I just listened to Kerry's concession speech. Well, I'm sufficiently depressed!

First, I would like to say that Mr. KABC, a Los Angeles radio personality, is completely full of shit. He said that the people of America declared last night that we are a conservative country who cares about moral values and faith. To paraphrase his speech, the people of Los Angeles and Manhattan might not care about important things like that, but at least the rest of the country, "REAL America" (yes he used those words), does. Seriously? Fuck you, Mr. KABC. Just because Los Angeles voted for the candidate you WEREN'T rooting for does not make us some group of anti-America freaks. We (Kerry supporters) voted for Kerry because we're part of America, and because we want what we think is best for this country, and we thought Kerry was the right man for the job. And do not get on your high horse and act like the Republicans won by an astonishing landslide. It was CLOSE, which means Kerry supporters are not few and far between. They make up half the country.

I'm sure it's because I live in L.A. and because I go to UCLA (where tons of students ran around with Kerry/Edwards stickers, buttons, and tee shirts in the past few weeks), but I am really surprised at the outcome of this election. In fact, I am incredibly surprised that it was such a close race. The whole country is divided in half.

I am just amazed that people want to keep our President, the one who just attacked Iraq with no support from other countries, no concrete plan. I'm surprised that every woman in the country isn't sickened by the notion of having the right to choose taken away from her. And I'm saddened by the fact that people are so opposed to gay marriage.

Frankly, I am unbelievably insulted that so many of the Bush supporters said they supported Bush because moral values mean so much to them. Moral values mean a lot to me, too. For instance, I think it's moralistic to give equal rights and priveleges to ALL PEOPLE regardless of their sexual orientation. The right to marry, for instance. It just seems ridiculous to deny someone that. What is the point? If people want to marry, they should be able to. It's just not a big deal, but so many people make it a big deal.

I also believe in the moral values of allowing women to decide what's best for their bodies. Or, for their unborn childs' lives. There are lots of different reasons why a woman (or a young girl) might decide to have an abortion, and her having the right to do so does not require all women to have one. So why should anyone get to dictate which reasons are okay and which aren't? Why don't we just keep the right to choose on the table, and people who don't believe in abortions never have to have them? Sounds fair enough to me.

How about the moral values of NOT attacking a country and killing thousands of men, women and children? I just think the entire war with Iraq could have been handled so much better and differently, and that it was not necessary. And don't tell me it was all about freeing the people of Iraq when so many other countries have oppressed citizens, too. Countries we didn't invade.

So many people around the world already disliked Bush and America before Nov 2. The fact that WE RE-ELECTED HIM is not going to sit well with these people. I wouldn't be surprised if the rest of the world thinks we're insane. It's kind of hard to see it any other way.

Edited to add ~~ I decided I'm going to keep a short list here of people whose political essays I really enjoy, those who say how I feel with far more eloquence than I did. I'll add to it as I read more, but only through next week:

Pineapple Girl
Beth/Littleowl
Ladee Leroy

Edited to add ~~ Thanks to Jukebox, for enlightening me --

"As a long time listener/never-time caller to Mr. KABC, I can tell you that he is a registered Democrat and voted for John Kerry. He is a self-described "law-and-order liberal."

What you're describing sounds like either sarcasm, or possibly Al Rantel's (the Republican talk show host on prior to Mr. KABC) viewpoint."
--Jukebox JT

Now that I'm in a calmer state of mind, parody or another talk host both seem like distinct possibilities.