One Man’s Walk through life

Yeah I can’t believe that many people voted for Kerry/Edwards!!!

So does that mean you agree with me and you actually thought the country was more populated by morons and are actually suprised by how close they came to losing Bush in office?

Or, does it mean that you think that the 51% of Americans that voted for Bush would best be described by an adjective other than “moron”?

I’m thinking Europe looks good.

You think you’ll be better off in Cuba? Since my family is from Cuba I can honestly tell you what you have to look forward to:

A government that says, “Elections – what for?”

A tiny prison cell where you can contemplate your “unpopular views” (read: any view that doesn’t support the government position)

A beating for everytime you say something against the Communist Party or Fidel

A bare-subsistence wage no matter how hard you work at your assigned job

A neighbor who will be only to happy to report your seditious activities to the authorities

A high carb diet since meat is extremely hard to find

A pair of shoes. As in one pair. Clothing, like most items is rationed.

A system with equal distaste for “moral values” since atheism is officially encouraged

A schoolbook for your children where the teach that G is for guerilla, R for revolution

A homeland with one of the worst human rights records of any country in the world today

Adios!

Well at least in Cuba I won’t have any illusions then…

Okay, point taken.

Seriously, after living in South America, I actually do appreciate being an American again. I AM actually proud to be an American. At the same time, I am ashamed when my country with so much going for it, so much wealth, so much education and “democracy” elects Bush again. Travelling a bit around the world, and hearing people outside of the states opinions about Bush… Before the “war on terror”, people I talked to in Europe had no respect for him because they thought him an imbecil. After 9/11, EVERYONE gave the US their support, and Bush took that and instead of uniting the world under it, he divided it. Even peasants in SOUTH AMERICA not only have no respect for him, they plain hate him for the way he’s waged war in the Middle East. And that goes twice for most of the people I know in the UK, the rest of Europe, and Australia. In russia, I was reading about how everyone was pretty confident that Kerry would win…they give us too much credit.

Anyway, I could rant on, but I won’t. Cuba does have a few things going for it though, from what I hear. Cuban music… Cuban dancing… and not that I smoke really, but the cigars…

I look at it as a victory of the Baby Boom (once again) over the rest of the country. Face it, if the Baby Boomers (via their man Bush) appoint a couple of Supreme Court judges this term, we’re going to be living under their warped morality — particularly the homophobia and vaginaphobia — until you and I are well into middle age.

I voted for Kerry this time, even though I think Bush is better on economics and foreign policy, because Kerry is more moderate on social issues (though still a homophobe) and those are the only issues that this election will still impact 20-30 years from now.

Jeremy,
While world opinion and friendship with foreigners and alies is important, it must always come a distant second to protecting our own interests and fulfilling our obligations to our own people. If your argument against Bush is based on the opinion of a South American farmer, then it is very weak indeed. I voted for Kerry, not because I wanted to be liked by the French, but because I thought he could do more for Americans. Unfortunately, I know many people who would have voted for Kerry if he didn’t come with a sweeping liberal agenda. It is one thing to convince a person you can do a better job of running the war in Iraq. It is one thing to convince a person you can safeguard America. It is one thing to convince them you can improve the economic situation by rolling back tax cuts on the top 2%. It is another thing entirely to convince people that abortion is permissible, that unfettered stem cell research is morally desirable, and that gay marriage is ethical. Here’s how a Democrat can win the next election despite the fact that 51% of the country is morally conservative. 1. State that they disapprove of abortion but recognize it as the law of the land. (State your disapproval but resign to the will of the people). 2. Approve of stem cell research on existing lines of stem cells, but don’t ask American’s to accept “growing life” in a lab for spare parts. 3. Recognize the rights of gay Americans and back a civil union that allows them the same rights of married couples, without calling it marriage. 4. Push any economic agenda you want, because the sticking points are 1,2, and 3.

