Published November, 2005

The day after the election, the calm after the storm, talking heads on every channel are asking how the red and blue zones on the map can come together in the next four years.  How can we heal the wounds, how can we bridge the divide?

I am tired.  Americans are tired.  We have had contentious nastiness play itself out in a four-year filibuster preventing the constitutional process of judicial appointments, and we have endured two years of electioneering where the “best” of political debate was handled by Bruce, Barbra, and the D. Chicks.  And then there is Michael Moore.  Yep, Monsieur Moore.

We’re more than tired.  We’re exhausted.  We want civility.  We want progress.  Unity.  Peace.  Quiet.  The talking heads ask what we all want to know.  After the election, how can we come together as a nation?

In this bruised state, we cling to the words offered by John Kerry in his concession speech.  “[W]e all wake up as Americans….There is a desperate need for unity, for finding a common ground, and for coming together. Today I hope we can begin the healing.”  Call me cynical, but I hold out, waiting for the flip to flop.

Only one paragraph later, the white flag comes down.  “I believe,” Kerry says, “that what we started in this campaign will not end here….Our fight goes on….Our fight goes on….Our fight goes on.”  Now if that isn’t a red flag in front of the bull, I don’t know what is.

Edwards is there for the fight, too.  “We will continue to fight for every vote….We didn’t start fighting for you when this campaign began, and we won’t stop fighting for you when this camp ends….You cannot walk away.  This fight has just begun.”

And their army of rebellion needs little encouragement.  Fresh off the e-mail, the same day Kerry and Edwards say goodbye, I receive a Planned Parenthood letter.  “Don’t Agonize, Organize.  Just Say NO To Bush Agenda.”

In a democracy where majority counts, it is not just the “Bush Agenda” that wants to ban partial birth abortion.  At least two-thirds of the people in America think that crushing a baby’s skull after the brains have been suctioned is a horrific “procedure,” no matter what you call it.  Now that these Americans have voted their agenda, are those in the minority at Planned Parenthood willing to accept any curb on the unrestricted right to abortion?

This is only one of issue after issue where Americans have voted our agenda.  In spite of the political rhetoric, we are not a nation divided.   A map of the over 3,000 counties in America is a wash of red, a unified sign that Americans all across the nation share common dreams and have voted with one voice.

Bush is not in charge of creating peace on his own.  It takes two.  Lincoln offered a political path to end slavery.  But this meant nothing to people with war in their hearts.

Yes, Bush and the Republicans can reach across the aisle.  They can take the first step.  They can offer the first olive branch.  But this will mean nothing if those on the other side of the aisle want the whole tree and are willing to chop it down just to get their way.

Here’s the olive branch.  Now put down the axe.