Claiming the Right to Say No-30 Nov 09-EQUATIONS - Equitable ...

Theologizing Tourism: Towards a Pastoral Care of Tourism
2). This attitude can definitely change the state of women in tourism
industry.
Jesus neither condemned nor encouraged the act of the woman, caught
up in adultery, but He motivated her to live a good life there after (John
8:11). Tourism industry cannot be a place where women are accustomed
to lose their dignity but a place where their dignity is maintained and also
enhanced.
Mother Mary, the Woman of the Bible, is the most complete expression of
the dignity and the vocation woman. Thus stands out as the perfect model
for women in both motherhood and virginity (ND 723). Tourism industry
can be a family in which both the religious sentiments as well as the other
interests of the women are not only respected and appreciated but are
also promoted. There by assisting them to be women unto Mary.
As women, a child too is a delicate victim of tourism. Tourism can make the
life of children, sour and tasteless. Childhood is a time that a child easily
relishes, and adults who have enjoyed this age of childhood miss it in
their later phase of life. Tourism has brought with it evils like child labour,
trafficking and sexual exploitation.
A child is a blessing to a family and it also gives social prestige to the
parents. The children are innocent, ignorant and dependent and so they
need all type of support, especially from their close ones. A child is also a
beautiful gift of God and so needs the touch and the experience of God.
Jesus welcomed children, blessed and loved them. He already identified
and respected them as members of Gods Kingdom (Mt 19:14-15). Jesus
presented children as models for our living (Mt 18:2-3). Though they are
small yet they are great, and though they are humble yet they inspire the
humans to live life that is pleasing in God’s sight. Their humility and
simplicity are to be respected and not to be abused. Tourism industry
needs to restrain from exploiting children and should maintain their status
as models for all humankind to enter into God’s presence.
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