Battle must go on

How can 59,459,351 people be so dumb? A question I have asked myself several times since participating in a sleep deprivation experiment that was the 2004 election. Recently, I have also had restless nights. I fight sleep in order to avoid waking to the reality that a progressive nation is no longer an attainable goal.

I think John Edwards actually may have spoken the truth. There are in fact two Americas: One that values tolerance and equality; and the other that believes in the “Divine Will.” Of course, the Democrats have lost the election and essentially, control over every branch of the government. For that reason, I get to live in the nation of “Divine Will”: One nation, under God (Bush’s God), with guns, and with gays (hating them of course).

As I struggle to get through the days after the election, I cannot ignore that the largest voter turnout in recent history could not proffer a victory for the Democrats. In excess of 51 percent of Americans preferred to ignore reality. They instead chose their own faith in God and faith in the man more than willing to play the role of messiah.

Please do not misunderstand. This is not just another Republican victory. This is not just about losing an election. This is not typical liberal bitterness. This is about a fear of losing the normally devoted individuals whom have always believed that: If we did it right and told the truth, we would be victorious. This is about those individuals whom voted for the first time, only to feel as though their vote did not really mean anything. This is about the plain and simple reality that I am truly frightened of what will happen to my (and your) country over the next four years. I am concerned that this letter will be viewed as the behavior of a loser but it is far from that. The greatest amount of finger pointing and whining cannot erase the fear. This letter is a wake up call to the remainder of the progressive nation and a warning call to the conservative. Please be afraid of what will happen to the air you breathe. Be concerned about the fact that gays will not be able to get married, but that you will still be poor and without affordable healthcare. Be vigilant of the reality that a woman’s right to choose may be revoked. Most importantly, continue to remind yourself of every soldier that has died in Iraq and come to grips with the anxiety of what will happen to the soldiers whom remain.

I hear each day from the CNN blowhards that unity is most important in moving forward.

Help me understand. The expectation is unity. I am fairly certain I will be unable to unify with a group of Bible-toting, religious zealots whom think that gays are a sin against nature. I am almost completely certain that I will be unable to unify with anyone for whom a ban on abortion is the single most important issue. I suppose the realization is that when those blowhards speak of unity they are actually saying that I need to be more like the individuals I vehemently oppose. I need to put my silly little liberal fixations aside so we can all be one nation (see above). Well, I refuse and I encourage those remaining liberals, progressives, independents and anyone else to do the same.

To those who join me in repudiating the call for unity, I say: The results of this election may feel as though we have ceded our country and ourselves. It feels as though we do not matter. It feels as though we have lost our purpose and that we are irrelevant. Those feelings will pass. The faith will return. We must continue to be the opposition to the right wing hate-mongers. We must continue to fight the battles ahead, regardless of any single defeat.

Chad Minch

Indianapolis, a former

Jay County Resident

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