NHNE
Reader Comments on the 2004 U.S. Election
November 6, 2004
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1.
A SIEGE OR SINGULARITY?
Jenny
Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
I turn
to your lists to stretch my heart and mind, often after months
away. I read furiously for hours,
soaking
in the rich compost of ideas you've gathered, nourishing
my
roots. I did this last week, and I've been back daily,
several times on election day, looking for contact, looking
for sanity,
needing community.
Recently
I moved to Salt Lake City, surrounded by miles of people
who are kind and well-meaning,
but toxic.
So I've
turned to NHNE for companionship through this election,
and today, this day after, I reach out to you with
my grieving
heart, that we might console each other.
Our supreme
court, our airs and waters and soils, our health, our schools,
our families, our neighbors
throughout
the world
are under siege, and we now know that siege will
intensify. I pray to the Great Friend asking how,
why, for what
possible reason could this be? Is our glorious
growth spurt in participation
still building for coming purposes? Another answer
echoes Joe Firmage: a singularity is approaching.
Oddly
enough, moving to Utah has meant studying the science of
complexity. My dreams are flooded
with
dynamic systems
flowing through trajectories. Two points right
next to each other can end up in wildly different
dynamics.
We
can't know
why this becomes that. Peak Oil could trigger
wonderful and/or alarming possibilities. A message written
by someone who
found NHNE through someone I sent your way and
then suddenly died now comforts me. Still, I
argue
with
God, how can
four more years of Bush be possible?
I came
to expect that a close race would end in the courts, given
the
long stealing of the
vote
in 2000,
the lawsuits
already begun this year, the problems with
registrations and voting machines and overseas ballots. So
Kerry's concession came much too early for
my
hopeful heart.
After 2000, I don't
trust that Diebold, Jeb Bush, and the Ohio
election officials played fair.
It is my
need for hope that has me writing to you. It's why I read
your posts. It's why
I wait
months
before
reading
them, and why my heart rises and falls as
I plow through article after article. I come
away feeling
as though
I've had a long night of conflicted lovemaking
with the world,
and though I have scratches to show for it,
I do indeed love this world with my whole
being. And
that gives
me hope.
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2.
PRAYING FOR THE HIGHEST GOOD
Kathy Gray
Prague, Oklahoma, USA
On Election
day everybody kept saying the results were too close to call.
During
the day, I listened
to the
exit poll
reports. They appeared to be favorable
to John Kerry. Therefore, I was astonished by
the large
margin of
victory by the President.
I did not
hear any reports of election fraud so against my better
judgment, I finally
came to the
conclusion
that maybe
the count was correct. My husband
and I were disappointed but had decided
that nothing
happens in God's world
by mistake so we would try to gracefully
accept the decision.
We decided
that in some way we couldn't understand
that this was in the highest good
of the
nation.
Now that
Bush has been reelected, he has stated that he has earned
political
capitol
by this
election and will spend
it. I shudder to think what he
will
try to do. I
will observe his actions and
keep my faith in God.
The only
thing I know to do is pray for the highest good for
all concerned
and
have faith
that somehow
this will
work out. Personally, I feel
President Bush has spent all the
goodwill of the U.S. and the
U.S. will now lose more power and prestige
in
the world
standing. I see China
now taking
steps to become a world leader.
Maybe that would
have happened anyway but President
Bush has hastened its
day.
I know
the U.S. isn't perfect but it is a grand experiment.
I am
proud to
be part
of
it. I
am proud to be an
American. My hope is that
we will come out of this situation
a wiser and better nation.
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3.
THE FAT LADY DIDN'T SING YET
Sandra Ann Catherin
USA
First off,
thank you so much, for this opportunity
to tell
others
just what
I am feeling!
I must
tell you readers that I am a Christian!
I mention
this
because
there
is a lot
of discussion of
the so-called Christian
right bringing
our country to this
point, of what
I believe
to be madness.
