Borderland Melody

This image continues the “Between Friends” series I began some months ago.

The fence post is situated on the border between Canada and the US. I am taking the image from the Canadian Side and looking into the US.

There is a peace and beauty in this shot that demonstrates the historical relationship of peace and harmony between our two countries.

However, the last few months have created concerns once again that the relationship is not as solid as one would hope. I have read a number of stories where Canadians are being denied entry at the US Border. In one situation, a woman was returning to her work in the US. The action of the Border Guards has effectively denied her ability to earn a living. The company she works for, is taking legal action, but as we all know these things take more time that she will have.

Another incident involved a person with HIV. The law being used, is before the senate, and was made before much, if anything was known about HIV. Hopefully it will be repealed. But the point is, that there appears to be a change at the border that concerns me. And I wish these were the only situations that I have become aware of. Unfortunately they are not.

When I began this series, I spoke about the need of the Borerlanders to stick together, and to work within their limited spheres to ensure that the relationships between our countries would remain strong and friendly. With the developments of the last number of months, I fear that it has eroded even further.

It concerns me greatly, that the US will soon require all persons entering their country to be finger printed. (In this case scanned, but the effect is the same). It is not this action in isolation that is disturbing, but rather the sum total of all actions which affect the very lives of US citizens and potentially moves them towards living in controlled police state. The image that continues to return to me again and again, is George Orwell’s book “1984”. While his dates were wrong, the picture that he created in this fiction work, appears to be coming true, not only in the US of course, but around the world.

I suppose the question we need to ask ourselves is this....Do we want to live in a world like Orwell described, or do we need to make other choices? Only history will give us the answer. But it continues to be my hope that the answer lies in friendship and relationship....not in insular actions.

At some point I would like to continue this series of images from the US side. Given the changes that are happening in the relationship, I wonder if that will be possible.

From my perspective we, as Borderlands people, are in danger of losing something of great value. It is my sincere hope, that I am wrong.