![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
Right now I've got the song Kimi no Kioku on repeat - it's the ending credits song of Persona 3 FES, for those not in the know. I won't blather on yet again about that silly game and the emotional state it puts me in, but I will say that hearing that song at the end, it's like reaching the end of a long journey. Hours upon hours turned into days, weeks, months. And, then there's this song, this hopeful song, this slightly sad song, but this song that tells you, "You are here. You made it. You can breathe now."
That's how I feel about the presidential election. I think about it, I think about the right person winning despite the very real barriers such as race, name, and ugly rumours, and it makes me - dare I say it? - proud of my neighbours to the south. I love the idea of being very alive in a time where we can break away from stupid things like racism and questioning someone just on gender or race, or feeling the need to buy into the malicious lies spread by some who are less willing to see what's happening than others. I feel like, for once, I actually want to be part of the human race. As much as I loathe to bring up my own personal issues, anyone who knows me knows I've been through a lot of shit these past few years, and my faith in humanity has been slowly dwindling to nothing. This is me saying, "Okay, human race, I'll keep you for the next four years. DON'T FUCK IT UP."
Self-important? Likely. But I'm beyond caring about that.
I also know it's not my country - but it might as well be. America is the most powerful country in the world, and without its camaraderie, Canada likely would have very little. If Canadian political leaders have proven anything, it is that they value their relationship with the U.S. so much they will do anything to keep it. Including promising thousands of soldiers to the very stupid cause of invading Iraq. Well, fine. If I can't count on my own government to be sensible to our needs (which I usually can, I won't lie), I'll have to trust that the American government will get it right. With George W., it was clear that was never going to happen. But with Sen. Obama - sorry, President Obama - I feel a bit safer. He'll protect his own citizens, and by extension, protect ours. Because, I can't live in fear of the day some anti-American terrorist realises what a sitting duck we are, and decides to attack us as a show of strength. I've been mentally preparing myself for that day since 11 September, and I'm exhausted.
Whether I like it or not, Canada's fate is tied to the U.S.'s. I might have whinged about it, once. Now, all I can do is hope for the best. It's nice to feel like my hopes are finally being recognised.
Note how I did not attribute the song to saying, "Everything is going to be better now," because, well, it's not. I have fears, too. Fears of some asshole deciding he really isn't ready for a bi-racial president and deciding to do something about it. I'm not going to go into great detail about my religious beliefs here but I will say, even though I don't believe in the Christian God, I'm still flinging my prayers - yes, prayers - to every corner and hoping some deity out there will listen.
Okay, President Obama. You've been handed a country in a less than impressive state, and the majority of then population are putting themselves in your hands. Do what George W. wasn't able to do - be the one who ushes The United States into a better place. Be the one they're going to be talking about for years, and not because of your colour.
I've not mentioned Etienne to any of you before, but he's a long time friend of the family who I knew as a kid. He attended the ROMC, and as a result, was shipped out to Iraq six months ago. (For those unfamiliar, the ROMC is a military school that'll pay your entire tuition as long as you serve in the military for as many years as you attend school.) The reason I haven't talked about him is, other than when the Canadian death toll climbs higher in Iraq, I try not to think about him too much. This is someone I've known all my life, someone who I've had baby pictures taken with. He could die at any time. I can't persevere in everything else if I'm constantly being afraid the person who taught me how to use an SNES will be brought home in a box. And, it never seemed like anyone else's business. We're not the best of friends. I haven't seen him in over two years.
None of that matters, though. He was someone I cared very deeply about, once, and he has to come home. Not for me, but for his girlfriend, for his parents, for his little sister. Every time someone dies for this stupid war, they're leaving behind people who love them. This is a grave injustice that could be made right.
You don't have to be an American to know how much the last eight years have failed on a monumental scale. But the next four years could be great.
The only thing I regret about this election, is that I won't be alive in a hundred years to read the history books.
That's how I feel about the presidential election. I think about it, I think about the right person winning despite the very real barriers such as race, name, and ugly rumours, and it makes me - dare I say it? - proud of my neighbours to the south. I love the idea of being very alive in a time where we can break away from stupid things like racism and questioning someone just on gender or race, or feeling the need to buy into the malicious lies spread by some who are less willing to see what's happening than others. I feel like, for once, I actually want to be part of the human race. As much as I loathe to bring up my own personal issues, anyone who knows me knows I've been through a lot of shit these past few years, and my faith in humanity has been slowly dwindling to nothing. This is me saying, "Okay, human race, I'll keep you for the next four years. DON'T FUCK IT UP."
Self-important? Likely. But I'm beyond caring about that.
I also know it's not my country - but it might as well be. America is the most powerful country in the world, and without its camaraderie, Canada likely would have very little. If Canadian political leaders have proven anything, it is that they value their relationship with the U.S. so much they will do anything to keep it. Including promising thousands of soldiers to the very stupid cause of invading Iraq. Well, fine. If I can't count on my own government to be sensible to our needs (which I usually can, I won't lie), I'll have to trust that the American government will get it right. With George W., it was clear that was never going to happen. But with Sen. Obama - sorry, President Obama - I feel a bit safer. He'll protect his own citizens, and by extension, protect ours. Because, I can't live in fear of the day some anti-American terrorist realises what a sitting duck we are, and decides to attack us as a show of strength. I've been mentally preparing myself for that day since 11 September, and I'm exhausted.
Whether I like it or not, Canada's fate is tied to the U.S.'s. I might have whinged about it, once. Now, all I can do is hope for the best. It's nice to feel like my hopes are finally being recognised.
Note how I did not attribute the song to saying, "Everything is going to be better now," because, well, it's not. I have fears, too. Fears of some asshole deciding he really isn't ready for a bi-racial president and deciding to do something about it. I'm not going to go into great detail about my religious beliefs here but I will say, even though I don't believe in the Christian God, I'm still flinging my prayers - yes, prayers - to every corner and hoping some deity out there will listen.
Okay, President Obama. You've been handed a country in a less than impressive state, and the majority of then population are putting themselves in your hands. Do what George W. wasn't able to do - be the one who ushes The United States into a better place. Be the one they're going to be talking about for years, and not because of your colour.
I've not mentioned Etienne to any of you before, but he's a long time friend of the family who I knew as a kid. He attended the ROMC, and as a result, was shipped out to Iraq six months ago. (For those unfamiliar, the ROMC is a military school that'll pay your entire tuition as long as you serve in the military for as many years as you attend school.) The reason I haven't talked about him is, other than when the Canadian death toll climbs higher in Iraq, I try not to think about him too much. This is someone I've known all my life, someone who I've had baby pictures taken with. He could die at any time. I can't persevere in everything else if I'm constantly being afraid the person who taught me how to use an SNES will be brought home in a box. And, it never seemed like anyone else's business. We're not the best of friends. I haven't seen him in over two years.
None of that matters, though. He was someone I cared very deeply about, once, and he has to come home. Not for me, but for his girlfriend, for his parents, for his little sister. Every time someone dies for this stupid war, they're leaving behind people who love them. This is a grave injustice that could be made right.
You don't have to be an American to know how much the last eight years have failed on a monumental scale. But the next four years could be great.
The only thing I regret about this election, is that I won't be alive in a hundred years to read the history books.
Current Mood: 
relieved
relievedCurrent Music: "Kimi no Kioku," from the Persona 3 OST
6 comments | Leave a comment
quixotic