Wednesday, November 3, 2004
After the ball is over.....?
What do you suppose will happen after the election? Given the fervor on each side, how can the dust settle? Since one of them will lose and one of them will win. The language of this year's debate ratcheted up to an astonishing level, burbling with disgust and anger. The good part is that it's involved large ideas like courage and freedom, patriotism and loyalty. But people usually just prefer one or another candidate and talk about why. This time, many supporters believe their man is good and the other man is bad. Black and white. Here's my problem with that: aside from the fact that each man almost certainly has the best interests of the country at heart and is not a satanic hologram, what does everyone do with such extreme convictions after one wins and one loses?
On Wednesday morning (or whenever it is), how do the two men - and we - resume life as usual? A huge portion of the country believes Kerry is a self-serving, lubricious, and lugubrious (credit for that wonderful pairing of "l" words to Alan Sullivan), truly unfit for command. On the other hand, a huge portion of the country believes Bush is a frightening near-despot. In other words, many Americans believe many other Americans will elect someone who lies and deceives... and both sides sling the description at the other. Can each candidate summon the resources to congratulate the other graciously? And even if they can, can the rest of us possibly put aside the year's passion and accumulated convictions? Can everyone make a reasoned and resigned nod of acceptance and go forward? Can we put our passionately felt convictions to good use? Can we avoid making the country more divided? I guess this is yet another test of our resilience and inherent goodness. I hope we pass.
On Wednesday morning (or whenever it is), how do the two men - and we - resume life as usual? A huge portion of the country believes Kerry is a self-serving, lubricious, and lugubrious (credit for that wonderful pairing of "l" words to Alan Sullivan), truly unfit for command. On the other hand, a huge portion of the country believes Bush is a frightening near-despot. In other words, many Americans believe many other Americans will elect someone who lies and deceives... and both sides sling the description at the other. Can each candidate summon the resources to congratulate the other graciously? And even if they can, can the rest of us possibly put aside the year's passion and accumulated convictions? Can everyone make a reasoned and resigned nod of acceptance and go forward? Can we put our passionately felt convictions to good use? Can we avoid making the country more divided? I guess this is yet another test of our resilience and inherent goodness. I hope we pass.
Labels: politics
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