In life, love, politics and creativity we talk about change.
This month, the day after the election in the USA or America as the Europeans say, I had the opportunity to “go abroad” to the UK: Scotland, Wales, and England. What an interesting and exciting experience to view my country through the eyes of others.
The UK papers were full of the election and the changes they were expecting from our government. They expressed great hope for the new president elect Barack Obama, and for the USA, as did our friends and the people we met in the hotels. A Welsh woman made a point of coming over to our breakfast table and saying “We are so excited …how America goes we go.”
In addition to awareness of the results of the long fought and intense political scene from the United States, and the concerns over the falling market, it was a poignant time. It was the 60th Anniversary of the end of World War II. WWII ended the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month when the armistice went into effect. I was not aware that a truce had been agreed upon hours before, but the fighting and killing continued until the ceasefire was called on that11th hour of that infamous day. The Armistice Day ceremonies included the remembrance of WWI and three veterans, each over a 100 years old, from Scotland, Wales and England who served in that war, was there in person to take part in the memorial day remembrance service!
Observing the people in the streets of the UK, seeing them queue up for the bus, walking and shopping for daily supplies brought to mind the stories I have read and the history of these strong dedicated people and a remembrance of my uncles who joined the USA army and air force to put an end to the war of all wars. They looked hearty and purposeful and proud, and it was my delight to be among them. Thinking of the significance of the 11’s, reminded me of our infamous 11th: September 11 when the USA was faced with our own vulnerability.
There have been so many changes in four decades I have been fortunate to travel abroad: the advertisements, the Cell phones, internet, BBC’s 24/7 news, closing global markets, MacDonald’s and other imports bringing us closer together serving as a leveling agent for the man and woman in the street, reminding us of the similarities we all share. We share much in history, wars, treaties, politics and financial strengths and recessions. Witnessing news reports of the world leaders gathering in Washington D.C. for a Summit meeting while I was in England made a startling reality to the books and articles we read and continue to read about the Holocaust, Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan,
Change yes, there are many changes, and still more to come, Let us learn from our shared pasts, learning from our mistakes and face the new challenges and changes with new hope for a better world. May our new leaders seek the right advice, make the right choices, look for creative solutions and find the changes necessary for America to continue to be a strong beacon of hope for ourselves and the world that looks to us.
This is Hedria writing to you from her plane returning home to the USA.
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Posted by: Spanish language program in Spain | May 20, 2011 at 09:04 AM