The Ubiquitous Election Reaction Post
The cynical side of me looks at the results, notes that they do not match the exit polls that were coming in all day, notes that the record turnout (historically a sign of Democratic and anti-incumbant support) didn’t appear to swing things….and recalls that the majority of the country voted on electronic machines provided by Diebold, whose CEO, a Bush campaigner, promised to “bring the election in” for Bush.
However, I know that it is far more realistic, and far less comfortable, to think that instead, slightly more than half of the people in the country have no problems with a dangerous, ignorant religious fanatic–because when it gets down to it, they are JUST LIKE HIM.
A friend of mine said that this probably was the death of Progressive politics in America. I can’t help but feel that he may be right. I don’t feel like I belong here any more–not with 46% of Americans (according to a December 2001 poll) self-identifying as “Born Again.” There are times, and last night was one of them, where I feel like we’re at most 10-15 years away from a right-wing Christian theocracy in this country.
I can’t leave, though. If I packed up, I could take my oldest daughter with me, but my two youngest live with their Mom, and that keeps me here. So, I am instead left with the words of Tolkien’s Aragorn:
- “We must do without hope. At least we may yet be avenged. Let us gird ourselves, and weep no more. We have a long road, and much to do.”
J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Book II, Chapter VI.
…and while I’m thinking about it– a message to all of my Bush-supporting friends: Yes, I understand that you’re not that kind of conservative. You’re a Teddy Roosevelt Republican. You’re a fiscal conservative who is socially liberal. You know what? IT DOESN’T FUCKING MATTER. By supporting Bush, you’re allying yourself with the social and religious extremists who have hijacked your party. By not abandoning them, you’re condoning them, which makes you just like them, no matter how much your precious ‘ideals’ like to convince yourself otherwise. Your support does nothing but lend legitimacy to the corrupt, ignorant, fanatical neo-conservative movement. Think about it.