| jadetrekeast ( @ 2004-11-05 14:12:00 |
Good News and Bad News /Disappointment
I am not one to blog or LJ much. I hate to stick my neck out and I'm not a rock the boat kind of person, however in the view of the election results and the subsequent blog/lj entries I read, I have to write down my thoughts.
First the good news:
In case anyone has missed this fact, there was a record amount of voters this election year in the US. People from both side of the political spectrum came out in huge numbers to vote.
I am proud of how the young people, aka first time voters got involved in the process. In my state I saw far more people going door to door, campaigning for their candidate. The adage is true, if you don't vote you can't complain about the outcome. We may hear complaints about the result but at least millions got out to vote.
Another bit of good news is that both Senator Kerry's and President Bush's speeches on Wednesday were classy. The call to come together to meet common goals and needs was clear from both men. I had expected no matter the outcome to hear rancor and possibly lawsuits in protest, but we didn't get that. We had enough negative campaigning, so I'm happy to see that end.
Now for the bad news and my disappointment:
I am disappointed with the way that many people, several of whom I consider my friends, from other countries are not just quick to criticize but they resorted to name calling and to insults. I understand that these people are frustrated and upset at the outcome, but it doesn't help their point of view when they label Americans, "stupid," "idiots," or "morons." I must point out that those who choose cutting insults are also insulting like minded Americans as well.
I admit that the bitterness aimed at me by way of my citizenship stung more than I expected since it often came from my friends in the online community. Please remember that human beings are reading your posts, some are your friends, and not nameless, faceless "countries" I'm an American, and when you call all of us bigoted morons, you're calling me that as well.
I am not one to blog or LJ much. I hate to stick my neck out and I'm not a rock the boat kind of person, however in the view of the election results and the subsequent blog/lj entries I read, I have to write down my thoughts.
First the good news:
In case anyone has missed this fact, there was a record amount of voters this election year in the US. People from both side of the political spectrum came out in huge numbers to vote.
I am proud of how the young people, aka first time voters got involved in the process. In my state I saw far more people going door to door, campaigning for their candidate. The adage is true, if you don't vote you can't complain about the outcome. We may hear complaints about the result but at least millions got out to vote.
Another bit of good news is that both Senator Kerry's and President Bush's speeches on Wednesday were classy. The call to come together to meet common goals and needs was clear from both men. I had expected no matter the outcome to hear rancor and possibly lawsuits in protest, but we didn't get that. We had enough negative campaigning, so I'm happy to see that end.
Now for the bad news and my disappointment:
I am disappointed with the way that many people, several of whom I consider my friends, from other countries are not just quick to criticize but they resorted to name calling and to insults. I understand that these people are frustrated and upset at the outcome, but it doesn't help their point of view when they label Americans, "stupid," "idiots," or "morons." I must point out that those who choose cutting insults are also insulting like minded Americans as well.
I admit that the bitterness aimed at me by way of my citizenship stung more than I expected since it often came from my friends in the online community. Please remember that human beings are reading your posts, some are your friends, and not nameless, faceless "countries" I'm an American, and when you call all of us bigoted morons, you're calling me that as well.