I
know, at times,
God's
Will doesn't
match man's, and
so, I am thinking that,
because Bush
was reelected,
this will
cause a lot more
people
to
wake up,
smell the roses (or
plant of your choice),
then
and
only
then, can
change not
only be possible
and a
dream of
some, but a reality
for us all! Now,
for my feelings!
At first,
I promised myself that I would
not hear the
results of
this election
until the
next day,
probably
because I had
a sick feeling
inside my heart, after voting,
myself.
Of course,
I voted
for Kerry! Even
though he didn't
seem to
elaborate as to
what his plans were, I
saw this
as just being
smart. Never
tell
the
other side
what
you are up
to, so they
can't steal your
thunder! Well,
I did
not keep my promise,
curiosity got the
better of me,
and I ended
up in tears,
and asking myself,
what in the world
was going
on? This
damp,
dark mood
hung over
me, until
now!
I am now
in the process of
seeing
this Bush
victory as a
challenge to me,
and I hope
others, in trying
to figure
out
how to get our
precious country
back to sound
reasoning, instead of where
it seems
to be
at the moment!
I feel very sad
that
fear seems to
rule.
In closing,
I hope we can take
on
the challenge
of
winning
our country
back
from the jaws
of doom, by
listening,
reading, praying,
and selecting
the best
person out
there, who will
succeed, after
Bush is gone!
I am going
to believe
that
the fat
lady
didn't
sing yet,
she is just
tuning up!
Thank
you, NHNE, and please
keep
us informed,
as you
always do!
Love and
regards to
you all,
even if you
disagree!
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4. MEET
THEM TOE TO TOE
Bernie
Los Angeles,
CA, America
the Beautiful
First,
thank
you
Sherry and thank
you
David.
I spent
a
day in
mourning.
Grief
and
anger
and
even
feeling
like
giving
up.
Now
that's
over
--
time
to
get
to
work.
I
fear disastrous
consequences as
a result
of the
election, especially
to our
dear planet.
I am
concerned that
there might
not be
another Election;
that the
fear mongers
may create
something so
dire that
the American
people would
willingly give
over power
to a
dictatorship. (And
we must
hold the
line in
any case,
whatever it
takes.) However,
assuming democracy
survives and
the planet
doesn't get
too far
out of
whack, my
perspective says
that the
election results
are merely
an indication
that not
enough people
are awake
yet.
That's
our new
job: awaken
people. The
vast numbers
of people
who believed
the transparent
lies purveyed
by the
current administration
just need
a little
help pulling
their little
heads out
of the
their little
you-know-what's. The
facts are
becoming harder
to avoid,
the arguments
for the
conservative agenda
becoming more
desperate, vague
and irrational.
I believe
that people
are intrinsically
intelligent for
the most
part, but
that we're
all capable
of being
so enamored
by the
headlight that
we miss
the freight
train about
to run
us down.
Have compassion
for those
people who
thought they
were defending
a way
of life
by voting
for Bush.
They are
soon to
experience the
ultimate betrayal
and it
won't be
pretty when
it butts
up against
their denial.
I'm
glad that
voting inequities
are being
examined, and
wouldn't it
be a
trip if
the election
could be
overturned? However,
the fact
that it
was close
enough that
the nefarious
pranks of
the right could make
a difference
is more
to the
point. If
we want
to take
back America
and create
a world
for our
children, a
close race
is no
longer an
option. What
was missing
in John
Kerry's message
that allowed
otherwise savvy
people to
even consider
Bush an
option? We
need to
start examining
that question
immediately. What
was missing
such that
people were
complacent --
didn't fight
back when
challenged, didn't
hand walk
their absentee
ballots and
registrations right
to the
offices? That
people thought
it was
an option
not to
vote? This
is where
to look
right now.
Before
the Patriot
Act is
strengthened, those
with the
means to
do so
need to
grab onto
the falsehoods,
betrayals, illegal
and subversive actions and
words that
the administration
has put
forth over
the first
four years.
