From the evening of Nov. 2 until the early hours of Wednesday morning, I saw what I had feared the most throughout this presidential campaign. Switching between CNN, MSNBC and Fox News, the electoral votes on the screen increased slowly to declare George W. Bush the president for another four years. It was a moment for which I did not wish. It was a moment I will never forget.
Human nature is an interesting framework for action. The most essential element in all of us is the struggle to survive. Thus, fear of all who threaten our sense of being becomes the overwhelming driving force behind our beliefs, attitudes and actions.
It is this element of fear that Republicans understood and used to enlarge their power base. Democrats bet on hope and optimism in times of panic and uncertainty. It was a risk for which they paid dearly.
The results of Nov. 2 were a surprise, but not a complete shock. We saw it coming; we had it coming. Nevertheless, we underestimated the divide in which the two Americas seem to co-exist. Liberals (including me) thought the right decision was as clear as the sky on a summer afternoon in Phoenix.
We ignored the other America; we failed to anticipate this black cloud that overtook Washington, D.C., and the rest of the world.
Some people from both sides of the political spectrum speak of "coming together," "putting the past behind us" and "moving on." Whether it's a patronizing Bush supporter or a fatalistic Kerry supporter, I strongly reject this dangerously naive outlook.
Just because the wrong side won does not require us to show any degree of acceptance or tolerance of their views. It simply entails a symbolic display of respect for the democratic process. This was the same process that Winston Churchill described as "the best form of the worse kind of government."
Furthermore, liberals should never perceive the elections as a test of how valid are their arguments. Moving forward with our country is an uphill battle. There is not time for popularity contests, and elections are (in a way) a popularity contest. This is not to minimize the importance of elections: They should not be the only indicator of our success.
My fellow liberals/Democrats/progressives -- I ask you to keep the faith. Keep it, because we have four more years of deceit, incompetence and ideological intimidation. I saw some of you shedding tears of sorrow and pain on the night of the election. Yet I still see in you the spirit of tireless dedication, uncompromising principles and personal compassion that I love about this country. That compassion was the reason I immigrated to this land. It is still the reason that reminds me there is hope in this nation.
To the folks on the conservative/Republican/regressive side -- congratulations on your victory. Enjoy it while you can. If you think your success will deter us from fighting for our causes, you are dead wrong.
The sobering strength of our resolve will soon interrupt your political ecstasy. Striving for social justice is the theme of mankind's greatest tales. Your triumph is only a small setback for us, and we will overcome.
Yaser Alamoodi is a political science and religious studies senior. Reach him at yaser_alamoodi@hotmail.com.
