Decius wrote:
] Inspired by Elonka and Rattle, I'll offer my feelings on this
] evening.

] We are a deeply divided
] nation. Whatever the results of this election, they will be
] terribly bad for a large number of people who live here. Zogby
] says that most people won't accept the legitimacy of their
] opponent's government if their side looses. That worry isn't
] just about the outcome. Its about what happens afterward.

Decius, thanks for your thoughts. I found this interesting, and also found Rattle's essay interesting, and I'm glad you both wrote.

Speaking as someone who voted for Bush, I have to say this though: I don't hate Kerry. If he's elected, I will support him as President. I can't speak for everyone who's voted for Bush, but I know some who have, and I think they feel the same. We vote our conscience, but if the candidate that we choose isn't elected, that doesn't mean that we hate them or despise their decisions. I would hope that those who voted for Kerry can feel the same way about Bush, if he wins.

When Bush was elected in 2000, I was disappointed. I'd voted for Gore. I hoped that Gore would win the legal battles, and I was disappointed when he gave up. But I was encouraged when Bush appointed Colin Powell, and I've grown to respect many of the decisions that Bush made, especially after September 11th.

Ultimately, that's what I expect from *either* candidate that wins. Sure, there's a lot of crap that goes on during the election season, and a lot of lies flow from candidates' mouths. This is nothing new. But I firmly believe that both Kerry and Bush are patriots, who genuinely want what's best for America. If they make decisions differently than I would, well, so be it, but I don't think either one of them is a bad person. Bits of this could be seen from the candidates themselves during the debates. They'd rail and whine about each other's positions and decisions and votes, but when asked about the *character* of each other, they'd usually speak well of the opponent, and of the opponent's family. Neither one of them is a demon.

I can identify with some of your feelings though. As I've watched the election returns come in this afternoon and evening, I've felt worried too. I want to see the candidate that I voted for, win. There's a sense that I'll have lost face if I voted for someone that doesn't win. That I supported a "losing side". But I truly put this down to the passion of the moment, because when I reach deep inside myself and ask how I'd feel if the other side won, I know it'd be okay. Life would go on, the world isn't going to end. Democrats will fight against Republicans, Republicans will fight against Democrats, sure, but this is nothing new. Some countries won't approve of our choice? Well that's not new either. Countries are going to disagree with each other, but I don't see the outcome of this election leading to something like World War III.

Like Obama said, there are patriots who disagreed with the War in Iraq, and there are patriots who agreed with it. It doesn't mean one side is right and the other side is wrong. It means that we're human, and we think differently, and we debate things and try to make the best decisions we can in our muddled and imperfect human condition.

As I write this, I honestly don't know who's going to win the Presidency this year. But whoever does, I'll still be an American citizen, and I'll support our country, and I'll criticize our country, and I'll still believe in our system of government because even when it sucks, it's still a hell of a lot better than pretty much anything else out there.

And a couple years from now, there'll be another election, and again, I'll go to the polls, along with millions of other Americans, and we'll make the best decisions we can.

Elonka

RE: Election Eve 2004