Reactions to the 2004 Election / NOTE TO CANADIANS: America is NOT your country.

"crap!" was the understated expletive emailed to me by a Mennonite friend in Pennsylvania. From there the reactions became a bit more visceral. I tried using dispassionate reasoning and suggested to a co-worker that the Democrats try another approach next time - may as well have suggested that he buy a Bible get baptized. Another called all bummed out, not because Bush got elected - though that didn't help, no he was bummed because a Canadian co-worker of his began chewing on his ass as if he was responsible for Bush staying in power. And, why stop when on a roll, then demanded what is going to be done about it. Sheesh, talk about kicking a guy when he's down.

[NOTE TO CANADIANS: America is NOT your country. I know trashing talking the States is a favourite pastime activity - after hockey and smoking weed - but try to put some thought in what you say before you put mouth into gear.]

Aside from the guy being Canadian, his rant as a non-American is troubling on several counts. First, as above, America is not our country. As simple as that sounds many people are overlooking that reality. How many people ragged on Brits and held them personally responsible when Thatcher was re-elected. Or how about Russians and Putin, Aussies and Howard, Iraqis and Saddam... you get the point.

Second, what is this laying it all down at America's feet stuff anyway? I am beginning to understand the impatience many Americans have of outsiders bellyaching and blaming America for everything. What are our governments doing to enact policies that work for a better more peaceful world? If the Bush Administration is not interested in working with the world, then perhaps the world better start getting off its collective butt and find their own solutions. Waiting for a more world-friendly American government may not happen for awhile and sitting on our hands will no longer cut it. Besides, doing nothing will almost certainly ensure that Bush's policies will bleed into our own countries. The world is not static and crying about what America is or isn't doing will not change a damned thing. Countries that are busy getting their own shit together include China, India, Pakistan, Iran and possibly Russia. That does not mean what they are doing is necessarily good, but they certainly are not sleeping as the world shifts.

Third, Bush is not America. Though the propaganda machine is at full tilt in creating this cult of personality, America is more than a single man or ideology. I never had a good grasp of what America means before Bush came to power in 2000, but the exaggerations, misrepresentations, and outright lies against their often perceived enemies (Democrats and garden variety anti-Americans) has helped to burn away the haze surrounding my thinking regarding America. The ideals that make America are indeed attractive to people around the world, even to its critics, and I suppose that is one reason why so many people feel a stake in what happens to America - myself included. But to buy into the myth that Bush is America and then demand answers from American citizens is just wrong-headed. As long people treat Bush as some kind of larger-than-life leader he will continue have a disproportionate effect on our lives. While Americans who oppose Bush regroup and figure out a way to contain him and his policies the rest of us non-Americans need to get busy and pressure our own governments to follow policies that reflect the needs of our own countries. Knee-jerk reactionary responses will only feed the myth that Bush is America.

Now I will get off my high chair... er my high horse. Peace out, man!