November 3, 2004

  • Vignette


    This morning at the local business inn's front desk, a tall man in a conservative suit-and-tie graciously welcomed his overseas business associates:  "Good morning!  How was your trip?  I hope you slept well?"  The guests, also gracious, gave the expected answers until his last question, at which they giggled a little, with the giddy air of slightly sleepless sports fans on the morning-after.  "Oh, no!" they chorused.  "We were watching the American election!"


    Their host's face lost that professional politesse, and his response was more curt than was entirely fitting.  "Don't talk to me about it," he said abruptly.


    For 51% of the electorate, it's a day of celebration.  And for 48%, a day of mourning. Perhaps really the only thing to be said is: that's a helluva lot of people, both ways.


    I'm not sure there's a clear path of healing, but in any case we probably all need to walk delicately for a while. 


    In case there is such a path to be found.

Comments (12)

  • Wonderfully said!

  • It's a hard path to find, but yes, we need to walk it if possible...

    For me, it's a day of mourning.

  • Everyone I have spoken with today is mourning.  I wonder how Bush won.  Of course I live in California, so the majority of the people here were Kerry supporters. 

  • Well, in answer to your comment.. England's small.. and, also, an island..!  We're pretty much granting disillusioned democrats refugee status at this point, too

  • chalk another one up under mourning.

    I don't like Kerry at all, but for me, he was the much lesser of two distinct evils.

  • We shall walk delicately...whilst arrogant frat boys stomp freely about proclaiming their victory (how?...I still can't comprehend those numbers....)

    And this: you are always welcome where I am.

  • I've seen no gloating, no celebration, but did witness some deep displeasure, and some resignation that made me really sad.  I was so miffed at the so-called two evils that I voted third party for the first time in my life.

    If only there wasn't such a gulf of misunderstanding between those whose guy won, and those who hate said guy (I only know one person who was really enamored of the junior senator from Massachusetts)...  so I agree with you - I don't see the road to healing very clearly either.

  • ah, great web log. great. we can find that path. damn it. we have to. healing is key.

  • The concept that seems to have been lost is compromise.  The genius behind the government and social system that was designed by our founding delegates is the implicit acknowledgment that the system must allow for and embrace the fact that all reasonable, rational people will not agree on all issues.  In the last decade or so the notion of understanding, tolerance, and compromise has been replaced by distrust, self-centeredness, dislike, and even hatred.  Until we regain the notion that compromise is a lofty goal and not a sign of weakness, the divisiveness will only get worse.

  • I can't recall another election being this way.  I mean people just sort of said ok, well, fine, and went about their business.  The count last time was a little tense.  The whole Florida thing.  But THIS time around, wow, a looooot of tension.

    Truly, the nation is divided.  I myself am very disappointed.  Like a lot of people I was voting against someone rather than for someone.  I don't think this country is being run well at all. 

    I think this administration is setting a dangerous precident for the administrations to come.  The control over us, the brainwashing, is getting very scary.  We're headed toward all of those hideous things like colonialism and dictatorship...

  • i'm taking the road to excess!

Comments are closed.

Post a Comment