Where Do We Go From Here?
I see that John Kerry has conceded the election to George Bush, thereby avoiding the "who is it going to be" legal battles of 2000. Question now is, what does a deeply divided America do now?Kerry urged his supporters to keep working on the social and economic issues he committed to in his campaign. On the other hand, House majority leader, Republican Tom DeLay of Texas is reported to have said "With a bigger majority, we can do even more exciting things."
Doesn't sound much like bridge building to me. More like the glee felt by a greedy child let loose in a candy store.
My friend Zes says it's too late to put the politically active genie back in the bottle. Quit the whining and channel that energy into a new activism.
So what's it to be? Hate Bush for the next 4 years? Lambaste his poor "blinders-on" supporters whose jobs are lost and whose relatives die in a divisive, diversionary war but who share his Christian values and embrace his bumbling Texas cowboy schtick? He's a rich WASP who has screwed up everything he's ever touched, but he qualifies for Commander-In-Chief? Who wrote that job description!
Whew! Vitriol is best when released. I really meant to be foward looking because I truly want to know where we go from here.
Syndicate Me!
3 Comments:
Zes is right, of course. I think many of us were much more emotionally invested in this election than we've ever been before, so we'll need a little time to sulk, to cry, to lick our wounds and so forth, but I have to have confidence that ultimately, we'll pull ourselves together and make our anger and our frustration work for us to push us forward. She's just gotten there a little more quickly than the rest of us.
There is some encouragement out there, though. Yesterday, I received these words from Democracy For America, Howard Dean's organization:
Montana, one of the reddest states, has a new Democratic governor.
First-time candidates for state legislatures from Hawaii to Connecticut beat incumbent Republicans.
And a record number of us voted to change course -- more Americans voted against George Bush than any sitting president in history.
That process does not end today. These are not short-term investments. We will only create lasting change if that sense of obligation and responsibility becomes a permanent part of our lives.
Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."
We will not be silent.
Then this morning, this from the folks at MoveOn.org:
Although George Bush won by 3% nationally, we must remember that 55.4 million Americans stood with you and with John Kerry. You are certainly not alone. And a healthy environment, a strong and fair economy, good schools, domestic safety and the end of the war in Iraq are goals we all share -- red states and blue states alike.
Our journey toward a progressive America has always been bigger than George Bush. The current leg is just beginning -- we're still learning how to build a citizen-based politics together. But it's a journey our nation has been on for a long time. As Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "The arc of history is long, but it bends toward justice."
Today, we'll take a breath. Tomorrow, we'll keep moving toward the America we know is possible.
I don't see that we have any other choice, really, do you?
Typical Pattie reply but...
When I read your subject line "Where do we go from here" I ended up getting the song from the Buffy musical stuck in my head... DAMMIT! I just got rid of those songs!!
Anyhoo... each of these organizations Moveon.org, TrueMajorty.org, DemocracyforAmerica.com, the Green Party etc all have things on their sites on how to get involved. Try going to a Democracy for America Meet Up, I bet that will help you find what to do now.
I say the first thing we all need to do in Chicago is get that funding to the CTA so they don't cut back on routes and stuff.
Visited MoveOn and beyondthevote.org to see what national initiatives were in play. But someone once say "think globally, act locally." I just have to find my issues.
Public transit funding impacts all of us. So does affordable housing and spurring the growth of small business and improving education opportunities. OK. I've got issues.
Confidentially, Pattie: I was on the Buffy train with the title.
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