London Calling

Its a tale of two empires. The United States and England have a fraternal link. Beyond our brotherly spats and disagreements, the similarities in our cultures provide an eerie reflection of what is and what could be the future of our country.

London is a vast city of neighborhoods grown from the repeated populations booms associated with every new territory the British Empire claimed and rescinded. At its core are triumphant works of Gothic architecture next to modern financial buildings. Its past as an empire and its current financial capitol all woven into its asphalt tapestry. Its a grand statement to all of its achievements.

This is the UK, rebound from its near collapse as an Empire stretched too thin to maintain its hold on the world. Its able to look back at its past and victoriously claim its part in history. Once you look past its gilded buildings, and museums celebrating its place in science, you find the sobering truth to it all.

London is marred with memorials disguised as beauty marks. They are the real reminders of Imperialism and its lust for empire building. Each grave stone is a list of tens of thousands of soldiers who sacrificed themselves, willingly or not, to protect country and a very big crown. Millions of lives robbed of its whole potential to make sure that land far away from the home soil is protected. The city, in all of its glory, is a extravagant, well dressed, jewel encrusted monument to the dead.

Under London's veneer of expensive brands and sports cars is the soul of the city. A huge population of hard working, worldly, well educated immigrants, and locals keeping the city together. Its communities are strong; held together by sporting rivalries and common bonds.

For me, I had never felt so welcomed in a country. Maybe its the common cultural DNA of shared political follies and successes, but there is a definite kinship. The bond, and common language, opened up opportunities I hadn't assumed possible. I shared beers with people I met hours ago. I enjoyed conversations over curry with a group of friends I had just met. I explored parts of east London with accommodating locals that were more than happy to show me their neighborhoods. Tips and suggestions were bountiful. Free rooms were offered by just about every person I met.

London is special, not for the vast power and wealth it managed to squander on more power and more wealth. Its not its vanity or ego, either. What makes London great is its people and community; its generous, embracing, diverse, committed and intelligent people. Something that we need to see and learn from ourselves.