A Word on the Election
This mostly pertains to my fellow liberal and Democrat friends. If it doesn't concern you, don't bother.
Alright folks, first of all, go out and vote. If you aren't picking the lesser of two evils, you are giving the out-right supporters of those evils all the power. No vote, no complaint. Seriously, I don't mean that as a condescending thing, but it is only logical.
Anyways, there is no question that this country will continue to go to shit if Bush is elected. The man is a religious zealot, anti-intellectual, encourages irrational and poor critical thinking skills in his base, is terrible for long-term foreign policy, and unable to admit mistakes or accept new information or change his opinion.
Kerry might not be any better. Seriously. Any liberal or Democrat who has faith he's going to set things right for sure is fooled. Still, we stand a better chance with him than the sure-fire fucking-up Bush is going to give us. When you look at all the information and facts and ignore the hollow rhetoric ("Kerry would be a poor leader" -- what the fuck does THAT mean, and based on what?) then there is little question that, at best, the current administration has failed too many promises and just has "not been good enough". At worst, well, you know.
So, what happens if Kerry loses?
Check this kids: the world won't end. Even if we lose abortion rights, your right to privacy, any chance of gay marriage, the battle for affordable health care, etc... it won't be the end of the world. We'll still be able to sing songs, write poems, walk in the park, pet a dog, make love and cook dinner. I'm not saying it doesn't matter... I'm just asking for everyone to be level-headed. Don't let the emotions overtake you; there will be enough stress as it is. If you're feeling, and not thinking, you are exactly like the Christian right. We can't have any more people that act that way.
If Kerry loses, and he may, we liberals must remain level-headed, determined, and composed. The country isn't just divided because of Bush's leadership. It is also divided because of noisy, self-righteous protests that do no good but re-affirm the feelings of those participating. It is also divided because Michael Moore rather make conservatives squirm than present a well-thought, fact-based argument. It is also divided because of the liberal hypocrisy; so many of us "are open to all walks of life -- as long as it isn't Christian conservative!" We liberals helped divide the country, too. We should own-up to it and knock it off.
When this country was conceived, it was not to be a power struggle between idealogies. It was supposed to be a process, a kind of "idea filter" where at the end of the day the middle ground and compromises won-out to represent a little bit of everyone. When we the liberals refuse to acknowledge the strengths of conservative thought (and there are a few) then we are failing that original concept of America.
The conservatives won't be the ones to maintain that ideal. We're supposed to be the party that accomodates everyone. That means, as liberals, by definition we must accept the conservative ideology as an understandable mentality. We can disagree with it. We don't have to like it. We shouldn't support it. But, we must be able to say "I can see where you are coming from."
Regardless of who wins this election (And gawd do I hope it is John kerry) it is important that we remember that all Americans, even the conservatives, are human beings and deserve the same justifications for behavior that we as liberals give to troubled kids, mentally disabled, WASPs, whoever; everyone. We must have faith in the system. If George W. Bush is re-elected, we must have faith that in two years Congress can become a better check and balance.
So, everyone breathe, do your part, and be civil. We're all in it together, you know.
Alright folks, first of all, go out and vote. If you aren't picking the lesser of two evils, you are giving the out-right supporters of those evils all the power. No vote, no complaint. Seriously, I don't mean that as a condescending thing, but it is only logical.
Anyways, there is no question that this country will continue to go to shit if Bush is elected. The man is a religious zealot, anti-intellectual, encourages irrational and poor critical thinking skills in his base, is terrible for long-term foreign policy, and unable to admit mistakes or accept new information or change his opinion.
Kerry might not be any better. Seriously. Any liberal or Democrat who has faith he's going to set things right for sure is fooled. Still, we stand a better chance with him than the sure-fire fucking-up Bush is going to give us. When you look at all the information and facts and ignore the hollow rhetoric ("Kerry would be a poor leader" -- what the fuck does THAT mean, and based on what?) then there is little question that, at best, the current administration has failed too many promises and just has "not been good enough". At worst, well, you know.
So, what happens if Kerry loses?
Check this kids: the world won't end. Even if we lose abortion rights, your right to privacy, any chance of gay marriage, the battle for affordable health care, etc... it won't be the end of the world. We'll still be able to sing songs, write poems, walk in the park, pet a dog, make love and cook dinner. I'm not saying it doesn't matter... I'm just asking for everyone to be level-headed. Don't let the emotions overtake you; there will be enough stress as it is. If you're feeling, and not thinking, you are exactly like the Christian right. We can't have any more people that act that way.
If Kerry loses, and he may, we liberals must remain level-headed, determined, and composed. The country isn't just divided because of Bush's leadership. It is also divided because of noisy, self-righteous protests that do no good but re-affirm the feelings of those participating. It is also divided because Michael Moore rather make conservatives squirm than present a well-thought, fact-based argument. It is also divided because of the liberal hypocrisy; so many of us "are open to all walks of life -- as long as it isn't Christian conservative!" We liberals helped divide the country, too. We should own-up to it and knock it off.
When this country was conceived, it was not to be a power struggle between idealogies. It was supposed to be a process, a kind of "idea filter" where at the end of the day the middle ground and compromises won-out to represent a little bit of everyone. When we the liberals refuse to acknowledge the strengths of conservative thought (and there are a few) then we are failing that original concept of America.
The conservatives won't be the ones to maintain that ideal. We're supposed to be the party that accomodates everyone. That means, as liberals, by definition we must accept the conservative ideology as an understandable mentality. We can disagree with it. We don't have to like it. We shouldn't support it. But, we must be able to say "I can see where you are coming from."
Regardless of who wins this election (And gawd do I hope it is John kerry) it is important that we remember that all Americans, even the conservatives, are human beings and deserve the same justifications for behavior that we as liberals give to troubled kids, mentally disabled, WASPs, whoever; everyone. We must have faith in the system. If George W. Bush is re-elected, we must have faith that in two years Congress can become a better check and balance.
So, everyone breathe, do your part, and be civil. We're all in it together, you know.