We the City by Andrew Petter, President and Vice-Chancellor of Simon Fraser University
Andrew Petter, the President of Simon Fraser University (SFU), has done a nice poem that I think that PASCAL's city networks would enjoy:
We the City
by Andrew Petter, President and Vice-Chancellor of Simon Fraser University (as read at We The City: An Evening at the Centre on Nov. 4, 2015)
What makes a city glorious and great
is not the asphalt or the concrete or the neon
(the alleys, sidewalks and lights of the city)
not the bricks or the girders or the glass
(the buildings, bridges and sights of the city).
True, it would not be much of a city without them.
But they are only the material makings of the city –
its intra-infra-structures.
They are only the flesh and bones of the city –
the lungs, not the voice of the city
the head, not the mind of the city
its bodily arteries, not its spiritual heart
it’s physical form, not its metaphysical soul.
What makes a city glorious and great
are its provisions and its prospects –
for employment and accommodation
for sustainability and transportation
for health and education.
What makes a city glorious and great
are its conversations and gatherings –
its meetings and dialogues
its deliberations and debates.
What makes a city glorious and great
are its networks and societies –
its co-ops, unions and grassroots associations
its neighbourhood groups and business organizations.
What makes a city glorious and great
are its customs, styles and cuisines –
its Indigenous roots
and European suits
its Asian foods and passion fruits.
What makes a city glorious and great
are its people –
its students and its activists
its thinkers and philanthropists
is peacemakers and protesters.
What makes a city glorious and great
are its artists –
its painters and sculptors
its actors and musicians
its poets and writers.
What makes a city glorious and great
are its universities –
especially when they come out from their ivory towers
down from their mountain tops
in from their peninsulas
to engage the city
to enrich the city
to build the city.
What makes a city glorious and great
or not so glorious
or less than great
are we.
For cities are made, not found
and we are our cities makers
or breakers.
No one else.
Which is why we are here
this week
tonight.
To shed some light
on we the city.
To explore its dark spots and its bright spots
its daytime and its night spots
its open and its tight spots.
Which is why we are here
this week
tonight.
To confirm our commitment
Through dance and song
With paint and pen
in poetry and prose
to take
and make
and shape our city.
Which is why we are here
this week
tonight.
To renew our resolve
We the City
all of us
to Be the City.
Source: http://www.sfu.ca/publicsquare/blog/2015/we-the-city-poem.html
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