Nothing says comforting breakfast food like doughnuts and a cup of joe; often doughnuts are associated with western society. It is hard to say why the doughnut became so popular in the west; our glutinous appetites and capitalist views may have played a role. We may have capitalized the doughnut, but cultures the world over have deep fried pastries similar to our doughnuts: Gulab Jamun (India), Fritole (Italy), Bismark (Germany), Paczki (Poland), Awwamaat (Lebanon). It is strange how often you find culinary similarities amongst our fellow nations and even more strange in the case of doughnuts is the fact that most of these fried dough’s are spherical or circular. Some may call it a co inky dink, shared consciousness, or six degrees of separation; I would call it common sense. There is a philosopher and anthropologist by the name of Joseph Cambell who has spent his entire life studying and comparing the myths of the world, using the psyche of the individual he brings to light a unified conscious world, gaya if you will. In the interview “The Power Of The Myth” with Bill Moyers, Joseph goes into greater detail on his views and explains the significance of the circle in the cultures of the world. Check it out! <br />We are all a part of the same species (homo sapiens) we like to separate ourselves from other people of the world because they are un known and alien to us but they, no, we all have consciousness and are capable of stringing together thoughts into an idea and of executing that idea. It is entirely possible that any one of our brilliant thoughts has already been thought by someone else on this planet and even scarier! they may have even formed an idea and executed it. Until we can change our perceptions to be able to accept these others not necessarily agree just accept that on a fundamental level they are no different than us we will never find piece. Just think if we share a taste for greasy spheres of sweet leavened dough (doughnuts) what else might we have in common. Any and all activities carried out within a society i.e. baking are done in regards to cultural norms that serve as guide lines. Forgive me for grasping at this metaphor but if doughnut is to culture as culture is to its members than can I conclude that the world may at long last reach a state of peace if doughnuts where present at every U.N. meeting and negotiation alike. <br />

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