Dear America,

"Individualism, at first, only saps the virtues of public
life; but in the long run it attacks and destroys all
others and is at length absorbed in selfishness."
~ Alexis de Tocqueville

America,
we used you for your highways we snuck accross your
bridges at night we told the customs officer we were driving
through and were immediately struck by the subtle differences
in road signs your billboards selling giant guns and value
judgements against abortion
still other billboards lurked unlit waiting to strike.

America,
your gas stations were a bit too big and
your coffee really was awful and your flag gives
me the creeps America the Canadian flag is silly but
this is the great empire your flag is a war standard
ours the result of some committee of parliament.

America,
I worry that my blue hair will get me beaten
and if I eat too many fries and drink too much coke
I will become fat like the men at your gas stations.

America,
I thought we could pass through easily
but the trees that line the highway hang high and
it rained all night long as we passed through
unincorporated towns with gas station signs on fifty
foot poles and all your red white blue logos.

America,
we broke your speed limits in the dark
but didn't make it through before the sun came up
and in the day I came to realize that states like
Michigan Minnesota and North Dakota are not so
different from Canada
I still think you should take down all your flags
and get out of Iraq.

With love,

Dave

P.S. Thanks for the jerky and the public radio
program about British Muslims.