Fear v. Hope in Ohio (Again)

Like you need more video of willfully-ignorant Ohioans to make your Friday fun, right? Will these people honour the office of the President of the United States of America when Barack Obama wins?

(Video courtesy BlueOhioan).

And at this point it might be useful to reiterate why it is that a Canadian, who has an election of his own (next week) to worry about, is so (seemingly) obsessed with the election of his neighbo(u)r to the south…

The United States of America is not just Canada’s neighbour but its biggest commercial trading partner, and it’s inevitable that every twitch and swelling south of the border will be felt here. It’s felt in our economy and our culture. It’s felt in our politics, too, as every swerve to the right in America is met with a kinder, gentler — but no less distressing — swerve to the right in Canada. What happens in America does not stay in America, it’s felt by the whole world, Canada (perhaps) most of all.

I have family in America, friends in America, associates in America and even some much-loved ex-boyfriends (and consorts!) in America. The outcome of this U.S. election profoundly affects me as a Canadian, as a citizen of the world and as someone who’s invested (on many levels) in many people in the United States.

See?

It matters. A lot.