November 5, 2008

• I find hope

  “If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place
  where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our
  founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our
  democracy, tonight is your answer.” — Barack Obama

  It was a beautiful election to watch from my northern fastness. Now I, like so many others around the world, will watch to see if it matters who gets elected president of the United States anymore. Will we feel this shift in our bones, in our lives, around the world? I hope we will.

  Yesterday, when I wasn’t entirely sure how this would come out, I was thinking of Joni Mitchell’s haunting song “The Fiddle and the Drum”:

  And so once again,
  My dear Johnny, my dear friend,
  And so once again you are fighting us all.
  And when I ask you why,
  You raise your sticks and cry, and I fall.
  Oh, my friend, how did you come,
  To trade the fiddle for the drum?

  You say I have turned,
  Like the enemies you’ve earned,
  But I can remember all the good things you are.
  And so I ask you please,
  Can I help you find the peace and the star?
  Oh, my friend, what time is this,
  To trade the handshake for the fist.

  And so once again,
  Oh, America my friend,
  And so once again,
  You are fighting us all.
  And when we ask you why,
  You raise your sticks and cry and we fall.
  Oh, my friend, how did you come,
  To trade the fiddle for the drum.

  You say we have turned,
  Like the enemies you’ve earned,
  But we can remember all the good things you are.
  And so we ask you please,
  Can we help you find the peace and the star?
  Oh my friend, we have all come,
  To fear the beating of your drum.

  Well, I’m not so naive as to expect the death toll to drop anytime soon. But I can’t help wondering if ordinary voting Americans have just politely requested a little more peace and quiet in the world. If that’s so, then I’m a thankful Canadian.

  • 2:56 am
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