KATMANDU, Nepal
— In 2004, the morning after George W. Bush’s re-election as president of the United States, Europeans staying at our Buddhist monastery guesthouse were dismayed. “How could you? How could America do this to the world?” they asked reproachfully.
Earlier this month, the mood was quite different at the same guesthouse — more relieved than exhuberant. Other guests and the staff — Nepali and Tibetan — had carefully asked for days what Americans thought would happen at the election, and gravely discussed alternatives.
When it became clear that Barack Obama was the winner, it was like a quiet sigh of relief. The Americans were congratulated, no matter which way they had voted. Everyone considered this a new beginning, not just for America, but for the world. “We won,” the young man from Sweden said softly.
Hope — for a new beginning — was the catalyst.
America’s role in the world has been badly damaged over the past eight years, but we are still seen as a nation of leadership, of power, of doing things right. In times of natural disasters, or man-made catastrophes, the USA usually offers the helping hand.
Still, some groups and nations hate us.
But for many more, America remains the land of opportunity, where life can be better. Or American influence will help things be better in other countries. It’s a heady challenge.
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A passing thought on the election: Isn’t it time we do away with the electoral system and have the popular vote be the decision? And is there a brave soul who would have the courage to work to limit campaign time? Eighteen months is too long, too wearying, too expensive. Why not pass a law that campaigning could not begin before Jan. 1 of an actual presidential election year? And let’s limit the amount of campaign dollars to be spent. This was the most expensive presidential campaign in history, with all candidates raising more than $1 billion, according to the Center for Responsible Politics. Other nations have set such limits, so it is possible.
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In the midst of America’s financial turmoil, it’s stunning to read that over the past 20 years the U.S. has created the largest gap between the wealthiest and poorest, particularly large since 2000 (surpassed only by Mexico and Turkey). No wonder we’re in such a mess.
This day after Thanksgiving, we should recall that about 691,000 children in America went hungry sometime in 2007, more than 60 percent above 2006’s number. Nationally, 36.2 million adults and children overall struggled with hunger last year. Generous year-end charity donations are needed.
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There’s another reality-check in Nepal — load-shedding, or rolling blackouts, as we call it in the U.S. There’s not enough electricity to meet the needs, so twice a day, four or five hours each time, different hours every day, there’s no electricity. It’s surprising how fast you adapt. The first night or two, you may grumble, but soon, if it’s in the evening, you light a candle or a battery-powered fluorescent lamp. More often it’s easier just to go to bed. By February, the load-shedding is to go from 10 hours daily to 17 hours, which I can’t even imagine.
Some of my neighbors, south of Cheesman Park, would have a hard time with any electrical limits. Relatively recent newcomers seem to share a great affection for very bright outdoor lights — all night, or even 24 hours. It’s as if they ignore, or don’t care about, reports of power shortages, of conservation, of global warming. You’d think their electrical bills would give some indication. And if the night lights are for security, wouldn’t motion-detector lights be more effective — and less costly?
They light up the night.
And erase the stars.
An article in the November National Geographic, “The end of night, why we need darkness,” gives a vivid explanation of the world’s many problems as we light it up.
Joanne Ditmer has been writing on environmental and urban issues for The Post since 1962.
