Un-fucking-believable. Swearing is all that remains to be done. I am just dumbfounded by what we’ve seen today. After four years of lies, deceit, fear-mongering and back-stabbing political tactics, he actually got re-elected.
This is no longer a fluke. It cannot be contested. The American people chose, they chose willingly this time. They chose for four more years of this. Now they better well live with their choice, too. In the next four years I shudder to think what may happen to the liberties and social changes that people have fought for in the past decades. Gay marriage was banned in eleven states. Medical marijuana was voted down. All the forward momentum is now well and truly gone. The course is set to ass-backwards and there is no chance for appeal.
Unbelievable.
I took this photo yesterday at the Theo van Gogh protest on the Dam. A call for peace that seems even further away today.
Actually, a measure for medical marijuana in Montana was voted in, by a wide lead of 62% vs 38%, so there was a positive spot. However yes, in Oregon, an expansion to our medical marijuana law, allowing patients to possess more pot, was voted down, but our original law is intact. And a measure in Alaska to fully legalize pot was voted down, but that is no surprise.
All the banning of gay marriage though is very disheartening, though an approval by 75-85% in southern states is no surprise. But it feels like a big step back in what you feel should be a progression of civil rights.
Also please remember that though he did win, he only won by a narrow margin. This is still a very divided country — half of us (especially in the “Blue States”) would have liked to see nothing more than his defeat. I live in Seattle, Washington (in the northwest corner of the USA) and people in my part of the country are very opposed to this man and his adminstration.
I am very worried that the world will view this as a sign of universal approval by us for our president’s actions when that is far from the truth.
I also fear for our civil liberties, for our scientific research, for our freedoms and for our ability to include all people. But most of all I fear for the damage we are doing to the world. Not so much reputation because reputation can be earned back over time. I believe that we will eventually come to our senses as a society, elect saner people, and earn the respect of the world again. But our current policies are, in my opinion, causing so much harm to this world that it scares me every day.
Anyway, I ramble. Keep taking photos … I enjoy your blog very much! We’re all in this world together. I hope one day our leaders will realize this.
-Mike
You’re right, of course. We need to remember that nearly half the voters were actually against Bush. What I wrote was my first reaction on hearing the bad news. It’s somewhat conforting to realize that the civilized world (being the coasts) at least voted for “the other guy” and that hopefully in another four years someone can stand up who will rally more people.
Still, it’s depressing that things didn’t change this time round. Four more years. To some it’s a cry of victory. To me it’s a sigh of defeat.