Tiff Spot, where we take a look at what's going on in the news ... just in case you missed it. This is as much my forum as it is your forum, so feel free to say whatever you want. If you need something, e-mail me. tifforr@gmail.com RECENT POSTS The money's in the bag or what NOT to do at the airport Fear of a black nation: Is the United States ready for a black president? Subscribe in a reader