{"id":1140,"date":"2012-11-02T09:59:31","date_gmt":"2012-11-02T16:59:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/?p=1140"},"modified":"2017-01-16T12:31:02","modified_gmt":"2017-01-16T20:31:02","slug":"a-tale-of-two-countries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/uk\/2012\/life\/a-tale-of-two-countries\/","title":{"rendered":"A Tale of Two Countries"},"content":{"rendered":"

With election fever running high with<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Parliament of Canada<\/p><\/div>\n

our southern neighbors, I\u2019m reflecting on how we are different, how we are the same. What happens with the American vote for president affects Canada as well. We are tied together through geography, shared values of freedom and democracy, and similar lifestyles. We watch the same TV programs and the same movies.<\/p>\n

And yet, there are marked differences when it comes to electing our leaders. Our Canadian elections for Parliament<\/a> are over and done with, in a matter of months, many times less than that. The Americans, on the other hand, have been dealing with vicious and untrue campaign ads for over a year. Yesterday, I caught a video\u2014shown during The Daily Show\u2019s moment of Zen\u2014of a little girl saying through tears she didn\u2019t want any more Obama or Romney. She\u2019d had enough. I\u2019d venture to say most of the American population shares her sentiments.<\/p>\n

As for the money that supports this endless campaigning\u2014don\u2019t the incumbents have a country to run?\u2014it\u2019s as if the heavens had opened up and rained dollars. The amount that\u2019s been given by that 1% of the population, the ones who call the shots, has been obscene. When you think of a country whose infrastructure is in bad need of repair\u2014especially now with the aftermath of Sandy\u2014and its debt in the trillions, couldn\u2019t that money have been better spent? Call me naive.<\/p>\n

America is a country where the rich are running scared. They are so worried about losing their yachts, jet planes, three and more luxury homes, that they will do anything to get their guy elected. That guy is Romney. Fox network, controlled by Rupert Murdoch<\/a>, the man who was under investigation in Britain’s phone hacking scandal, is for Romney. It\u2019s the network that dishes the dirt about Obama every chance it gets, and boy, has it been dirty.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

The White House
courtesy of Wikipedia.org<\/p><\/div>\n

It\u2019s hard not to believe that racism isn\u2019t a big part of the story. I\u2019ve seen Barack Obama visibly age in such a short time. I don\u2019t know how he puts up with the abuse from the right. No matter how hard he\u2019s tried, he\u2019s been shot down. He started out his four year term in The White House<\/a>, trying to be a conciliator. He tried to bring the two houses together, but the Republican right wouldn\u2019t have any of it. Even though they\u2019d messed up the country with an unnecessary war in Iraq and crazy concessions to the rich, they were unhappy their man didn\u2019t get in, or was it just because Barack is black?<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve watched with sadness the television coverage of Hurricane Sandy and the horrific damage it caused to New York and New Jersey.\u00a0 I was in New York in the spring; it\u2019s an amazing city with beautiful and friendly people. It\u2019s probably my favorite city in the world. Yesterday, there was more coverage, this time of Staten Island and of a woman searching through the rubble for any reminder of family. She found an old wedding photo that was muddied and wet, and for a brief moment, she was happy. The city needs an undivided America.<\/p>\n

From what I\u2019ve witnessed, Obama has stepped up to the plate time and time again. He did it again with hurricane Sandy. Governor Christie<\/a>, a staunch Republican, praised him and his support for the people of New Jersey. Mayor Bloomberg of New York has now endorsed Obama. \u00a0This president has heart. This president speaks for all the people. Unfortunately, the ones at the top of the food chain don\u2019t like what he has to say. They\u2019re not happy that he wants them to pay more taxes. He just wants them to pay their fair share. Instead of looking around and thinking we have more than enough <\/em>they\u2019re gripping those dollars as tightly as the man with the gold in the fairy tale who in the end gets buried by his own greed. Well, I\u2019m afraid\u00a0 if Obama doesn\u2019t get elected again, wonderful America will no longer be wonderful, It\u2019ll sink because those that have, don’t want to help those who have not. They don’t want a black man at the top telling them they have to give.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s curious that yesterday, the previous president, George W. Bush, was in the Cayman Islands<\/a>, as a keynote speaker at a meeting about offshore investments. If that doesn\u2019t speak volumes about what the Republican party is all about, I don\u2019t know what does.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s praying that the right man gets elected. I\u2019m praying it’s Obama.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

