Life on Rural Street

I realize that I've been MIA for quite a while. But the election and it's results seem to have brought me out of hiding. Seeing as John is just getting depressed from talking aboutthe election results and I need & want to continue talking about it, I've brought it here.

For the most part (Maybe actually for the ALL part) John and I voted for a different candidate than our families. In fact, I would wager a guess that he and I are the only two in both of our immediate families who did not vote for Bush. And that's ok - I respect our families' decisions to vote for the candidate they feel is the best, just as they respect mine, and this doesn't have a lot to do with families and who they vote for - but it explains why our frustration with the election results can't really be shared with our families. They love us even though we're not republican and that's a good thing - because we certainly need all the love we can get!

Mostly, I am sad. I'm sad for the workers in the area I live who seemingly have no one on their side now. (at a federal level at least) I'm sad that our country didn't at least keep some balance in the government. I'm sad that the environment will definitely suffer over the next four year. I'm sad that to some voters (I emphasize SOME - because this is not a blanket statement) their homophobic feelings were more important than the continued war and unjust actions being taken. I'm sad that our country will more than likely continue to decline in the foreign eye. I'm sad that the wealthy will now keep their money but the poor will continue to struggle to survive. And I'm very sad the America is so divided.

By no means do I suggest that Kerry would have been the perfect candidate. In fact, I think there were a lot of people who would have been a better choice for the Democrats. But I do think a change would have been a good thing. If I were in a room with Kerry & Bush, I have a feeling I would gravitate toward Bush. I think he's a more overtly-friendly person and shows a lot more passion at least in public settings. But these things don't make a good president.

I get really frustrated with the fact that President Bush names Jesus Christ as his personal hero - but still uses pre-emptive strikes & violence to "protect" our country when were never really in danger from Iraq to begin with. How can you justify beginning a war but continuing to cut taxes and increase a deficit that is almost out of control? I just don't understand his line of thinking. Why is it that the overwhelmingly majority of Christians have decided that the Republican party is the "right party" and the "Christian party." Last time I checked God had not registered with either party. So, I'm growing weary of the looks I get when people ask me who I voted for and then proceed to look disapprovingly at me as if I was a "bad Christian" because I didn't cast my vote for Bush.

I will, however, admit that I have had a bit of an attitude toward strong Bush supporters and need to not think of them in the same light that I hate to be though of in. Most people I know who voted for Bush did not come to the decision to do so lightly. And I'm not speaking of those people when I mention my attitude - just to clear things up.

I hope over the next four years that President Bush does what he said yesterday and helps to heal the divide in America. I honestly don't see it happening, but I sincerely hope it will.

Election rant over.