Pace on Earth

Us and Them

I've mentioned previously that I am a little bit guilty about having paid more attention to US election than I did to ours. I'm over that now. Our election was never really in doubt and our system maybe a little better equipped to keep our leaders from driving us over a cliff. More importantly, most importantly, the fact is if we drive over a cliff we don't take the rest of the world with us. That's why the US election has been so fascinating and engrossing.

The world is turning a hopeful eye towards America. This is nothing new but the game has changed somewhat. America has historically been the promised land, a land of opportunity, of innovation and most of all freedom. There is a real sense around the world that it still is a land of opportunity (immagrants still arrive in droves) but inside and outside it's borders the innovation and freedom ideals appear to have been subverted. To the outside world there appears to be one clear choice in this election. To the outside world the fact that Americans might not see it the same way is scary. People in Bangor are voting for different reasons than why people are watching in Berlin but they carry that weight. That's the deal when you've made yourself the most powerful nation in the world. With power comes responsibility.

No election in my lifetime has meant as much to the psyche of the world. I hope we are on the same page here.

Pace out.

posted by Vitamin S @ 5:27 p.m.