The center of the country
Ottawa, ON, August 2006
The Parliament Buildings are home to Canada's elected government. They are the spiritual focal point of the country, the place you come to when you want to understand how democracy works in this country. Canadians are somewhat reserved when it comes to expressing their sense of patriotism. But when you walk around Parliament Hill, you can almost feel the pride that folks have in these tangible icons of the country.
This was our kids' first-ever visit to Ottawa. We had stopped here for a couple of days on our way home from Montreal. Our youngest son kept craning his neck, trying to see to the top of this structure, the Peace Tower, that is the most prominent feature of Centre Block. He was six at the time, obviously impressed by the sheer presence of these structures.
He was also hungry and cranky at the time, and wouldn't let me take his picture. So I did the next best thing by trying to capture the scene from his perspective.
Your turn: What do you see when you crane your own neck and take in this scene. Look deeply and think big.
i love the very name. peace tower. i keep telling my husband that Canada would be such a nice place to live. i like that even the central government is about peace not war and power. i am an average patriotic american. my husband is a sevice connected veteran. my older son won some odd patriotism coloring contest a few years ago. we support troops but not war, you know the routine. still and all that, Canada would be such a nicer place to live. peace tower. how cool is that.
ReplyDeleteGreat photo. I haven't been to Ottawa but having visited a few other countries "seat of power" (London and Tianenman Square) I surprised myself at the reverence I felt for other people's culture. To me Tianenman had meant Riots, nothing else, but when you go there the sense of awe that every person in that coutry feels for the "sacred" ground is inspiring, and a littel scary.
ReplyDeleteLove your last line! It's seemingly innocuous "suggestions" (imperatives?) like this, that motivate me to linger a little longer, think a bit more contemplatively.
ReplyDeleteWhat do I see? Endless possibility...the sky's the limit, which means no limit, really.
Awesome shot....the top of the arch seems to be pointing to the sky.....so echoing Robin's statement, the sky really is the limit.
ReplyDeleteI love halls of state, they're always so solid and hopeful, and you know they were built by people holding the best of intentions within their hearts.
ReplyDeleteI haven't visited here enough recently. Been playing hermit. Gotta stop that.
Michele sent me tonight.
It speaks of lofty ambitions to me. Vaulted, reaching to the sky, a testament to the architect and to the builders.
ReplyDeleteI see wonderful architecture but ( I know this sounds insane) at the very top I see two Daleks LOL
ReplyDeleteMichele sent me to make this idiotic statement today. Have a great weekend.
I always have a sense of pride when I go visit India Gate in Delhi. One great land mark.
ReplyDeleteAnd right now, I can neither crane my neck nor bend it. I got a crook! A tad painful, I must say.
Peace Tower is an apt name. Michele sent me here to admire it..
I see a very BEAUTIFUL buikding from a fantastic angle! Beautiful Carmi, as always.
ReplyDeleteMichele sort of sent me tonight...lol!
What's wrong with me? I just keep focusing on the tiny red dot at the very top. What is that? The light for airplanes?
ReplyDeleteAnyway, first visit to your blog...I'll be baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack.
It's a great old building and I really enjoy the perspective you have put us at in this shot.
ReplyDeleteHowever, when I think about the image in conjunction with your question, I think of the old white men who probably designed and built this tower, and something Freudian comes to mind.
~Oswegan
I thought I saw someone standing at the top and hoped he wasn't going to jump!
ReplyDelete