The Aerie
Disgruntled Democrats have been passing around links to the Daily Mirror cover article regarding the re-election of President Bush, and some people, particularly Boston Globe columnist Hiawatha Bray
, have had enough of it.
In a message to those who opposed Bush's re-election, Bray said, "So suck it up, you guys. You lost...I know some victorious Republicans are gloating. Ignore them. Their day will come, as it does for all of us. So relax. Rent a video. Go to a movie. Play with your kids. This too will pass away."
I found his attitude a bit more patronizing than conciliatory, and felt I had to reply.
Mr. Bray,
The fact that you can not fathom our despair or that of our neighbors overseas illustrates part, but just a part, of what's wrong with this country.
We progressives are not depressed because we lost an ELECTION, we are depressed because we seem to be losing the American Dream. I realize that from YOUR point of view the American Dream has been secured, but from our point of view the American Dream has been perverted and you have been sold a bill of goods. You may not all be "dumb," but you sure seem to be deliberately blind to some things.
Get over it? Suck it up? Yes, I suppose we should, and I suppose we will. But for how long? I will try to avoid the litany of complaints that progressives have with this Administration - I'm sure you've heard them all before and have ready rebuttals at hand. Suffice to say that progressives of all stripes are concerned that by the time we "suck up" four more years of this Administration, it will so damage this nation that repairs may be impossible. Some wounds heal, some leave permanent scars, others kill.
Progressives believe that this Administration is vandalizing this nation, and that the 59 million people who voted for President Bush are in denial about that for various reasons ranging from fear of terrorism to a desire to respect the office of the President during war.
My friend James Lileks, one of your conservative bloggers, likes to point to the rights that we retain as evidence that our rights are not being eroded. By his logic, one shouldn't worry about the boot until it is actually planted in one's face. Telling us to 'suck it up' seems like a similar argument: yes, conservatism will inevitably wane, but will it take the American dream with it? Those of us concerned with civil liberties, the environment, public education, public discourse, freedom of speech and faith, and the rights of oppressed groups fear that what eventually replaces waning conservatism may not be waxing liberalism, but simple fascism.
So I'll tell you what - I'll try "sucking it up" if you'll try, just try, to look critically at this Administration and at the things it's doing that harm our nation. And if you can't do that - if you can't find any validity in any of the litany of complaints levelled against the Bush Administration by your progressive brethren - then you might want to ask yourself if you're seeing clearly.
Because if 59 million of you can't be dumb, than neither can 55 million of us.
Posted by Albatross at November 4, 2004 10:27 PM