Nov 3, 04

Kerry concedes election.

After a recent show, I shared my concerns regarding this presidential election with my friend Charlie. I was afraid that America would be swept up in the Bush campaign and its agenda. He looked at me and said, “we [Kerry/Edwards] will win, I work in comic books and the good guys always win”. Well, it is 11:15am on Nov 3rd and Bush/Cheney, our lives firmly shoved into their very deep pockets, will have another 4 years.
I think what scares me the most is the idea that perhaps “I” am the one misinformed and delusional. This is the only way I can rationalize this seemingly ridiculous turn of events.
In an effort to grasp and reconcile myself with this conclusion, I’ve attempted to reevaluate my beliefs (in no particular order, since my thoughts are so obviously scattered) and consider them anew.
I believe in God. I believe that there is something greater than us and to think that we are all on this earth for no good reason is incredibly egotistical. I also believe in freedom and the American constitution. Historically, religion has been and continues to be the greatest inciter of global unrest. It is also no secret that GWB is a borne again Christian, saved from the throes of alcoholism and addiction by the grace of the good lord. While I think its wonderful a man can reverse his fortune with a new-found faith, I think its horrifying that America chose a president who is unwilling to separate his ever increasing fanatical religious perspective from the issues of state. Gay rights, stem cell research and abortion are all key issues that will be directly affected by his religious beliefs.
I believe in leadership. I spoke with someone who voted Bush/Cheney (in Florida of all places!) and she said she simply didn’t like Kerry. She felt that he was too much of a demigod. I wonder what would make someone choose the village idiot over the natural borne leader. In his late 20’s John Kerry returned from service in the Vietnam War, mobilized thousands of people, and called for change. This is an irrefutable fact. What is also irrefutable is the controversy around his actions. My point is not whether he was right or wrong in doing what he did but rather to call attention to his ability as a young man to unite a people and lead them armed with only his words, his belief in our country and rocks in his hand against goliath. Now, I don’t really think GWB is an idiot. I am aware of his high IQ and I am also aware that eloquence is not necessarily a sign of great intellect, but when someone is chosen to speak for and represent a nation, I believe a man who can employ reason despite anger and who can unite despite great division should be the obvious choice.
On the morning of 911, the “war on terror” earned its moniker and we embarked on a mission to “make them pay”. As I watched the second WTC tower angrily hurl itself to the ground, retribution had long since formed on my lips. Though I have heard it said that 911 was GWB’s finest hour, I believe it represents GWB’s greatest failure as our Commander in Chief. He was given an opportunity, a true defining moment, to carry us through a time of turmoil and it seemed almost possible as he stood strong, bullhorn in hand with arms outstretched in a hug that embraced us all quelling our mountain of fear and loss. Instantaneously all was forgiven. However, what I can’t seem to overlook is that anyone in his position would have done the same thing. In fact, all of us here in New York City did the same thing. We walked the streets in tears; breathing in stale smoke, pasting photocopies of loved ones on the sides of buildings. We looked each other in the eye and tried to digest the greatest wake up call ever heard by our generation. With a clear target (Bin Laden) and the faith of our great nation behind him, GWB lead us into Afghanistan (to “smoke them out”) and almost immediately managed to divert our anger, fear and rage into a war with Iraq that smelled more of personal vendetta and gain (oil) than a “war on terror”.
The deception regarding this issue, the continuing smoke screen by GWB and his cronies is horribly disturbing. After 911 we charged ahead like commandos on a mission. We had the world on our side and a clear path to avenge ourselves and hunt O.B down. Yet when we redirected our missile launchers and aimed instead at SH, the world took notice and tried to hold up a mirror. Perhaps SH and Iraq needed to be dealt with but how GWB has done it and how he continues to do it, is a sign of weakness and myopia rather than strength and greatness. Our brave troops are overextended as a result of this open ended “war in Iraq” and ultimately, despite our resolve to “win the war on terror” we are in greater danger against those who have yet to take their eyes off the proverbial ball.
What if we had never ended our search for OBL? (It is factual that GWB “hasn’t thought much about him” in quite sometime). What if we spent the 80+ billion in the development of alternative fuels? What if we helped rebuild the tenements, poor and hungry in America rather than the Middle East? What if we displayed tolerance and acceptance among ourselves rather than forcing “democracy” (with a remarkable resemblance to imperialism) down the throat of an unwilling 3rd world nation? What if one of the Bush twins had been stricken with Parkinsonism? What if one of them had been raped? Or worse, what if one of them were gay or WORSE what if both of them were gay?
Ok, I’m done. I hope Charlie was right and that in the end “the good guys always win”. I hope GWB rises to the occasion. I hope the next four years prove all my fears to be completely unfounded and I really hope I can look back and call myself a jackass for not having faith in the man. In the mean time however, I’m going to remember this feeling that I could have done more to fight for what I believed. Next time I will.