Some thoughts on electricity
on Anna's Suitcase (Rwanda), 22/Oct/2009 11:00, 34 days ago
So I just HAD to comment on something my parents told me today. Apparently the power went out in a Calgary community for a few hours the other day. The big news of the day was how some people had to open their garage doors ...get this....manually!! That's dreadful.Now, first let me say that I am not being all high and mighty here - it may come across like this - but I'm not. I know that when you are used to something and it fails to work, it sets you off and it's totally annoying. Hey, when my power goes off for the night, the morning, a few days....I get mighty annoyed. What do you mean I have to boil my water on the kerosene stove?? The difference with me and you, I guess, is that I can live without electricity. Rwanda is just set up that way. People don't depend on it. I do like the charge my cell phone and computer but if I can't, then I can't. I get annoyed and move on. I can still cook, eat, drink and clean. The basics for living. North America is not set up for power failure. (Remember the black outs of 2003?) So, it's sort of a bigger deal when the power is out and it inconveniences us. I get that.What I don't get is why that was the news of the day. Someone, please tell me, are there not more important things we should be discussing. I not even saying we need to be all "Oh my God, what's happening in Africa?" but what about politics? Is it true that Conservative ridings are getting more money from the government? What's going on with Rahim Jaffer? How are budget cuts going to affect Alberta schools? And most importantly = is Blue Rodeo really playing at this year's Grey Cup?????Don't get me wrong, I am definitely missing television, my hair straightener and a refrigerator. But maybe, after you've done reading this, turn off your computer and switch off a few lights. Open the curtains and let the sun shine it!!