"Democracy in America"
I just got done watching one of the absolute best episodes of Northern Exposure. Imh-fannish-o, it should be required viewing for anyone wanting to take part in the electoral process, whether voting, running, or taking part in a campaign. Yes, I realize the problems of the country and the world are bigger than can be addressed here, and that’s not my purpose. Neither is it the purpose of the episode. Rather it is a look at democracy through the microcosm of Cicely, Alaska.
This episode has all the things that make NX so wonderful: Ed is Ed (that’s the only way to describe him) as he faces the responsibility of casting his first ballot; Joel and Maggie are their bickering selves as they approach the election with completely different mindsets; and Maurice is contemplative about the direction Cicely is taking as the result of the mayoral race between Holling, who has served as mayor for twenty-three years, and Edna Hancock, a loner who challenges Holling because Holling never followed through on installing a stop sign she requested.
But the most stirring pieces of the ep come from Chris-in-the-Morning as he expounds on the virtues of the democratic process. Following the election, Chris and Ed are sitting in the radio station talking:
Chris: We did it, Ed. It worked.
Ed: We did?
Chris: Absolutely.
Ed: What worked?
Chris: The grand idea, buddy. The process.
Ed: Huh.
Chris: Ed, we’ve just witnessed a peaceful transition in government. Do you realize how miraculous that is?
Ed: I think so.
Chris: You think so? Listen to me. Despite Russia, despite Germany, the mass of people on this planet still live under the yoke of some autocratic or totalitarian regime. You hear me? Today tiny Cicely, Alaska, stood up and put another "W" in the "win" category for democracy.
Ed: Well, all right!
Chris: Well, all right!
In a following scene, Ed tells Ruth-Anne about how he feels having taken part in his first election. As he describes it, he feels like a man. Something special happened between him and Cicely, and he feels bigger.
In the closing scene, Chris quotes Abraham Lincoln in his closing monologue:
"'We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection.' Lincoln’s words to a divided nation. My counsel to a divided Cicely."
And therein lies much of the beauty of America, for me.
I get so tired of the partisanism that is so rampant in politics. That people can be so arrogant and mean-spirited that they lose sight of the people they are arguing with. I’m not suggesting naiveté or carelessness or compromising principles. But I wish people could disagree without hating or demeaning those they disagree with.
Our system might not be perfect, but it’s the best we’ve got, something to be respected and cherished.
I know I’m not doing the episode justice. Really, you need to see it to know what I’m talking about.
To add to all this patriotic sentiment, I finally feel like I've had a 4th of July. To me, July 4 doesn't feel quite complete without some combination of family picnic, fireworks, and/or viewing 1776. This year, I was in Culpeper, Va. It was kind of an odd day, as I spent a lot of it on my own while George did film-type things for the Culpeper parade. So I didn't get any of the things that make the 4th feel like the 4th for me. But two nights ago, we had my mom and dad over to watch 1776. I've loved that show ever since I worked on a local stage production almost 10 years ago. It brings the personalities to life in a way I never experienced in history class.
God bless America.
This episode has all the things that make NX so wonderful: Ed is Ed (that’s the only way to describe him) as he faces the responsibility of casting his first ballot; Joel and Maggie are their bickering selves as they approach the election with completely different mindsets; and Maurice is contemplative about the direction Cicely is taking as the result of the mayoral race between Holling, who has served as mayor for twenty-three years, and Edna Hancock, a loner who challenges Holling because Holling never followed through on installing a stop sign she requested.
But the most stirring pieces of the ep come from Chris-in-the-Morning as he expounds on the virtues of the democratic process. Following the election, Chris and Ed are sitting in the radio station talking:
Chris: We did it, Ed. It worked.
Ed: We did?
Chris: Absolutely.
Ed: What worked?
Chris: The grand idea, buddy. The process.
Ed: Huh.
Chris: Ed, we’ve just witnessed a peaceful transition in government. Do you realize how miraculous that is?
Ed: I think so.
Chris: You think so? Listen to me. Despite Russia, despite Germany, the mass of people on this planet still live under the yoke of some autocratic or totalitarian regime. You hear me? Today tiny Cicely, Alaska, stood up and put another "W" in the "win" category for democracy.
Ed: Well, all right!
Chris: Well, all right!
In a following scene, Ed tells Ruth-Anne about how he feels having taken part in his first election. As he describes it, he feels like a man. Something special happened between him and Cicely, and he feels bigger.
In the closing scene, Chris quotes Abraham Lincoln in his closing monologue:
"'We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection.' Lincoln’s words to a divided nation. My counsel to a divided Cicely."
And therein lies much of the beauty of America, for me.
I get so tired of the partisanism that is so rampant in politics. That people can be so arrogant and mean-spirited that they lose sight of the people they are arguing with. I’m not suggesting naiveté or carelessness or compromising principles. But I wish people could disagree without hating or demeaning those they disagree with.
Our system might not be perfect, but it’s the best we’ve got, something to be respected and cherished.
I know I’m not doing the episode justice. Really, you need to see it to know what I’m talking about.
To add to all this patriotic sentiment, I finally feel like I've had a 4th of July. To me, July 4 doesn't feel quite complete without some combination of family picnic, fireworks, and/or viewing 1776. This year, I was in Culpeper, Va. It was kind of an odd day, as I spent a lot of it on my own while George did film-type things for the Culpeper parade. So I didn't get any of the things that make the 4th feel like the 4th for me. But two nights ago, we had my mom and dad over to watch 1776. I've loved that show ever since I worked on a local stage production almost 10 years ago. It brings the personalities to life in a way I never experienced in history class.
God bless America.