Elections and Dog Sleds

This morning as I was preparing to go out, a very funny segment followed the News, which, of course, featured the US elections even though it was a Canadian station. Naturally, everybody up here pays attention or should pay attention to what happens down there because, when the elephant sneezes, we all feel strangely compelled to blow our frigid and runny woolly mammoth trunks. Anyway, while I was yet rejoicing over the Dem's gains (so sue me – cause ya won't get much), I was soon moved to mirth.

Aside: once upon a time, a funny Canadian, Rick Mercer, took a film crew down there and caught various American reactions to absurd Canadian situations on tape. He managed to get one governor (from Georgia maybe) to believe that our parliament buildings were a big igloo. Other things: he induced many to congratulate us for getting our first university; others to condemn our practice of putting seniors on ice floes; and, there was something about a petition to have Canada switch to a 24 hour day from our present 20 hours … and so on. My memories are dim and vague now and, probably iffy, but you get the idea. Later, it is reported that an American crew tried to do a similar thing here, but, of course, it didn't work because, as I said, we more or less have to pay attention.

Regardless, the excerpt which I heard this morning was done by Americans to Americans. The question was something like, "Do you believe that Barack Obama is a threat to the US?" Of course, every interview that they played was affirmative. Apparently, Mr Obama is perceived to be a most dangerous threat, indeed! Naturally, the respondents thought the question referred to O_amasomethingorother, and the answers were hilarious. I was busy getting ready to go out, so my attention wasn't the keenest, but I do recall one follow-up question: "Do you consider yourself to be an intelligent person?" Of course, the interviewee did because she had her doctorate, doncha know?

Mind you, we're not as superior as I'd like to think up here in the frozen tundra. Personally, although I did stay up to catch some election results last night and was keen to receive an update this morning, I contritely confess that I only know of Barack because I saw him on Oprah not very long ago. And … we had a furnace repairman here this morning. Would you believe that he had no clue about American elections going on or what they meant? No clue at all. So, when I said that we pay more attention up here in the great white north, I guess you can take it with a grain canoe-load of … well, would you believe beaver pelts?

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to hitch the dog team up to the sled for our 20 mile trek into the fur trading post for milk, bread and the newspaper, which is written in cuneiform … on birch bark. But you knew that, didn't you?