It's not over until the fat lady sings, but she's most certainly warming up her voice and spritzing her throat for what we all assume will be an inevitable performance. The Republicans are gloating and beaming over record turnout and winning both the electoral and popular vote advantages, and the Democrats are hushed, quiet, hoping for a miracle to deliver Ohio to us in its 20 electoral vote glory. A miracle that, with all things taken into account, won't happen. [ UPDATE: The miracle didn't happen. Kerry conceded the race earlier today. ]
So where do we go from here? While the Kerry campaign might be holding out hope to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, the rest of the left-leaning community is either disgruntled, upset, given up, enraged, more passionate now than before, or motivated, depending on who you ask. As for me? I admit the battle may be over, but the war is far from ending, and I'll be damned if I lay down my sword now. The conservatives can pry it from my cold, dead hands. As long as I have it in me, I'll speak out.
Liberal is not a dirty word in America anymore. Here's my take on the situation.
Yesterday after work I went to the polls. It was my first time in my new polling place, so I was thrilled with the opportunity to take advantage; I wanted to see the new place and maybe even get to use one of these new Diebold machines that everyone had been on about. I pulled up to the elementary school that was my polling location and I was happy to see that people were moving in and out pretty quickly and there were no lines. I parked, walked up to the building and struck up a quick but very pleasant conversation with the Kerry supporters electioneering outside the school (one of whom had been there since the polls opened that morning) and with a grin on my face, walked in to make my voice heard.
I strolled in, got directed to the right polling rook, went to cast my ballot, poked the machine and verified my submissions twice over, and cast my vote. It was simple, really-no problems with the machine, all the officials were nice and smiling, and I grinned happily as I walked out, a surge of energy rushing through me as I chatted up the Kerry supporters outside again and then was off to my car to drive home. I was thrilled, ecstatic, to have the opportunity to be heard. It's really a rush people, if you don't vote, I sincerely recommend it. You actually do leave feeling empowered, although I knew where my state's electoral votes were going and I happily knew my vote was just going on top of the pile.
I went home to relax a bit, and started watching the exit polls and precinct reports fall in. It wasn't looking good, and it looked even worse when I finally turned the television off at approximately 4AM this morning. By all counts and intentions, the election was all but over and we were faced with four more years of George W. Bush in the White House, and a widening margin of power in the Senate and House of Representatives. At this point, many of my countrymen and neighbors in arms gave up, if the rest of the blogosphere is any indication.
Now. Giving up on the election is one thing. The inevitable may happen. However, giving up on politics, giving up on America, giving up on the promise and the light of the left and of liberalism is another. The worst possible thing that could come from this election, I've said it before and I'll say it again, is that the results disenfranchise a generation, an entire column of young people, intelligent people, informed people, people who care about the future of this nation, the future of our rights as citizens and as human beings, the future of our liberties, the future of our sons and daughters, the future of our environment, our landscape, our air and our water, the future of our relationship with our allies, the future of our pocketbooks, and the future of our everyday lives. The absolute worst thing that could happen, and the thing the Republicans and conservatives are giddy about, hoping for, is that you and I and all those like us simply get jaded, sit down, shut up, and let them have their way.
It aint gonna happen.
If anything, this is the time we need to rise. The progressive movement in the United States has lost its first major battle; but like the Union army at the gates of the civil war, we can and will go on to raze the pillars of hatred and injustice, of bigotry and prejudice, of ignorance and intolerance. Our movement has yet to truly find a voice, to truly pick up momentum, and we already faced one of our most significant challenges. This is by no means the end of the war-the war for the rights of all people, the war for the safety of our nation, the war for the security-physically, financially, and personally, the war for the respect and admiration of our fine people and our fine land rages on in the hearts and minds of the American people, and it's ours to lose.
The Republican attack machine has been in full swing for years, the smear campaigns at work for about that long, and the conservative tactics of suppression, fear, and prejudice have been at work for many many years. The progressive movement, the liberal front, has only had about a year or so to truly start to gather steam. Without a doubt, things looked excellent during that year-from the positivity and optimism of the Democratic National Conventions to Kerry's enduring intelligence in the debates, we showed the world that not only was Kerry a better candidate than Bush, he was one of the best. But with all of this true, progressive movements in America have only begun to truly find their place; only now to truly become active, to find their voices and speak out. And we cannot stop now.
I refer you to an amazing point made on the Daily KOS this morning:
[ http://www.dailykos.com/story/2004/11/3/61013/0352 ]
And I agree with the sentiment one hundred percent. United we must stand, and we must not allow the right to divide us. We must challenge the rest of America to take its blinders off, to shed its ignorance and to open its eyes, and as this happens there is no doubt they will come and join us. To do this, we must stand together, we must stay active, we must increase our activity, we must be as resolute in our knowledge, in our positions, and in our convictions as the conservatives claim to be. Together we can make a difference; together we can be the tailwind that steers our nation and its great people to brighter days, calmer waters, and peaceful shores.
And I intend to be a part of this grand movement, this great design, this true American resistance, and I'd like you to join me. Because you know I'm right, you know you're right, you know that feeling in your heart that tells you that something isn't right here, that the direction we're taking is the wrong one, you know that gut feeling is important. And most importantly, because the alternative is unacceptable.
Here's to tomorrow. Life every voice and sing.
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Pleasant Tingle.net, Electoral Musings and Thoughts for Tomorrow