We must
make every
new move
by the
Religious Right
and
the
Neo-Conservatives be
an uphill
struggle. They
want to
fight, and
we just
want to
be left
to our
own means.
That won't
fly
any
more. Time
to meet
them toe
to toe.
That means
write, participate,
win the
little elections,
share news
clippings with
friends and
acquaintances,
demonstrate.
Above all,
we must
let go
of all
our own
petty problems.
Work it
out. This
is worth
your life.
Purify. Look
to
where
you're being
a Neo-Con
Inquisitor in
your own
life. Clean
it up.
Where we
have no
integrity, we
are powerless.
Where we
stand
on
our foundation
of integrity,
we will
be unstoppable.
What the
heck: have
you got
anything better
to do?
Let's take
it!
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5.
STUNNED DISBELIEF
IN CANADA
newstartforlife
Ontario,
Canada
I
am sitting
here in
Ontario, Canada,
in stunned
disbelief. I
might add
that this
is the
second time
this year
that I
feel like
this. The
first time
was after
our own
election, in
which we,
incredibly, re-
elected the
Liberal Party
-- which
is much
like your
Republicans.
We
also had
ample proof
that we
should not
do this,
yet we
did it
anyway.
I
personally didn't
vote for
them, but
I imagine
many US
citizens are
feeling the
same way
that I
do. I
also feel
that elections
may be
tampered with,
and probably
are. I
was, however,
pleased with
the voter
turnout. Maybe
participation will
play a
major part
in
helping
to return
sanity to
the world.
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6.
REMOVE EXTREMISTS
FROM POWER
Dr.
David Livingston
Northern
California, USA
I
believe our
system is
badly broken.
We have
the extremes
of both
parties controlling
each party
and the
media. This
leads us to candidates
that have
no place
being candidates.
Surely this
country can
do better
than a
Kerry vs.
Bush contest
for the
highest office
in
our
nation --
an office
that requires
wisdom, leadership,
intelligence, integrity,
character, and
more. Instead,
we have
the tails
of the
bell curve
for
both
parties.
Right
now the
Democrats got
waxed in
this election
because most
of America
won't buy
into their
extreme and
the Bush
alternative was better,
not
because people
want GW,
because they
don't want
the baseless
values of
lies and
extremes represented
by the
Hollywood group,
the Michael
Moore's,
the
Move-On crowd,
etc. Kerry
with a
20 year
track record
and Edwards
who built
his fame
on junk
science are
not options
mainstream
America
wants. If
the Democrats
are smart,
they will
get it
about the
danger of
being controlled
by an
extreme of
the party
and
move
toward the
point of
moderation, the
party of
JFK and
great Democrats
that used
to represent
the party.
The
Republicans still
have to
figure this
out and
they will
once they
see the
resounding success
the Democrats
will have
when they act
on
the lessons
that they
learn from
this go
around. Then
in utter
defeat, the
Republicans will
need to
learn about
the damage
caused
when
controlled and
manipulated by
their bell
curve tail,
their fringe
on the
extreme. Then
the Republicans
will move
toward the
center and
we
will
have candidates
emerge that
don't peddle
fear, that
have real
options and
understand the
importance of
things being
in balance,
not being
driven
by
far out
and extreme
agendas.
This
is a
harsh criticism
of both
parties and
our system.
Its needs
to be
restructured but
not by
the extremists
of both
sides.
We
need balance
and within
that range
of balance,
there will
be plenty
of room
to disagree
about the
best path
to the
goals most
of
us
all want
to realize.
I hope
the Democrats
learn it
this time.
If not,
in four
years, we
will see
the extremes
go
against
each other
again and
the American
people will
again lose
regardless of
who wins
the election.
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7.
WORSE BEFORE BETTER
R.S. Hurley
St. Louis, Missouri, USA
I
feel unhappy, suspicious, and apprehensive about the next
four years. I think that religion is playing too much a part
in our elections and the media is no longer neutral. I don't
agree with the direction our country is headed in,. Unfortunately,
it seems we will have to get a whole lot worse before things
get better.
