Unity...Let the Healing Begin
Ryan on Nov 04, 2004 10:56am
I am writing what I hope is my last politically influenced blog for at least the next four years. I make it no secret that really am in no such position to offer up political insight, but still I have an opinion to speak and since this is my forum...(read by all four of you *wink*), I am going to speak it.
Both GW and John Kerry agree that we are a nation divided and that the healing needs to begin. I applaud John Kerry for his decision not to draw this thing out. Having Bush in office may not make many of us happy, but the mere fact that both of the candidates recognize that there is a HUGE problem with unity in this country speaks volumes. So huge in fact that both promised to help try to unite the American public. After all, we know how to unite as it wasn\'t so long ago this nation came together to support each other through a very tough time. There were no Democrats or Republicans, just Americans. Have we forgotten so soon?
John Kerry has made an example that we all need to follow and its time to let the healing begin. We may not like the cards we\'ve been dealt for the next four years, but there is little we can do about it now. It\'s time to move on. (Moving to Canada, Mexico, or God forbid...CUBA, is going to help the nation how?)
Its barely been a full day and I am already sick of the name-calling, Bush-bashing that I hear. Hey I didn\'t even vote for the guy and I am sick of it. It will get us nowhere. Forwarding lame-ass emails to me attacking the administration is certainly no way to convince me otherwise. My inbox was flooded this morning with a bunch of anti-Bush jokes/information etc. While it may have made me smile, it isn\'t helping the situation. I\'d hate to have to add one of my old friends to my spammer list because I refuse to read this crap. So what if its true, how does bitching about it change anything?
If John Kerry can be gracious enough to concede like a gentleman, why can\'t we follow that example. My friends, its time let unity be our focus. There are quite possibly going to be some BIG changes in the next four years. Some of which I don\'t mind so much, but many will not be for the greater good. We are going to need to be united more now than ever. Not united against one individual, but united as one nation, in support of that nation. If your the really active type, continue to write your congressmen. Still stand firm for what you believe, but the time for the name-calling and finger pointing has to end and end soon.
There\'s a great line from a movie that goes something like: \"Americans can no longer pretend we live in a great society...\" I believe that to be true right to the core. We have to start making it a great society.
An example has been set, let\'s say we start following it.
Both GW and John Kerry agree that we are a nation divided and that the healing needs to begin. I applaud John Kerry for his decision not to draw this thing out. Having Bush in office may not make many of us happy, but the mere fact that both of the candidates recognize that there is a HUGE problem with unity in this country speaks volumes. So huge in fact that both promised to help try to unite the American public. After all, we know how to unite as it wasn\'t so long ago this nation came together to support each other through a very tough time. There were no Democrats or Republicans, just Americans. Have we forgotten so soon?
John Kerry has made an example that we all need to follow and its time to let the healing begin. We may not like the cards we\'ve been dealt for the next four years, but there is little we can do about it now. It\'s time to move on. (Moving to Canada, Mexico, or God forbid...CUBA, is going to help the nation how?)
Its barely been a full day and I am already sick of the name-calling, Bush-bashing that I hear. Hey I didn\'t even vote for the guy and I am sick of it. It will get us nowhere. Forwarding lame-ass emails to me attacking the administration is certainly no way to convince me otherwise. My inbox was flooded this morning with a bunch of anti-Bush jokes/information etc. While it may have made me smile, it isn\'t helping the situation. I\'d hate to have to add one of my old friends to my spammer list because I refuse to read this crap. So what if its true, how does bitching about it change anything?
If John Kerry can be gracious enough to concede like a gentleman, why can\'t we follow that example. My friends, its time let unity be our focus. There are quite possibly going to be some BIG changes in the next four years. Some of which I don\'t mind so much, but many will not be for the greater good. We are going to need to be united more now than ever. Not united against one individual, but united as one nation, in support of that nation. If your the really active type, continue to write your congressmen. Still stand firm for what you believe, but the time for the name-calling and finger pointing has to end and end soon.
