Shadow Dancing

[misscam]

Funny, I thought I'd feel angrier knowing at last Bush would serve four more years. Instead, I just feel vaguely blank. This is apparently what America wanted. I will not pretend to understand it because I really, really do not, but the choice was theirs, not mine. And so it is made.

May the consequences be better than I fear.

You won, Bush. Congratulations. Now what? Going to continue piss us of here in the rest of the world? You have a divided country at your hands too. Will you do better by them this time around or continue to please only your supporters?

I read some of the reactions from world leaders, and most were fairly polite and all, but this statement caught my eye.

Jesus Perez, Venezuelan Foreign Minister:
"We will hope that in this second mandate we can improve our relations.

We are dancing the tango. When you are dancing the tango and your toe is stepped on, hurting your toe, you complain. If it is stepped on harder, you complain again. There's a whole game, but we are prepared to continue dancing the tango."

Not many other choices, are there? It takes a lot of energy to keep up the level of dislike I feel for you and I would rather not. But I will not be silent and I will not be apathetic. What is at stake is far too important. As Mr. Perez said - we'll continue dancing the tango with the shadow of Bush.

Try not to step on my whole foot though, would you Bush? I would hate to have to kick you in your privates.

(And 11 states banned gay marriage? Good grief.)

Comments

[syncopated_time.livejournal.com]

10 of those states were already highly conservative and the 11th (Oregon) was the target of a massive campaign by the anti-gay marriage camp and they somehow managed to win the day there. It saddens me but it's not the end of the world on that issue. Yet.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

11 is bad enough. That's 1 out of 5. 20% of the country outright banning it.

I don't like the trend one bit.

[sinneahtes.livejournal.com]

Ugh. My whole university seemed to have a cloud of gloom draped over it yesterday as everyone found out and discussed the results. I TRIED to be at least neutral (I won't be optimistic with Bush) and think "We survived four years of this, what's four more?", but with the words "America has spoken" I just kept flying into unspeakable rages. Yeah, I spoke, and my voice and the voices of half of the rest of the nation were drowned out by the voices of people thinking freaking moral values was the reason to vote Bush. Oh yes, it's SO moral to discriminate and to think we should be the cause of so many innocent Iraqi deaths.

“Today, I want to speak to every person who voted for my opponent,” Bush said. “To make this nation stronger and better, I will need your support, and I will work to earn it. I will do all I can do to deserve your trust.” (MSNBC)

My response: Go do that which is anatomically impossible, Bush. I'm not going to ever stand behind you, or to unite with others behind you, unless we're getting in line to kick your ass or something.

*sighs*

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'll believe that when I see it, Bush. But never say never, I guess.

Europe's pretty gloom as well. Remains to be seen if this will deepen the Europe-US divide. My guess would be yes. But perhaps, perhaps it will be for the best. Europe is changing, as is the US and the growing pains may be better carried alone.

[sinneahtes.livejournal.com]

True, I forget I hate words like "Never"...

If only that divide deepening didn't come at the cost of America having Bush for a President and a Republican Congress and possibly a Supreme Court with Bush's choice for a judge replacement on it. :\

But maybe four more years of Bush -- this time with him not having to worry about getting re-elected and possibly being bolder because -- will see him doing something that angers people so much they finally realize that changes need to be made. (I have my doubts. Change does not come easily for humanity, does it, if it's even the "right kind" of change.)

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Ah, yes, the abortion law might be in danger. Pleasant thought. Sometimes, I am very, very glad I live in this tiny country of mine.

And no, changes never come easily. My brother reckons the US needs a revolution. I'm beginning to wonder if he isn't right.

[shandydann]

Its frightening, I sometimes think that the rest of the world should have had a vote too.

Have a look at wayfairer's journal, perhaps there's some hope still.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

There's always hope. And nothing lasts forever. Change will come.

[shandydann]

Yup, at least the shrub only has 4 more years

Not what this American wanted...

[author-blayze.livejournal.com]

This American now wants to stab Florida and Ohio and Other Bush-States for being Bush-states. This American was crossing her fingers and toes and hopping on one foot, hoping Kerry would whup Bush.

He forfiet.

*dies of shame and is happily reincarnated as a German*
Ja! Ich wohnt im Munich! (But..with umlauts..and a better vocabulary.)

Re: Not what this American wanted...

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Why German? *scratches head*

Re: Not what this American wanted...

[author-blayze.livejournal.com]

Because Germany is teh awesome, and because I take German 1. Yaaaaay. Germany is one of a few European countries I've been to. Also went to Austria and Italy, and hooked a bit of France just to say 'I've been to France!'. Although the official plan was New Zealand...

Re: Not what this American wanted...

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Well, Europe's pretty far from New Zealand, I'm afraid. But we're nice enough anyway. Or so we like to think, anyway.

