Wednesday, Manchester, New Hampshire

It was fifty-two years ago this week that Disneyland Opened outside Los Angeles, California. And since then a half billion people have visited this American wonder. Walt Disney knew how to tap into the subconscious desires of middle class Americans longing for an escape in the aftermath of the cataclysmic World War they had just endured. For this greatest generation, now was the time to retreat from the horrors of world conflict and live the life of peace and prosperity they felt was their due after fighting the forces of intolerance.

Into this space came Disney who devised an ingenious park environment that was not merely a collection of amusement rides, but an entire world designed to separate the visitor from their daily routines - the angst of human living and memories of war. Since its opening the park was an instant success and has since come to represent the fantasy escape for every American. And while the place focues on the fantasies of children, it is actually the adults who are in greatest need of what Disneyland offers.

The original Disneyland consisted of several separate themes:

- Main Street USA which replicated the simplicity of an early MidWestern town
- Adventureland featuring the exotic sights and sounds of an African jungle
- Frontierland that illustrated an old West town
- Fantasyland brought fantasies to real life
- Tomorrowland giving us a glimpse into the future

Central to the park’s success were the characters created by the Disney company. They are by now all iconic symbols of America:

Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, Minnie Mouse, Chip & Dale, and on and on. Visitors interact with the characters and are able to lose themselves in the world of the Magic Kingdom.

It is a dark tribute to this iconic institution that we recently learned that radical Islamic Jihadists have been using Mickey Mouse himself as a tool for propaganda, teaching children to hate America. It indicates that the very identity of Disneyland has come to represent the blessed lifestyle Americans lead in the eyes of those from around the world who resent us. What they miss, of course is the fact that Disneyland is not fundamentally a symbol of American excess. It is rather a living illustration of our need to escape!

For more on this anniversary and the history of Disneyland, CLICK HERE