With election fever running high with our southern neighbors, I\u2019m reflecting on how we are different, how we are the same. What happens with the American vote for president affects… <\/p>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[88],"tags":[330,409,78,407,408,410,412,411,405,389,404,406],"class_list":["post-1140","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-life","tag-barack-obama","tag-cayman-islands","tag-diana-stevan","tag-election-fever","tag-george-w-bush","tag-governor-christie","tag-hurricane-sandy","tag-new-york","tag-parliament","tag-romney","tag-rupert-murdoch","tag-the-white-house"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1LuVB-io","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1111,"url":"https:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/uk\/2012\/life\/my-american-neighbours\/","url_meta":{"origin":1140,"position":0},"title":"My American Neighbours","author":"Diana Stevan","date":"12 \u0416\u043e\u0432\u0442\u043d\u044f, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"I wrote about my American neighbours, after a visit to #NYC and the #9\/11 memorial. And at the time of another #election. What I wrote then still fits today.\u00a0 Friendly Americans With the American election fever riding high, I can\u2019t help but think of all the wonderful Americans I've met.\u2026","rel":"","context":"\u0423 "Life"","block_context":{"text":"Life","link":"https:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/uk\/category\/life\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dianastevan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/P11302761-300x252.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":5546,"url":"https:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/uk\/2021\/life\/the-sad-truth\/","url_meta":{"origin":1140,"position":1},"title":"The Sad Truth","author":"Diana Stevan","date":"30 \u0412\u0435\u0440\u0435\u0441\u043d\u044f, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Peace Tower of Canada's parliament lit up in Orange to symbolize what was lost. The toys in the foreground are reminders of the unmarked indigenous children's graves found in Canada. The sad truth is that though today is Canada's First National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, there is still so\u2026","rel":"","context":"\u0423 "Books"","block_context":{"text":"Books","link":"https:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/uk\/category\/books\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dianastevan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/download.jpg?fit=474%2C298&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2118,"url":"https:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/uk\/2015\/theatre-2\/forget-main-street-disneyland-go-to-barkerville\/","url_meta":{"origin":1140,"position":2},"title":"Forget Main Street, Disneyland; Go To Barkerville","author":"Diana Stevan","date":"6 \u041b\u0438\u043f\u043d\u044f, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"I'm suggesting you forget Main street, Disneyland; go to Barkerville.\u00a0I had no idea this gold rush town in the Cariboo, would not only be entertaining, but informative as well. To say that we were thrilled with our recent visit there would be putting it mildly. Rob and I have traveled\u2026","rel":"","context":"\u0423 "Books"","block_context":{"text":"Books","link":"https:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/uk\/category\/books\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Barkerville","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dianastevan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/IMG_6738.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dianastevan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/IMG_6738.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dianastevan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/IMG_6738.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dianastevan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/IMG_6738.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dianastevan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/IMG_6738.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2935,"url":"https:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/uk\/2016\/uncategorized\/freedom-is-what-our-veterans-fought-for\/","url_meta":{"origin":1140,"position":3},"title":"Freedom Is What Our Veterans Fought For","author":"Diana Stevan","date":"10 \u041b\u0438\u0441\u0442\u043e\u043f\u0430\u0434\u0430, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Freedom is what our veterans fought for. The American election reminded us, that in a democracy, we have the right to vote and choose our own leaders. Whether we like the results or not, it's an example of democracy in action. Some didn't like who came out on top, and\u2026","rel":"","context":"\u0423 "Life"","block_context":{"text":"Life","link":"https:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/uk\/category\/life\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dianastevan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/IMG_3158.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dianastevan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/IMG_3158.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dianastevan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/IMG_3158.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dianastevan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/IMG_3158.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dianastevan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/IMG_3158.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6719,"url":"https:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/uk\/2025\/therapy-2\/managing-stress-today\/","url_meta":{"origin":1140,"position":4},"title":"Managing Stress Today","author":"Diana Stevan","date":"24 \u041b\u044e\u0442\u043e\u0433\u043e, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"We've always had stress; so managing stress is part of living whether it's in our families, our workplace, or community. When faced with workplace problems, family conflict, breakups, financial pressures, unexpected illness or loss of a loved one, we need to find ways to manage stress. \u00a9Pete Linforth for Pixabay\u2026","rel":"","context":"\u0423 "Books"","block_context":{"text":"Books","link":"https:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/uk\/category\/books\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"managing stress","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dianastevan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/stress-2902537_1280-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dianastevan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/stress-2902537_1280-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dianastevan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/stress-2902537_1280-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dianastevan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/stress-2902537_1280-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dianastevan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/stress-2902537_1280-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4899,"url":"https:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/uk\/2020\/uncategorized\/americas-u-turn\/","url_meta":{"origin":1140,"position":5},"title":"America’s U-Turn","author":"Diana Stevan","date":"9 \u041b\u0438\u0441\u0442\u043e\u043f\u0430\u0434\u0430, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"It's been exciting to witness and celebrate America's U-Turn. Congratulations to my American friends and family. Watching the recent election turnout, I couldn't help but be impressed by the length Americans took to ensure their vote counted. They stood in line for up to eleven hours. They used the mail-in\u2026","rel":"","context":"\u0423 "Life"","block_context":{"text":"Life","link":"https:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/uk\/category\/life\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dianastevan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/American-flag.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dianastevan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/American-flag.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dianastevan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/American-flag.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dianastevan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/American-flag.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1140","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1140"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1140\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1140"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1140"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1140"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}