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8.
DEMOCRATS NEED TO BE HUMBLED
Tim Smith
Clinton, Mississippi, USA
My
name is Tim Smith. I am 48 years old. I am married to the
lovely Melissa and father of four wonderful kids ranging
in age from three to 23. I live in Clinton, Mississippi,
and work for the Mississippi State Department of Health.
The
election, for me, marked a first (in presidential elections
anyway), i.e., I changed my mind while in front of the machine.
This is unheard of -- guess you have to know me. :-)
The
results were, IMHO, not particularly surprising. I have struggled
mightily, most especially since the 1992 election, with the
two-party system. My beef is that it really isn't a two-party
system, but a one-party system. The one party is the money
party. I don't believe in career politicians. I think the
whole process is so bought-and-paid-for, only a miracle would
produce a true populist candidate from within the Democrat
or Republican parties. Because of the total unlikelihood
of that, I lay in prayerful wait for a recurrence of the
Ross Perot phenomenon.
I
am saddened by another four years of Bushism, but deep inside
I know that four years of Kerry wouldn't be significantly
different. What can we the people do? I no longer have any
idea. We're locked into the bureaucratic nightmare. It has
fed on itself too long.
The
absolute worst thing that could happen, IMHO, would be for
Hilary (or some other political insider) to win in 2008.
The Democratic Party is reeling today at the thought of just
having been blown out in the "most important election
of our lifetime". But the sad fact is that they need
further humbling still. Only a totally humiliated and desperate
Democratic party would step back and totally reassess the
process of selecting a candidate -- one who is a real choice
-- one who can provide the groundswell for a creative new
strategy of dealing with this tradition-laden family values
opponent.
Well,
a lot more could be said, but I'm out of time -- lunch is
over. Keep up the good work, Sherry and David. Thanks for
all you do.
------------
9.
VET SIDESTEPS BOTH PARTIES
Dayne Hatten
Georgia, USA
Well,
it looks as if a cold wave has finally consented to pass
through our state, hopefully alleviating tensions and cooling
down hot heads over the recent election and its results.
I found that outside of the person for whom I voted for President,
who wasn't elected, all the rest of the contestants were
elected.
I
find that our Third Congressional District Representative,
Jim Marshall, handily disposed of his opponent. Hands down,
Jim Marshall deserves the position because he has represented
all of the 3rd Congressional District with equal fervor and
zeal.
His
opponent, Calder Clay, learned that everyone was tired of
smear campaign tactics; and what was okay in 2000, was now
passe'. He learned his lesson when the local television and
radio stations refused to air his ads about three weeks before
the election.
Too
bad Bush and Kerry couldn't learn from the experience, but
then they are national politics, not down here at the grassroots
level. I personally grew tired of the name calling and even
though I was a Veteran for Bush, I chose not to add my name
to a long list of veterans who were voting for him. Neither
did I feel compelled to vote for Kerry, because, after all,
I am a Viet Nam Veteran, and have a long memory. Paybacks
are a female dog!
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10.
THIS IS STILL AMERICA -- THE LONGEST-LIVED DEMOCRACY IN MODERN
HISTORY
Dianne Brannen
Macon, Georgia
Interestingly
enough, Bibb County, Georgia, went for Kerry 51 to 49 [percent].
Of Course, that wasn't enough to turn Georgia into a Blue
State, but as Sherry has pointed out [in NHNE's Forum for
a Common Understanding <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nhneforumfcu/>]
, there was a strong showing for Kerry all over the country
even where he didn't prevail.
For
whatever reason, as much as I hoped Kerry would win, I don't
feel so much sad or angry, as perplexed. I guess I had hoped
America as a whole was moving out of the "Blue Meme." If
you've read any Spiral Dynamics, you'll know that the Blue
meme is the mindset, or developmental stage, wherein you
are very much concerned with the "rules," prefer
a black-and-white world view, and love being a dues-paying,
rule-abiding member of the "in-group." This translates
into "My country, right or wrong," and "Have
you accepted Jesus as your personal savior?" I guess
that's where we still are, overall.
