« defection | back to in retrospect | beast of burden »
November 03, 2004
i agree. with me.
reading through post-election analysis over at salon, i stumbled across an article illuminating the very issue that i was pondering around 3am lying in my bed sleepless and disturbed by the election results.
as an information junkie of enormous porportions digging daily through the news, listening to NPR all the way into work and all the way home, while persistently checking in at metafilter, salon, various web logs and performing countless random online queries for everything from the name of an actor i can't place after watching an obscure film to wondering why water always swirls in the same direction while headed down the drain. and along with everyone else in the country--learning as much about the candidates for this election as possible.
i spent several months assuming that the most emailed stories over at yahoo were an indication of what folks were paying attention to. i got tangled up in the thinking that endorsements for Kerry by The New Yorker (endorsing a candidate for the 1st time in history), The Washinton Post, Chicago Sun-Times, The New York Times, The San Francisco Chronicle and the Seattle Times (who endorsed Bush last time)would sway the minds of voters. i was certain that revelations of incompetence, draft dodging, 9/11 exploiting, finger pointing (and finger flipping), war-mongering, and even outright lying would count for something.
i spent lots and lots of time laughing and agreeing with information sources mostly because...well the information also agreed with me.
then a couple of weeks ago i decided to poke around the bush re-election site and while disgusted by its negativity, undaunted i proceeded to dig through every article, several speeches, links to party-line press...and started feeling a little disconcerted. i remarked to a friend that night that even though i couldn't stand bush, i was beginning to think he would actually win. my friend responded with a frightened gasp, "oh no! don't say that!"
recoiling from the thought, i rushed back into the arms of my like-minded information sources, reinforcing my sense of hope and optimism for the outcome of the election.
i never expected that the 18-34 year old voters, wouldn't show up at the polls. i didn't think that a majority of the population would care more about preventing gay marriage, than preventing an unjustified invasion of a country. i thought that certainly people would understand that costs to our envirmonment might be more critical to us than the cost of oil. but feeding myself my own rhetoric, and only giving weight to the information that agreed with me, left me feeling disillusioned and disappointed. and more than a little helpless.
it's not the first time. and i'm certain it won't be the last.
Posted by heidijanet at November 3, 2004 12:42 PM
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.inretrospect.org/cgi-bin/mt-ping.cgi/194
Comments
Hey there,
Today I have been stunned... then incredibly sad...then pissed to all hell...then resigned...then back to stunned. Your blog today also mirrors what I said to my office mates this morning, that part of *my* problem is that I'm spending too much time with them. Working in a democratic US Congressman's office has certainly skewed my view of our nation (it's the same thing that made Dan Quayle think he could win a run for presidency -- all his surrounding folks were yes-men). Makes me want to move to Ohio and go to Church -- then, I might have some influence. At the very least, I would learn to speak in this "values" language that we dems just don't seem to get and therefore avoid honest debates because we're afraid (and maybe rightfully so) of the nuanced shades of gray we bring to the discussion.
Anyway, if you want to leave, www.harpers.org has instructions. Let me know where you go...the family and I may need to come, too. Or, we can just change things thusly: http://idisk.mac.com/glwebb-public/new_map.jpg
Posted by: Kim at November 3, 2004 03:37 PM
well, i suspect i'll have more influence if i stay...but i *do* like your map!
ingenious idea! do you think we'll get free healthcare and mandated daytime running lights too?
Posted by: heidi janet at November 3, 2004 04:43 PM
I love to read your posts.
I want to let you know that there is still much work to be done. Grieve the loss, but then get up and let your wonderful voice be heard.
We just came home from a "Lick our Wounds" Party.
I had to be urged to come, as the rage I was feeling was almost more than I could contain.
The home was teaming with people. Only a fraction of the dedicated volunteers in the South Bay. Everyone there was filled with commitment to forge ahead.
It is time to stand up and be counted. It is time for all our strength and fortitude. Our warrior spirit is called for.
Come on SuperHeidi. Don your costume. Lead us into battle!
Posted by: judi at November 14, 2004 12:15 AM
Post a comment
Thanks for signing in, . Now you can comment. (sign out)
(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)