Only in America could Kerry be called a liberal. Elsewhere in the world the recent election has been seen as a contest between the right wing and the far right wing.

Lets remember that “America” does not mean “Bush”. Bush is just a result of a party that has the right strategists that know how to win an election.
To me the word “American” conjures up visions of a person who takes pride in his independence, freedom, and his openness to various cultures and ethnicities.
So I guess in our own way, by being American, we can be likeable to the world – granted that we have a little less visibility than the president :). Thats all we can do.
It hard but I am just trying here to look on the bright side

Christian Romney, I would like to express my agreement with your point of view and thank you for at least sounding so resolute in it (I hope you trully are). Too few of the people i know have such a well balanced view on the issue(s) you raised about kerry’s radical liberalism and how the democratic party would have a landslide win if they just shifted their social platform closer to the republican party’s. I agree totally and want my bro Jeremy to consider what you have said (yes the same Jeremy who owns this blog, im his little bro). Thank you for your opinion Christian it has refreshed me. And as for you Jerm you frustrate the heck out of me but i love you anyway and i would like you to never be so……….mean to me (as you were on Saturday) because of my opinion, again. I have never been so disrespectful of you even though i not only become angry because of YOUR vote/opinion but because I fear for you and those around you. You are entitled to your opinion as am I and if nothing else, I urr (is that how you spell it?) on the side of caution and consciense.
I love you dumcough.

Jeremy, just stopped by to see how you are doing and had to comment.

1. Of course, you know you will never convince a single person by calling them a moron. Just because they didn’t vote the way you wanted them to does not make them idiots, morons, or uneducated. Same for the 49%. Different people simply have different goals and priorities.

A big part of the problem in this country is that instead of dicussion we label and call names. I’m not saying you are like this, but too many Dems (including Kerry) come off as pompous and arrogant when they have this attitude and it helps turn off the 51%.

On a side note if you look at the exit polls Bush happened to win in the “College Grad” category. So there must be some non-morons voting for him.

2. Bush screwed up big time. BIG TIME. He led us into Iraq under the pretenses that we would find WMDs there. We found nothing. Nada.

All the Dems had to do was nominate a reasonable moderate, maybe someone like Joe Lieberman. Instead they swing wildly left and nominate John Kerry. Ironically, the most common complaint I hear from “tolerant” liberals is that they are unconfortable with Mr. Lieberman being so open with his faith. So much for religous tolerance. Who knew it would be liberals who wouldn’t vote for him because he was Jewish….

Bill Clinton was so successful because he moderated himself. When he went too far left (Socialized Healthcare) he got his butt kicked (ex Newt and the Rep Revolution in Congress) and went moderate again (Welfare Reform).

3. We need to find a way to stop having each side push their own morals on each other and this may take a bit of lateral thinking. For example government-endorced marriage should be abolished. I’m consider myself married before God whether or not the government agrees. If it was discovered my marriage license was invalid I wouldn’t consider Lisa and I living in sin for 4 years nor our 2 upcoming daughters born out of wedlock. If two men or women want to consider themselves married go right ahead–no laws required. Diddo if a certain religion still practices pologamy or polyandry. The government has no business deciding what is moral and what is not. Just have some sort of neutral contract available to whoever and that’s it.

4. There is plenty of middle ground to be found. However, it doesn’t appear as if anyone wants to try and find it.

I personally have a big problem with the Dems position on fetal stem cells and their lack of genuine arguments. They always accuse Bush of banning “stem cell research” when he merely banned *federal funding* of “aborted fetus stem cell” research. Meanwhile the Dems haven’t come up with very convincing arguments as to why researchers can’t just use stem cells from umbilical cords. Its almost as if they are *trying* to pick a fight for no reason.

5. Until some of the above happens we will be in a 50/50 culture war. And don’t think it is merely the right forcing its values on the left. Just look at California where Catholic organizations must pay for birth control for its employees despite their religious objections otherwise.

Anyway, good to see your back in the US!