I
suppose another reason I'm not as scared as I might be is
that I really am hopeful that the Democrats will clarify
their message as the guardians of the welfare of those whose
wealth is earned by work, rather than inherited or, dare
I say it, stolen, and that this message will get through
to those few percentage points of voters needed to turn things
around in Washington in four years. It's happened before,
after all -- remember Newt Gingrich and his crowd?
Of
course, a lot of long-lasting harm can be done in four years,
particularly in the form of loss of environmental safeguards
and actual damage, and in the form of lifetime judicial appointments.
We still have Reagan appointees on the Supreme Court, if
I'm not mistaken, not to mention lower level Federal court
appointments all over the country.
It's
not great, but this is still America -- the longest-lived
democracy in modern history, and the most economically successful
country on Earth. I'm also hoping the outpouring of pure
interest and desire to participate in this election will
carry forward to more involvement by more people, perhaps
even leading to a more INFORMED participation.
------------
11.
EXTREME POLARIZATION
Bonnie
Colorado, USA
I
feel shame for our entire country. I do not believe that
the counts are accurate. It is time for a very necessary
check of those Diebold voting machines, to see if the votes
were manipulated. They do not match the exit poll results.
There
is an extreme polarization going on in this country. It seems
to be between those who are interested in being educated
about current events, and those who are only interested in
being fed prepackaged opinions at every level of their life.
These same people want to be spoon-fed their religious rules
and their rules of daily living. They want those prepackaged
rules to guide their schools, and now their politics too.
We
fought against the Taliban takeover, but now we're implementing
the same kind of government in the United States. It is unthinkable.
------------
12.
BOGUS WARS & MORAL DEFICITS
Pamela Slayton
Ashburnham, Massachusetts, USA
My
daughter is attending school in Australia. The last thing
she wrote to me before the election was: "I really hope
Kerry wins so that maybe the Australian people won't hate
us so very much any more." Through NHNE news, I've read
that Bush was elected by conservative Christians because
of "moral reasons". I understand those moral reasons
and they have every right to their beliefs. But, how moral
is it that tens of thousands of innocent Iraqi men, women
and children have been maimed and killed in the name of oil?
How moral is a President who has constantly lied to the American
people and just may have turned his back before 911? How
moral is it that he is already considering invading yet another
country? How will these people who have voted based on their "moral
beliefs" feel when not only their sons, but their daughters
may well be drafted to become permanently maimed or even
killed fighting these bogus wars? How "moral" is
a deficit that is so huge, it staggers the imagination and
will not be repaid for generations? How "moral" is
it that this country has become so corrupt, we, America,
have had to have auditors from other countries watch OUR
elections in the name of democracy? How "moral" is
it that in the name of "patriotism" our freedoms
and rights are being taken away, one by one. How will they
feel, these conservative Christians who worry about the Anti-Christ
and the end times, when a national ID tracking chip is placed
in their licenses? I already know of 1,000 idiot yuppie parents
who have allowed their children to be permanently micro-chipped
(oh, in case they are kidnapped)! Bush has a very low I.Q.
Apparently, he had to have a wire during the debates because
he's too stupid to be able to think and speak for himself.
Time will tell. But, I believe there will be no stopping
him now. I believe he will lead us into WW III. I hope I'm
wrong. But, if Armageddon should happen, just remember moral
Christians, you voted for it!
------------
13.
I'M GLAD TO BE CANADIAN
Stacey
Toronto, Canada
I
am a landed immigrant living in Toronto, Canada, but still
a US citizen born in Pennsylvania. I come from a long line
of conservative Republicans, but was unbelievably surprised
that even they still towed the party line in this election.
My response is one of deepest disappointment and disgust.