Re: Not what this American wanted...

[author-blayze.livejournal.com]

Yeah..The New Zealand was actually a plan of Hail and I's. we were going to live in New Zealand, at Imaldris or Rohan (We hijacked them.) and we'd bring the rest of the PPC with us. Yaaaaay.

[mademoisellenon.livejournal.com]

4 more years...if you think about it, it's not that long. At the same time it seems like an eternity with Him in the office. I'm still a little numb about the whole thing, hasn't really sunk in. How could the country (well half) want him is a little beyond me to understand.

Like I told you this morning, there's absolutely nothing keeping me here. Hopefully my job will pull through and I won't have to live here for much longer. Heaven and Hell help us, this is not going to be good!

Let's continue with the tango, shall we? But my stilettos are very sharp and very dangerous...

[misscam.livejournal.com]

The best way to tango, that.

Some of the UK media, not known for being subtle, had this reaction: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v57/rondie/dumb.jpg

[pknight.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I'm a random friend, but I just wanted to say that it is not one of those moments I'm proud to be an American. In fact, I'm downright scared of being an American right now...

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Well, maybe it'll be for the best. We won't knowuntil it has happened. I may think this will be for bad, but I have been wrong before.

[roo2.livejournal.com]

I'm still depressed. But I'm not sure it's accurate to say that Bush is what America wanted. Voter turnout was about 60%, and Bush got about 51% of that. This means that 31% of America wanted Bush, 29% of America didn't want Bush, and 40% of America sat on their asses and didn't vote, which highly pisses me off.

On the other hand, I'm kind of glad he won, in a perverse sort of way. HE's screwed so much up so badly that I don't think Kerry could fix it, especially with a Republican congress. At least this way, when it all goes to hell in a handbasket, people will know who is responsible and there will be no ambiguity. Although I'd prefer not to go to hell in the first place, I was outvoted.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

That 40% didn't dislike Bush enough to vote, though, which in my book means they more or less wanted him.

You're probably right in that Kerry wouldn't be able to do much, though. At least with all Republican rule, they can't blame anyone else for their mistakes.

I'm sure some would try still.

[silfrenbirce.livejournal.com]

Some people don't give a damn about voting no matter how much they hate Bush. I work with two of the fuckers, I'm sad to say. Both of them bitch, piss, moan, and gripe about Bush, but neither of them could be bothered to vote, and when I asked them why, that's what it boiled down to. Pure apathy.

I'm so depressed...

[jakie-f.livejournal.com]

Can Operation: New Vineland begin already?

*curses Bush*

Re: I'm so depressed...

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Planning is commencing, have no fear.

[lin-san.livejournal.com]

Bugger.

This has proved my theory true.

I knew that once we elected Bush for the second time, the World will just say:

World: Well, you made a mistake before...but this is indeed pure stupidity. No excuses now...we'll just have to leave you people ALONE.
Liberal!America: *protests madly* NOOOOOOOOO!!!! WE NEED YOU!
Conservative!America: *drowns in glee* OMG!YAAAAAY!!1!1!1!
World: *goes off to buy some alcohol*

Yeah...hopefully not ALL the countries of the world feel that way...because I still want to travel around the world and NOT get shot off my ass just because I have an American accent (which I'm almost afraid might happen soon).

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Oh, most of us tend to be nice to the average American despite our level of dislike for your leader. There are some exceptions, of course. And it hasn't helped that some Americans who have travelled aboard hasn't exactly left us with feelings of warmth and caring.

But hopefully, you should get treated well either way. If not, smack the idiots who do otherwise down. I'll even lend you a trout.

[jedilora.livejournal.com]

^see icon

I voted. I campaigned. I donated every dollar I could spare.

And in the end? A smear campaign wins over an honorable one. And JEB is talking about running in '08.

As one of my friends put it: "What, so we can have a dynasty of STUPID?!"

[misscam.livejournal.com]

If Europe gets eight years of Jeb Bush too, I think Europe will have to declare war on your country. It would be the only way to save our sanity.

[jedilora.livejournal.com]

You need a room? I got a room. When does the invasion start?

[(Anonymous)]

As an Oregonian from Multnomah county (one of the places gay marriage was occuring over the summer), this whole anti-gay marriage thing irritates me too. Do you think that if the west coast secedes from the United States, we could become part of New Vineland?

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Of course! We take in any willing. We're nice like that.

Someone has been giving a certain place a bad name.

