George Bush has won the election, and the world weeps. One of W's favorite movies is "High Noon." It's the story of one man standing up for what he believes in, and goes it alone. I hope you like that movie as well, since that's the U.S. story for another four years. Going it alone.

Like it or not, the WORLD, yes I said THE WORLD, hates the United States. To the rest of the world, we are cowboy hicks. Uneducated rednecks and bullies that don't care what anyone else says. As the only super power left on the planet, we should be the leaders, not the bullies.

However, this election was NOT a repeat of the 2000 election. The democratic process went smoothy, and the people spoke. And the people went with the cowboy. The people voted on fear. The people voted for religion over science. And now I know why the rest of the world views us the way they do. Because they are right.

Fifty percent of Americans believe that Iraq and Hussein had something to do with 9/11. Thirty percent of Americans are obese. Americans uses more gas per capita than any other country. SUV's flood our streets, actors and athletes get paid millions and millions, and our teachers get paid peanuts. More Americans lost jobs in the last 4 years than any other time. Our environment is crap. Our kids are uneducated. And the rest of the world is closing in on us. Yet President Bush is our president again. An oil man with an oil man vice-president.

I could go on and on about the policies. I could go on and on about whether or not the war in Iraq is just or unjust. But I won't. Because you don't care. What do you care about? Well, according to exit polls, it's Iraq and terrorism. On my weekly radio show, a man from Georgia said he voted for Bush, and he hopes Bush will win so that his kids will be safe.

Do you think President Bush is protecting you? America has been attacked by terrorists TWICE, count um, TWICE in our history. Do you believe that the reason we have not been attacked again is because of Bush??? This man has pissed off almost the entire planet. More people hate America now than ever before. Our planes are not safe, our nuclear facilities are not safe, our ports are not safe, and our borders are not safe.

However, change is scary. Change takes courage. Change takes conviction. Change means admitting that you are on the wrong path. 65% of Americans believe that we are on the wrong path, yet President Bush won.

I used to work at a company that I co-founded. However, after 3 years, I didn't believe in the direction that the company was going. I thought we needed a new leader. Someone with a broader picture. Someone with the courage to make changes that would make us successful. I could not vote in a new leader. I didn't have that option. I didn't have that privilege. I didn't have that GIFT. I did what I could do, and took a stand. I left that company, because it was what I could do.

I have no children. It's easy for me to talk of courage and change, when I have nothing to lose. If you are scared, that's o.k. I just wish that this election wasn't based on one issue. That this election wasn't based on fear.

I have a favor to ask. I ask you to be Americans. I ask you to think with your OWN mind. f**k democrats. f**k Republicans. f**k the labels. Take a look at the issues. Heath care, abortion, education, environment, alternate fuels, terrorism, Iraq, the economy, and on and on. EDUCATE YOURSELF!!!! Read, watch the world news, CNN, FOX, whatever. When all is said and done, when you are educated, when you know who represents you in government, that's when you have the gift. That's when you have the power. That's when you have truth. And with that power, and with that truth, CHOOSE your representative in government. And choose our president. Not based on fear, but based on truth.

God Bless America.

-the walrus

(respond to this article in the forums! http://forum.zipperfish.com/viewtopic.php?t=3850)

A Rebuttal from A.C.

Walrus buddy, I love you and all... but isn't that a bit melodramatic?

One thing I do know, is that if people are genuinly honest about bringing the country together and taking it in a new direction, then the bickering has to stop. What has happened is the country has become polarized more than ever before. The Liberal Lefts are on their side hugging trees and preaching appeasment, and the Conservative Rights are on their side shaking crosses and preaching sermons. Its forcing Americans to chose between ethics or policy when it comes to their president.

It doesn't take a genious to punch holes in the arguments and policies of either side, so a lot of people engage in banter just for that purpose, and all that happens is the wedge is driven furthur between the American people.

When people refer to the "ignorant-redneck" middle americans, they are refering to me. Speaking for every West Virginian, we don't particularly care if people think we're ignorant rednecks... it's just always seemed funny to me that the only time comments like that are made are over the internet or on television... never face to face, and never by anyone who has visited this great state. I live in West Virginia, a state that is predominatly democratic, but more or less the proverbial buckle in the bible belt. It is for that reason that the Republicans have carried my state two elections in a row... and it is also a great example of both parties going to greater extremes over the last four years. Even though the majority of my state believes in the core liberal policies, the simple fact that the liberals have so adamantly denegrated the issues of morality and religion has caused many democrats that weren't quite on the left wing to swing to the republican side because of their own personal values.

As long as liberals refer to conservatives as ignorant rednecks and conservatives refer to liberals as tree huggers and appeasers, this polarization of our country is only going to get worse. The only way anyone is going to make any progress is to support our leader and respond accordingly to his actions, be it positivly or negativly... whether or not he is who you voted for. It was staggering to see the map on NBC colored red and blue, simply because it only accentuated exactly how polarized our country is.

Me personally, I voted for Bush... and truthfully my views and beliefs tend to coincide a lot with the right wing... thing is... you never hear me refer to myself as a conservative or a liberal. I refuse be a statistic. Above all, I am an American. No matter who you voted for this election, do the right thing and support your leader and support our country. If people want a chance, its in the people hands... and no one elses. And I think this years election proved that point.

I would go more in depth about policy and beliefs and other such political talk, but it's really kind of pointless on a message board, and I think I've written enough already. Maybe I can write an article for you all if you would like to hear it. Until then though, lets just all be happy we're in a country where every individual can stand up and be counted. And most of all, lets all do the best we can to stiffle our tounges and end the bickering... the election is over, and we've got four years ahead of us. As long as Americans behave the way we have over the last eight years... you can expect more of the same.