I guess that I'll start off by saying that in addition to being what I think is, on many levels, the coolest city in North America, Quebec City is also one of the world's most beautiful cities. We've somehow managed to preserve a sizeable portion of our architectural heritage in such a way that yesterday and today appear to blend seamlessly.
Obviously, a tremendous amount has been written over the course of the last 400 years about this place. And all of the history notwithstanding, it is important to remember that Quebec City is above all else, a peaceful city. I guess that's part of the reason why during one of my daily walks around town, I began reflecting upon the paradox of having so many military artifacts on display throughout our streets and parks. Particularly the amount of cannons out there.
It's a little bit like when you are driving down a country road and you see two farms. One with one or two old time farm implements displayed in what might be called an aesthetically pleasing fashion, the other farm with hundreds upon hundreds of old relics strewn about the landscape. As we sometimes say in French, "des fois, trop c'est comme pas assez", sometimes, too much is like not enough. There is something to be said about the power of understatement.
It obvious that war was a major part of our collective history. But what is also obvious, is that somehow, at least in this little corner of the globe, we were able to put the fighting and violence behind us and build ourselves a society, imperfect as it may be, where people are free to live their lives as they wish.
I don't know the exact number of cannons on display in Quebec City, but give me half an hour and I could show you at least one hundred, and that, I believe, is too many. Less is more.
If they must all stay, how 'bout holding some type of peace/art exhibit where some of the cannons could be used as canvasses for painters looking for a new and interesting way to express their creativity. "Here's a cannon, there's your paint. Knock yourself out".
Could make for some interesting works.