[musemistress.livejournal.com]

I remember the Elf Fantasy Fair this year in June where I worked for three days solid as an adlib actor for other's entertainment. In those three days I met all sorts of people from just about every modern corner of the world, and some not so modern (as could be seen by the fact barely 15% wore jeans and the rest were in tunics and bells). But none of those people stood out as much as one woman running a geek collector tent. I heard her voice...she spoke English...I was so stoked at hearing my native tongue that I spun around and, poorly judging her accent, asked "Are you from America?". Her complete and utter vehement reaction of practically spitting out in disgust "NO! I'm Canadian!" before turning her back on me, had me standing there blinking in shock for a while. I had asked something in joy and aimed at a very broad part of the world, only to be treated as dirt in return. Was she suspecting I was from the USA and didn't like them? Or was she just completely against being associated with them in any way? In any case, America is Canada and Mexico ( and all those little places down south) included and so I was not reffering to any distinct country...her accent had only excluded the possiblity of anywhere in Britain and I was sure I was only one of two Australians there (the other being a costume designer of whom I still keep in contact with and is marrying a Dutch lass).
This event got me thinking...What has happened to the world to now have one country considered a blemish to the human race in such a conflicting way that we have a hard time figuring out if the man running it is better or worse than Hitler? I have no hate for USA, in fact I pity that 50 million plus that voted for the very same man that turned their country's tedious reputation to complete mud. If the Canadian woman's reaction is anything to go by, I fear for the other 50 mil that now have to deal with the results of a vote gone wrong.

And as for Hitler...at least he had some brains. I'm still wondering if the Shrub's scull is held up by styrofoam.

And gay marriage...my good fellow humans of circumstances that the prudes of this world simply cannot accept. Come to Holland, the Netherlands, place of plenty and acceptence (to an extent...just don't wave a gun at someone with a big mouth. YOU will get shot for it) and get married here. I might be, it's the only place I can...that is IF I find that one special person. heh...big IF. But in any case...I'm sorry USA...I will never be going there to live, even if it would better my career. That 11 states would condemn something that should have been resolved with the "expansion" of the human mind and the "modern" thinking is enough to make me run in the other direction.

Give me that cave and no fire license now please; crawling under a rock and wearing skins seems the safest avenue. Who knows what else will be disallowed in a "democratic" society. I'm halfway to that cave already, already got rabbit skins and hunting skills with bows and arrows...damn, probably they will be banned soon too.


"We demand... a Shrubbery!!" (aka, ripping a certain damn Shrub up by the roots and handing it over to the Knights of Ni for enternal damnation...the prick)


~Vana E~

Re: Someone has been giving a certain place a bad name.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Maybe she was just sick of people thinking Canada and the US the same? I know I get annoyed when people confuse Norway and Sweden sometimes.

Scandinavia has allowed gay marriages too, musn't forget. Before Holland, even. This makes us eeeeeeeeeeeevil in the eyes of the Religious Right, apparently. It has ruined our societies and made all women bed-hopping whores. Um, yeah.

[krazykat.livejournal.com]

I am deeply troubled by the path my country has decided to travel. We have gone from a country where the majority did rule, but the minority were still to be protected to a government that not only panders to a subset of the population, but also delights in the trampling the rights of those not in that subset. No, my government is no longer the representative one is was set up to be. I have said much in my own journal and feel to disheartened to repeat it all here. Suffice it to say that I am deeply worried about the fate of my country and how it will affect the world for the next 4 years.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

I worry right alongside you.

But sometimes, you have to make a mistake to learn to make a better life. Perhaps this will be one such case. One can only hope.

Hoping for hope

[elvenpiratelady.livejournal.com]

Yes, hope is good. But Bush and Perez dancing the tango... eeeeeee. Not a really pretty picture.

*insert weird mental image of Bush dancing a la West Side Story*

Right...

Re: Hoping for hope

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Hey, he could be a kickass dancer for all you know.

Re: Hoping for hope

[elvenpiratelady.livejournal.com]

I'd like to see it. I suppose if he ever gets tired of being President he'd probably make a good (albeit unintentional) comedian.

Another terrified American...

[(Anonymous)]

I'm from New Jersey and I assure you that this is NOT what the Americans I know wanted. Granted, he won the popular vote, but he did not recieve a mandate from the people. This was no sweeping victory, no huge showing of support for his policies and leadership. He won by a narrow margin, and treats it as a sign from God and the people. Please, Europe, don't forget that we don't all agree with the madness he is inflicting on the world. We tried...we really did try...

As for banning gay marriage...good grief doesn't even begin to address the wrong that has been done. I don't think I need to convince you that a person who is gay is not sick, evil, corrupted, or sub-human. New Jersey and the rest of the northeast will keep fighting back the right-wing Christian fundamentalists as best as we can, but it's getting harder. The comparison to Hitler is not far off--they want to ban books that mention anything "morally questionable" from schools, libraries, stores. Are we next to be submitted to book burnings, al la Nazi Germany? Maybe you could send some "re-education" crews over and help us out?
...America does need a revolution.