I think the US is heading for a culture that resembles such
distopian realities as laid out in Margaret Atwoods' "The
Handmaids' Tale". Of course a majority of those voters
who supported Bush probably wouldn't even understand the
implications of their choices, my family being one. So many
Americans living here have said that they now are ready to
apply for Canadian Citizenship and I count myself among them.
It is absolutely clear to me that I do not wish to live or
even visit a nation that is going to be propelled by such
narrow views of what is "moral". I despise the
tossing around of " God" when someone actually
just wants power over another, and to shut out difference.
Thus,
my response right now is "I'm glad to be Canadian!!" I
do hope that a way will be found to unite the country, but
the future does not look very bright when even the Senate
and House are dominated by the same mindset.
------------
14.
RISE TO THE HIGHEST IN OURSELVES
No name (to protect the innocent :-)
Hawaii, transplanted from Washington State
For
a dozen years I was an ardent, highly visible public figure
in environmental issues in my former state, defending and
promoting the public interest in many arenas, including legal
and legislative. Those were the years of the "take no
prisoners" anti-environmental Wise Use Movement; environmentalists
were the targets of organized hatred; and there was an unending
supply of David vs. Goliath battles to fight. My experiences
as a pro se litigant in the courts revealed that citizens
had an almost impossibly high standard to meet to overcome
the system's deference to the inner sanctum -- the members
of the "club" -- and to institutions, even when
corrupt.
As
the inequities and injustices piled up, I found myself becoming
angry, judgmental, and self-righteous regarding those on
the other side of the aisle and the ways in which they were
willing to twist or suspend the truth in pursuit of their
goals. In my eyes, they exemplified the axiom, "The
end justifies the means."
Then
I became gravely ill and had to stop my work for a time.
In the lull, I began to see that I was becoming, at least
in my emotional make-up, those whom I had opposed. I was
going down for the count, spiritually speaking, and fate
intervened to provide me with the perfect chance to reflect
on the status of "my heart" before it was too late.
I discovered compassion for my opponents, based on insight
into the reasons (usually anchored in some version of fear)
that others were on their path, even when I deeply disagreed
with them.
To
integrate this new understanding with my ongoing advocacy
for a world ever more on the edge of eco-crisis was not an
easy task as the Bush coalition hijacked the presidency.
My deepest disappointment lay with those who had the power
to interrupt the takeover, but who sat back and did nothing.
As the distortions, manipulation, power-lust, disdain for
the masses, and raw greed of the executive branch were used
to mislead and incite fear in my fellow citizens, my goal
was to develop emotional serenity and trust in the perfection
of all that happens, while continuing to take action in support
of the things I valued.
In
the wake of this election, our country and our world need
us to rise to the occasion. To keep an open heart, to anchor
love on this fractious plane of existence, to continue to
act and advocate for the things we believe will heal the
earth and all her inhabitants, to maintain our commitment
to participate with integrity in the affairs of our world, to
seek ways to restore our country's democratic underpinnings.
This is not work for the faint-hearted or easily discouraged.
This is a time when we are called to rise to the highest
in ourselves, against all odds, against temporary, albeit
monumental, adversity. We must be the world we want to create.
The answer is, as always, us.
------------
15.
BUSH CRUSHED BY IRAQ, SELF RIGHTEOUSNESS
MJS
California/Ohio, USA
It
is disturbing that in an election where character and moral
values are of paramount concern, we elect a president who
is deficient in both areas. Everything about George W. Bush
screams of disingenuousness, especially the issues of his
National Guard Service, but also failing to admit to drunk
driving, not to mention the failures of his business career
and presidency. And what about right to life? Doesn't that
apply to innocent Iraqis as well as stem cells and fetuses?
I am appalled by the moral righteousness of these people!
The true messages of Christianity, love and forgiveness,
are replaced with intolerance and revenge.
While
John Kerry went to Vietnam as a young man and had the courage
and fortitude to protest against the atrocities of the war,
George Bush lacked the courage to enlist (along with Cheney,
et al), and lacks the moral fiber to decry the atrocities
of Abu Grahib, ubiquitous throughout the military. George
Bush will be crushed by the weight of the Iraq war and his
moral self righteousness, and these will be his hubris.