There\'s a great line from a movie that goes something like: \"Americans can no longer pretend we live in a great society...\" I believe that to be true right to the core. We have to start making it a great society.
An example has been set, let\'s say we start following it.
comments:
Andy on 2004-11-04 11:55:06
I empathize with you Ryan. But, as a window into why so many people on the left might find it difficult to \"move on\" and \"unify\", here\'s my humble opinion on the matter. The fact is, because the people who went to the polls and (fairly, I think) elected Presiident Bush did so because of \"values\" issues, there\'s a big, big disconnect in this country. That\'s because \"values\" issues (ones which I know you have very strong opinions about, such as abortion, gay rights, gun rights, etc) leave very little (if any) room for negotiation or common ground. My view is that the people have spoken, and the majority has clearly expressed what their \"values\" are. Well, they ain\'t mine, bro. And since this election happened at a pivotal juncture in our history, our Supreme Court and Constitution are going to be changed to reflect these new values, leaving them almost unchangeable. Even if liberals ever did regain power (which I firmly believe they will never again), it would be too hard to roll back any (let alone all) of the changes that will be made in the next few years. My values are distinctly out of step with those of mainstream Americas. There\'s no common ground there, Ryan. And, on a more personal note (for me), this election has affected the most prescious thing in my life, namely my son. The president wants to weaken legislation that gives rights and support to people with disabilities and wants to marginalize them from our communities. In addition, his \"No Child Left Behind\" act has gutted education for kids with disabilities, and the President intends to \"complete\" his transformation of the education system over the next four years, leaving, well, my child left behind. I don\'t dispute the mandate and message the President has clearly been sent by the voters this election. But to me it\'s a wake-up call that this is no longer my country and never will be again. I\'m not angry, just sad.
Ryan on 2004-11-04 12:08:07
Andy
I\'ll may never know what its like to be affected in the same manner you are concerning your son. I agree that it is truly a sad situation with the changes that may be coming down the pipe.
I certainly won\'t like everything that is going to change, and am sure I look forward to some of them.
I guess my whole point in this entry was, no amount of name-calling, and finger-pointing is going to help the situation. Its time to recognize each-others political views and accept them for what they are, people\'s opinions.
By all means, keep fighting the good fight and don\'t give up. Women fought for a long time to have the right to vote, but it happened. It disheartens me to hear you, one so politically informed and active to throw in the towel. (Not saying you are, but it sounds like your close).
Its the blaming, and name-calling, and conspiracty-theory school of thought that isn\'t doing either side any good.
I respect your opinion and thank you for the insight. If anything, listening to you and reading your blog has caused me to pay more attention the political goings on in this country. I thank you for that.
I\'ll may never know what its like to be affected in the same manner you are concerning your son. I agree that it is truly a sad situation with the changes that may be coming down the pipe.
I certainly won\'t like everything that is going to change, and am sure I look forward to some of them.
I guess my whole point in this entry was, no amount of name-calling, and finger-pointing is going to help the situation. Its time to recognize each-others political views and accept them for what they are, people\'s opinions.
By all means, keep fighting the good fight and don\'t give up. Women fought for a long time to have the right to vote, but it happened. It disheartens me to hear you, one so politically informed and active to throw in the towel. (Not saying you are, but it sounds like your close).
Its the blaming, and name-calling, and conspiracty-theory school of thought that isn\'t doing either side any good.
I respect your opinion and thank you for the insight. If anything, listening to you and reading your blog has caused me to pay more attention the political goings on in this country. I thank you for that.
Andy on 2004-11-04 12:34:51
Thanks for your kind words, Ryan, but yes, I am throwing in the towel. I don\'t see things changing, no matter how much work I or any of my tree-hugging, wine-sipping liberal bretheren do, and I\'ve got to focus my energy and attention on my family. I don\'t know that I can come up with anywhere else I can realistically go instead, but I know I don\'t feel at home here, not with the \"values\" that are in charge. Hopefully, people more energetic and optimistic than I are around and will pull themselves up by their bootstraps and get this fixed. We\'ll see.
