Ostracized.
I have been searching for the right adjective for a while now, to describe my post-election feelings. I think that about sums it up.
I awoke rudely, literally and figuratively, like countless other liberals that fateful Wednesday morning. It's not that our beloved (more or less) candidate John Kerry lost the presidency. It's not even that Tom Daschle lost his seat in the Senate. Actually, it's not even the net loss of seats in Congress.
What was most shocking to me is that we are evidently "out of touch" with the rest of the country.
So where do we go from here? What place does a liberal have in our country, in the times of intolerance and shortsightedness? Are we looking at a modern-day civil war sans shotguns? A Western Jihad?
It's safe to say that the East and West coasts will not secede from the rest of the country, although I'm sure many urbanites would entertain that idea if it was feasible. And everyone half-heartedly jokes about moving to Canada, but unless you've got loads of cash and two years to hang around, don't plan on renouncing your citizenship any time soon. Now is the time for us to come to terms with the fact that our nation is sharply divided: not only across class and racial boundaries, but by liberal vs. neoconservative and secular vs. religious ideology.
This is a grave situation, and it's one that is incredibly disheartening for those who have invested so much into the campaign. I've created a recovery plan for the Kerry supporter, derived from conventional psychology: Democrats everywhere, wallow in the Four Stages of Grief!
STAGE ONE: DENIAL
I know, I understand. We worked so hard on this campaign. We got out the vote, raised obscene amounts of campaign money, talked to our friends and finally felt we had a large, passionate following behind us. One of the largest misconceptions about living in a political metropolis such as D.C. is that the rest of the country is behind you. It wasn't, and that's tough to digest. Some questions you may find yourself asking: How could this happen? How could 59 million people vote for Bush with such a dismal record of success? Why would anybody in his right mind support someone who looks out for large corporations instead of the American people? Once you've come to terms with the fact that the election results aren't part of a bad dream, you'll undoubtedly feel a little pissed off.
STAGE TWO: ANGER
I am still in stage two at the moment, with this column as my form of therapeutic release. The reality of the fact is, there is nothing you can single-handedly do about the results. As emasculating as that may be, life must go on as usual. So to suppress the feelings of rage at the administration, Kerry's inept advisers or the "NASCAR dads" and "security moms", follow my example. I recommend indulging in the sweet comforts of good friends, bad TV and strong drinks (I've relied on the last option quite heavily). Escapism has always worked for Americans; why not partake in an activity that millions before you have proven successful? This is one situation where you CAN trust the populous. After you've forgotten that you are extremely angry at the world, you might start feeling a little down.
STAGE THREE: DEPRESSION
This stage can potentially be one of the hardest to deal with. It's saddening that America is the only country where people can claim to vote on moral values while still being intolerant and close-minded. It's sad that people consider "values" to be strong leadership and faith. It's depressing that blue-collar workers and the middle class, those who will be damaged most by the Bush administrations policies, supported him so adamantly and with such blind faith. But there comes a certain point where you can only take responsibility for your own actions. To put it simply, you weren't the one who unknowingly cast a self-defeating vote. You did all you could do: exercised your voice, familiarized yourself with the issues and hoped for redemption. As much as I hate to admit this, the presidential election won't be the end of the world (most likely). You'll still have your friends, your health, your intellectual curiosity and your family (assuming you had all of those things before the election). And besides, think of all the fun you and your liberal pals will have assailing Bush's new policies. The Onion and Jon Stewart will definitely be 10 times more hilarious during the Bush administration's next four years. You're on your way to the fourth and final stage.
STAGE FOUR: ACCEPTANCE
It's true that the last election was a huge kick in the stomach to Democrats in the United States and other countries around the world. It's enough to incite disbelief, anger, sadness and an array of other unpleasant emotions. Politics will always break your heart, no matter who you are. One of the greatest things to remember is that terms expire, bridges can build themselves once again, and minds can be eventually changed. Progressive movements don't happen as quickly as we all would hope, but we're well on our way. The battle may be lost, but there is still a war to be won. It's a war against unjustified regime changes, tax cuts for the wealthiest, inferior health care and negligence to the environment. It's okay to lick your wounds for the next couple days, but after that it's time to begin moving forward with your life. Because it WILL go on.
Erin Murphy is a junior in the Washington Semester program.
