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Wednesday, November 03, 2004
Well . . .
What is there to say? Yes, there are still legal challenges and uncounted provisional and other ballots in Ohio, Florida and elsewhere. But regardless of the outcome, and I'm still holding out for a Kerry win, the fact remains that about half of our nation hates everything we believe in and would rather embrace fascism, economic terrorism and environmental murder than allow more enlightened minds to prevail. This is not America. It is every true American's, and every true citizen of the planet's, nightmare. I think too many people actually want Armageddon, even if they have to create it themselves by crucifying everything creative, thoughtful, intelligent, gentle, reasoned and natural in the world. This is what happens when blind faith replaces critical thinking, every time.
Are you ready for the country? Because it's time to go. To some country. Somewhere.
November 3, 2004 at 12:52 AM in Candidates & Races | Permalink
Comments
I think we are legally obligated to give back the Statue of Liberty, if we can't even bring ourselves to pursue the principle os Emma Lazarus's poem at her foundations:
The New Colossus
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame,
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore,
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
by Emma Lazarus, New York City, 1883
We have turned our backs on Liberty as a guiding light, and would prefer that she held - what? - a lynching torch.
But our battle for decency, justice, and responsibility continues. The stakes have never been higher, the opposition never more entrenched in government, economics, and society. Capitalism threatens to domesticate, not only democracy, but our humanity as well. We have no choice but to fight back. The game is longer than we anticipated. Humanity and all of nature demands that we stand and fight.
Posted by: John McAndrew | Nov 3, 2004 7:27:02 AM
We are discouraged and sad to see how many of those in our nation have been mislead by Bush, or worse, believe that just because a man prays and speaks of a Christian God that he is a man of moral character. He is not.
Let's rest today, because the fight is just beginning. We cannot abandon our country in this time of need. Our people are misguided and lied to by our administration and our media. We need election reform, paper trails, instant run off voting. We need to take back the media from the corporations. We need to help people understand that War is not inevitable. Hang in there and let these disappointments fuel your activism. This is our country and we will never give it up.
Posted by: Martha Binford | Nov 3, 2004 9:40:32 AM
A Massachusetts friend of mine suggests that New England secede from the Union, joining Canada. And of course CA and FL could rejoin Spain, and NM, Mexico...if any of these places would have us.
Posted by: foodiesfordean | Nov 3, 2004 1:50:48 PM
Thank you, John, and thank you, Martha, and thank you, Barb, for the words of reflection. We worked our butts off, but still I was afraid Bush would do this. This morning I've been scouring the internet, tv, radio for words of encouragement. Where did I find them? Dean again. (Please read below - you may have already see it.) I love Howard Dean. See you at meetup tonight... pageOne, 7pm.
Yeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaarrrrrrhhhhhhhhhh!
-Nancy
[IMPEACH CHENEY FIRST!]
"Martin Luther King, Jr. said, 'Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.' We will not be silent. [. . .] we are not stopping here." -Howard Dean - Nov 3, 2004
*** What You Won't Hear on TV Today ***
Governor Howard Dean sent this message to Democracy for America supporters today:
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.
Today is not an ending.
Regardless of the outcome yesterday, we have begun to revive our democracy. While we did not get the result we wanted in the presidential race, we laid the groundwork for a new generation of Democratic leaders.
Democracy for America trained thousands of organizers and brought new leadership into the political process. And down the ballot, in state after state, we elected Dean Dozen candidates who will be the rising stars of the Democratic Party in years ahead.
Tens of millions of us are disappointed today because we put so much of ourselves into this election. We donated money, we talked to friends, we knocked on doors. We invested ourselves in the political process.
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.
Thank you for everything you did for our cause in this election. But we are not stopping here.
Governor Howard Dean, M.D.
Democracy For America
www.DemocracyForAmerica.com
Posted by: Nancy | Nov 3, 2004 2:01:32 PM
Howard makes good points. It's good to be reminded of Dr. King, Malcolm X, and others who knew that the promised land is over a mountaintop (those mountains - usually hard things to summit), and that one generation may not get there to enjoy it, but that we do the work for the benefit of future generations, not just our own. Delayed gratification sucks.
So we lick our wounds, and spend time with new friends, by phone or in person. And we look for an effective way to regroup, preferably with a larger group. Let's keep in touch and keep this forum active, even on a low level for now.
Which reminds me How Much we owe Barb for her work this last year on this web site. If we can say that Democracy for New Mexico has a continuing existence, it's mostly thanks to the presence and vitality with which you've infused this web site, Barb. So I stand . . . and bow deeply . . . in your direction, and say thank you for creating and maintaining dfnm.com, and for being a plumb line for our daily political lives and activism. We're in your debt.
Posted by: John McAndrew | Nov 4, 2004 8:43:13 AM
We may have lost the election but how much we have gained in getting to know so many wonderful people. And how much we owe to Barb for keeping the hopes of Democracy for America alive here in Albuquerque! The turnout at meet up last night is a tribute to that sense of community, and after a time of rest we will "take a reef in the mainsail" and move on, realizing that change is difficult and slow, but without it people and natons just wither and die. Jeanne Carritt
Posted by: Jeanne Carritt | Nov 4, 2004 11:27:57 AM
