Wednesday
I don’t usually go off on politically-motivated tangents, but I’m about to now. And, quite frankly, if it upsets anyone, I don’t care. If it causes people to drop me from their lists, so be it. And if it sparks a flame war, I hope that people come with the fires of Hell behind them… and are prepared for equally-charged retorts.
That said, I think that most people know that I am not a fan of our President-Elect. But, he got the job. Accept it. Deal with it. Move on. I’m not overly happy with the outcome of yesterday’s election, but there’s really nothing that can be done about it now, is there?
I woke up this morning to a lot of “If you voted for Bush, you’re an idiot” journal entries on my friends list. I find it nothing short of “amazing” that people whose judgment I would normally deem “sound” and “rational” would resort to such childish and unnecessary acts as name-calling… simply because they didn’t get their way. Have people gone from 18-and-over to grade school… no pre-school… mentality just because the election didn’t go the way they wanted? It looks that way to me.
I have friends who back the Republican Party. Should I abandon them just because we differ on politics? After all, if we don’t agree politically, how could we ever agree about anything else? Does the fact that they voted Republican mean that they threw their votes away? What about my friends who voted for Ralph Nader? Were their votes “empty,” as well?
If you said “yes,” to these, my response to you is – and pay close attention here: “That is utter and complete bullshit.”
As long as my friends voted their conscience, then I back their votes. Republican. Democrat. Independent. In fact, if they examined the facts and determined that NO candidate adequately represented their issues and opinions, I would even back them if they wrote in Mickey Mouse. As long as they voted according to their beliefs and mores, I would – and will – back them up. Every. Time.
Want to move to Canada? Go right ahead. Oh yeah, one other thing: Just because Canada is part of North America does NOT mean that it’s “United States of America: North.” I’m pretty sure that you’ll find a few things there that don’t sit well with your rose-colored perspective, either. But, hey… sorry… “eh”… that’s your prerogative. I hope that the Great White North treats you and your families well. Don’t forget to dress warmly.
Now, for those of you who have seen the outcome of the election, were not pleased by it and want to do something about it other than bitch, moan, and whine: Welcome to the real world. What can you do? You can, and I know that this will come as a shock to many, get active at a local level. That’s right: Participate. Contrary to popular opinion, being part of your affiliated party can be more than just a spectator sport. Make sure that the people who will be representing you are doing just that: Representing you.
Two of my friends worked for different local campaigns in this election. I told them about people spouting off and calling people “stupid” or “idiots,” based on the way that they voted. I find it heartening that their comments were complimentary.
The first one had the following to say:
…they shouldn’t name call, and calling Bush-supporters ‘idiots’ is neither productive, nor informed. A vote is a personal thing, to which all voters have their own voice. Anyone who tries to bully someone into voting against their conscience because their choice is ‘stupid’ isn’t respecting the sanctity of that individual’s right as a citizen to vote as they please. Granted, Bush wasn’t my first choice for president, but I had my say, and so did the rest of the country — if the rest of the country felt Bush was better qualified, then so be it.
We need more citizen candidates, IMHO. Because, if privilege is requisite for public office, then you may as well bring back the aristocracy and monarchy. At this time, I feel that our system of government (on a national level) represents an Oligarchy of the privileged, not ‘common-folk’ like you and I.
I think the country would be better served if our campaign rules resembled that of Germany – candidates in Germany aren’t allowed to talk about other candidates, and can only dispense their platform, and answer questions that takes care of smear campaigning and all candidates get matching air time.
My other friend had the following to say:
A political campaign is a porous organization. You can join at just about any level. And you’re remembered for your time. The largest opportunities occur during campaign season.
I then asked how would one go about getting involved.
Find out who your precinct chair and delegates are. Get to know people with similar ideologies. Find out what [the party’s] events are. Volunteer! Volunteers are remembered. In a larger campaign, you might night not get a lot of face time with the candidate, but in the campaign I worked on, [local candidate] knew everybody on a first name basis.
Go to your party’s headquarters and say that you want to be more involved. They will find something for you.
His reasons for wanting to get more involved:
- Ownership
- Involvement
- Efficacy
Ownership of a feeling of pride for his role in his party.
Involvement in the process of making his voice heard.
Efficacy in knowing that being involved has an effect – he, alone, was responsible for at least 200 votes for his party’s candidate.
President Bush will be a “lame duck” in 2008. The Republican Party will be grooming his successor over the next four years. There are rumours that Hillary Rodham Clinton will be the Democrat’s darling for that election cycle. Whether or not this comes to pass, only time will tell. Something that many people seem to forget: There are more than two parties in the American political system. Yes, the Democratic and Republican parties get all the press, but that doesn’t mean that the other parties’ candidates aren’t worthwhile. Research the issues that are important to you. Find the candidate who best aligns with your beliefs. Get involved. Make your voice known.
In Western formal choral tradition, there’s an aim for a blend so you cannot distinguish where the parts are coming from. With congregational singing, I could drive up to the church and they could be singing and I could tell you who was there, because the individual timbres of a voice never disappear. That congregational style is one of the things that I think is important for democracy — the individual does not have to disappear, and it does not operate as an anticollective expression.
-Bernice Johnson Reagon, singer/scholar, Sojourners (Aug. 2004)
If any of you were offended by anything that I said, please feel free to remove me from your friends lists.
For the rest of you, welcome to the world of post-Election 2004. Break’s over.
