Poll Time! Which new country pavilion at Epcot?

[Flavita]

@blueridgeshoes

Greece

Yes!! Greece!

[Jeff_AZ]

Great suggestion!

Also welcome to the forum!

[Jeff_AZ]

It’s funny to hear that others weren’t particularly interested in Brazil because the Olympics there made me really interested in visiting! Rio is such a beautiful city. It was a great games.

[Flavita]

@Flavita

turkey

Oh, Turkey or Lebanon would be interesting too… or would those be too similar to Morocco?

[janamelia]

Opposite ends of the Mediterranean.

And Turkey straddles Europe and Asia.

edited to add: Iran used to be Persia

[Jeff_AZ]

@Flavita

Turkey

The Hagia Sophia would be so cool to have at Epcot. But maybe it’s just cause it reminds me of something out of Star Wars.

[ScottFL]

@Jeff_AZ

reminds me of something out of Star Wars

Wow, what a coincidence.

[katielouhou]

@Jeff_AZ

The elephant in the room for some countries is that their political situation is problematic. Russia is a prime example at the moment (can you imagine if there was Russia pavilion right now?), though China’s human rights abuses also come to mind.

I think it also depends on the relevance of the problematic political situation at the time of the planning/building of the pavilion. I think if issues/tensions with China had been as prevalent in the minds of the general public back when the pavilions were being planned it might not have happened. Like I don’t think Russia has a snowballs chance in hell. But because the China pavilion already existed without controversy, it started that way in our mind and we’re somewhat able to compartmentalize that now and continue to enjoy the pavilion. I also think it slightly depends how involved the government of the country in question would be with building and running the pavillion. Like the Morocco government used to completely run the pavillion, and had their own people come in to help design and build it, which wasn’t the case for all of them. A lot of Chinese or Russian government involvement now would get a lot of blowback, but I’m honestly not sure how involved the China pavilion is

[Bubblez]

@ScottFL

Wow, what a coincidence

[Flavita]

@janamelia

Iran used to be Persia

Yes!! Imagine a pavilion dedicated to Persian cats!!!

[katielouhou]

@Flavita

or would those be too similar to Morocco?

Nope, those two would be closer to the true Middle East I mentioned. More Lebanon than Turkey, since Turkey is also sort of European, but I think they’d be different enough from Morocco

[ScottFL]

@Jeff_AZ

for some countries is that their political situation is problematic

@katielouhou

depends on the relevance of the problematic political situation at the time of the planning/building of the pavilion

On the other hand, one of the purposes of a world’s fair was to extend beyond political differences.

[ScottFL]

@Flavita

dedicated to Persian cats!

No

[katielouhou]

@ScottFL

one of the purposes of a world’s fair was to extend beyond political differences.

I’m not so sure that’s possible in the world we live in now

[ScottFL]

@katielouhou

not so sure that’s possible

My point is that sometimes we should. (I can’t believe that this is actually coming out of my brain but) sometimes the world is about more than politics.

[katielouhou]

Should yes. But unlikely in this particular circumstance

[ScottFL]

@katielouhou

unlikely in this particular circumstance

Yes, because it’s a commercial enterprise, not an altruistic endeavor.

[katielouhou]

Precisely

[Bubblez]

I agree with all of this (you talking about the political climate and reception).

I actually try to ignore the leadership of the countries and focus on the ways of the people and the land instead. Dictators/regimes come and go, but the culture is rich and intriguing and I can’t get enough of the history. I will probably never be able to visit China/Thailand/Russia/North Korea etc, but I’m fascinated with how they live and adapt. What their land is like, the food they eat. All of it. I just can’t stand the leadership.

[Bubblez]

Also, what you guys just said.

I’m apparently too chatty today.