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16.
AUSTRALIAN'S FACE SAME CONCERNS & FAILING LEADERSHIP
Andrew
Woy Woy, NSW, Australia
The
American people have voted. George Bush has been able to
get a second term as President through a going to war strategy.
This Presidential model for success (going to war at any
cost and being seen as commander-in-chief) is a winner. With
another four years and a greater control of the US Senate,
George Bush will see this as a ringing endorsement of his
policies, which will translate into a further move to the
right, the greater emergence of Christian fundamentalism
and the further alienation of the billion Muslims living
on this planet. No doubt he will do his best to set up his
younger brother, Governor of Florida, Jeb Bush to continue
the Bush Dynasty and the "war against terror".
How
many future American Presidents will follow this same war
strategy to guarantee eight years in power?
As
an Australian, for the first time in my life I now have to
think very carefully about where I go on this planet. Australian
Prime Minister, John Howard, Dubya's Deputy Dawg, has done
the same to us. Where once we were universally liked and
respected, the same cannot be said now.
I am depressed, pissed off, frustrated and angry, mainly because truth does
not matter any more -– people will just believe which ever Truth Maker
they want to believe.
Over
100,000 Iraqi's (mainly women and children) have died. Over
1000 US soldiers have died. More than 10,000 have been repatriated
to the US with horrific injuries. Veterans from the 1st Gulf
War are suffering horrendously from Gulf War Syndrome (only
just acknowledged by the US Government). And this will continue
for the foreseeable future. God help us all.
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17.
KERRY LOST THE MORAL VOTE?
Taigiseadh
The Netherlands/New York
I
can't believe Senator Kerry conceded.
What
really gets me is that it seems Kerry lost on the grounds
of morality. I never realized how much same-sex marriages
bother Americans in general. Just 30 years ago, people were
against interracial relationships and marriages. Now it's
same-sex marriages. A little more than half the country elected
a man who is keen on sending soldiers to the Middle East
for human target practice yet this is okay. Where's the morality
in this?!?!?!?!?
At
least I can be proud that New York is a DARK BLUE state and
that Kerry losing this election perhaps gives Hillary Rodham
Clinton a chance to run in 2008.
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18.
TODAY, I AM NOT AN AMERICAN
Carrie Ballard
The Netherlands/New York
My
compatriots chose George W. Bush over John Kerry by 3.5 million
popular votes. I don't know how that is possible. And the
bitter truth is that it IS possible. No shenanigans, no challenges
at the polls, high turnover. People from my homeland, my
home, WANT him. And perhaps it is I who am out of step.
I
thought if they were informed, if they saw, if they read
and learned, they would reach the same conclusions I did.
We were alike, only I had benefit of more information. But,
no, they are quite happy as they are -- no, JUBILANT perhaps
that their views have been given resounding confirmation.
They are alike.
I
am not an American today. Dutch people on the trams, trains, and
in restaurants see my Kerry sticker and offer shocked politeness,
asking me to tell them it's not true. I have nothing to give
them. I tell strangers of my shock, my disbelief, my pain,
and my isolation. On a cold foggy day in Amsterdam, a country
that is not my birth place, I am approached by strangers
who want to talk about it. Perhaps they are in shock and
pain too, because in their homeland yesterday, Theo van Gogh
was shot seven times and killed riding his bicycle through
the city to work. Perhaps they need to say things to me too.
And
a wonderful gesture -- the middle-aged Dutch wine merchant
on my corner, missing a tooth and wearing clogs, responded
to my "Vandaag ben ik niet Amerikanss" with " hier
blijven !", "Stay here, with us."
And
I heard "You are not alone. You are not homeless. Stay
here."
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19.
I AM BASICALLY FLABBERGASTED
Elise Harvey
E. Lansing, Michigan, USA
My
f | 