Being in London, six hours away from election results, has its advantages. One, I didn't waste my night away delaying the inevitable defeat. Two, I woke up bright and early (6:30) in order to catch up on news. Nevermind that I woke up to the words "...and it looks as if Ohio is most likely going to President Bush, confirming his second term as President of the United States."
Last night, Mom and I watched a documentary on Bush and the Evangelicals throughout the nation. We were both scared, Mom was surprised. But honestly, neither of us thought this would be the constituent that would make the election for Bush.
Leaving London this afternoon, Mom and I took a cab to the train station. Our driver was certainly British, but wearing a cowboy hat. Although it seemed a little out of place, I'm no guru when it comes to British fashion. But once he started singing along to the country music in his cab, we decided to tone down our talk of fear of our apparently hyper-conservative country. Somehow, the presence of an entire part of America that I have more or less ignored throughout my life - even if it was in the form of a British man - seemed symbolic at that moment. It was just a little reminder of the other part of America, sitting in the very same car as Mom and me.
We all live in microcosms. My opinion was that a good portion of my country is composed of conservatives, with a penchant for tradition. I know very few of them, but that is because every year of my American life has been spent in a state that went blue this election.
Regardless, I respect Republicans' views and their ability to process facts. I thought the facts were pretty clear: Bush is not only out to trample his way all over the international scene but also all over anybody who does not suscribe to his particular faith or lifestyle. I hoped that people would be wary of this kind of leader, but it turns out only 48% of us were.
It frightens me to no end. I do not know my own country. It sounds so dramatic, but I was genuinely startled by the realization. These people came out to vote on the "moral issues" and they chose Bush? I just did not know how conservative we really are. And I am disappointed that I am now a part of that conservative "we" whether I like it or not.
Tomorrow, I leave for Italy. I am going to stay away from the talk for a few days. We spend so much time talking, and in the end, we learn we never knew anything in the first place. We are surprised to find out that what decided this election was not the war in Iraq, the war "on terror," the economy, or health care. What decided it was Bush's stance on gay marriage, abortion, stem cell research and so on. The frightening reality is that the majority of Americans support Bush's stance.
I am so sad that I have to admit I overestimated my country's ability to recognize that Bush's opinion on these issues is discriminatory and wrong. I wish I had been right about my people. I wish I could still make excuses for us, as I have been doing for the last few years. No, this time we made a concious collective choice to keep George W. Bush in power. The absurdity of it just blows my mind.
So backwards we go. Or keep going. Whichever.
I'll pick up my bootstraps soon enough. The Dems are already brimming with calls to arms, but I'm just going to go drown my sadness in pasta for a few days first.
Its really a shame that some American people were not able to see how GW is the worst thing to happen to our country. I'm saddened to say that my state, Iowa, has yet to decide who won the state. It may take till next week because Bush is up only 13,000 votes and we have 30-50,000 absentee and provisional to count. I cried when Kerry conceded, BUSH is NOT the best for our country. Let's just hope his mistakes this time can be cleaned up by the next President. I did my job though, My county(Buchanan) went for Kerry. I have been out working my ass off for months in the county and I can honestly say I did my job and I did everything i could for a Kerry win. Theres always next time...until then, may God help America.
I cried. Maybe it's the emotional rollercoaster I've been on (more on that later) or maybe it's just that given everything else I wasn't willing to admit how very very much I wanted Kerry to win, but I cried when I finally saw pictures of the concession speech, but I cried. I put my face in my hands and wept.
What will hold him back in the next four years? What can possibly keep him from doing what he's already done and so much more? What can possibly keep him from ruining any hope at all? There's no check, there's no balance strong enough. Everything's all catywumpus now.
You have to let me know when you're back in gay Paree, sweet stuff, we need to TALK.
Bush = bad.
Pasta = good.
London cabbies = generally slightly crazy.
I'm probably one of Bush's biggest supporters, but I'm no born-again. The whole evangelical spin is way off base. At the University of Nevada Reno, a poll was taken post-election. White and Black students came in at about the same rate 61% Kerry and 39% Bush. But the hispanic students came in at 57% Bush and 43% Kerry, and the Asian students came in at 71% Bush , 27% Kerry and 2% Nader. There are big changes here in the traditional Democratic base. If the Dems focus on the evangelical vote again in 2008, they'll miss the boat again. I think you've got an excellent blog here and I've rated it 10 in Blogexplosion.
Also...
Bush = good
Curry = good
Palermo cabbies = insane
I am becoming curious as to how the world defines "eveangelical Christian?" Can I just be a Christian?
Heather - you can totally just be a Christian. That's great. I think Evangelical is a whole other category... a scarier kind, to me, but maybe I just never "got" religion? Who knows.
Nickie - I agree wholeheartedly that there's more to it than just the religious breakdown. It will be interesting to see if the Dems get their shit together next time 'round. And thanks for the compliment.