What a week, oh what a week.
I want to take a minute to reflect on this past week - stemming from the amazing hope I feel from the Obama inauguation. Its a week to be remembered, as we saw history be made, and already so many amazing things happen.
Where were you on inauguration day? I was listening on the radio, with a couple children trying so hard to be quiet by my side (and not at all understanding the magnitude of what was happening). In my corner of the world, Newfoundland and Labrador, there was much hope, jubilation, excitement, and emotion over Obama. Everyone was talking about it. And while our Canadian history of racism is different in so many ways from American history, the magnitude of seeing the U.S. inaugurate its first Black president is not lost on us.
I am filled with hope in seeing Obama become President.
Much of Canadian identity comes from our American neighbours - in comparing ourselves to the U.S., identifying with them, trying to be like them, and trying not to be like them. There most certainly is an element of Canadian identity (at least in the past) that comes from patting ourselves on the back for all the things Canadian that are decidedly not American. Some of those things might be our history of peacekeeping, public healthcare for everyone, a perception of being less anti-violent and friendlier.
So it is interesting on so many levels to see our identity changing as our country finds itself in political turmoil these last few months (and some might say, years) with a political shift to the Conservative right and away from many of the things that Canadians have previously valued.
The support of Harper (and anti-support) has, i would argue, paralysed our country in numerous ways - and the Harper government has most decidedly been anti-woman and anti-feminist these past few years. With the House resuming on Tuesday and a budget (and possible vote to dismantle the government) coming down, watching the Obama inauguration has left many of us with an enormous sense of hope - and admiration for the U.S. that we may not previously have experienced.
Already Obama has named an end date for Guatanomo Bay, and put a stop to the global gag order on federal overeseas funding on abortions. In his speech he spoke of the unavailability of health care and its costliness, making me wonder if changes might be on the horizion there as well.
I am filled with hope. Hope for Americans, hope for the world, hope for my own country which I have been so disillusioned with these past few years.
Change is coming, and I, for one, welcome it with open arms.
-Artemis
Comments