Titles:  Created Equal and companion fic Going Marching to the Sea
Fandom:  Axis Powers Hetalia
Pairing:  gen, focusing on America (and England in "Created Equal")
Categories:  drama
Length:  Medium [2,500 words for both]
Warnings:  colonial and modern racism as themes


Author on LJ:  gotosleeplisse 
Website:  n/a

Summary:  "The truth is, neither America nor anyone else has ever, or will ever, know what he really looks like."  England doesn't understand why America periodically shifts to look like his slaves.  America just knows what it means for all men to be created equal.

Review:  Bonus fics!

Sometimes, I'm inspired to patriotism by current events.  The 2008 election was one of those events, and every gay marriage victory is another (hurray, D.C.!).  These two fics remind me of that patriotic feeling whenever I read them.  The first story is England's point of view throughout the centuries he's known America; the second story is America's point of view, but focused mainly during the Civil War.  They may be quite short, but they packed quite the punch when I first read them.  

Lady Lisse's idea, that America changes his race to fit in with his people, is so appealing, so linked to how I think the personification of my country would work, that I can't imagine him any other way anymore.  England and America's relative views on the African-Americans fit their characters perfectly - at least, England's befuddlement and snobbery seems accurate for the British Empire of the 1700s, and it contrasts nicely with America's opinions.  The cameos of African Nations and the Confederacy are perfect as well, for all their brevity.  Finally, the historical notes at the end are very useful, and I know I learned a few things from them... who says fandom isn't educational?

Created Equal
Going Marching to the Sea