The US Presidential result left me depressed. I was under a cloud for the rest of the day. Why? Because I believe that the American people deserved better. Because it depresses me to see America standing alone on the world stage when it should be taking a more responsible stance on International issues. Because I know that Crony Blair is super-glued to Bush’s coat-tails. Where ever he wants to go, dear old soppy Tony will have to follow. It’s all part of the special relationship, right? (And this is from a life-long, Commie, pinko, left-wing Labour supporter who voted TWICE for dear old Tony).
Don’t get me wrong. I really like America and the Americans when I have visited but your politicians make you look stupid. They are going to drag you down a ideological cul-de-sac dominated by religion, moral crusades and fear. The neo-conservatives are really just like the Taliban, but without the funky facial hair. In the next four years, you will see your personal rights eroded away.
(Of course, if you are a white, god-fearing, middle-class, heterosexual, this will not affect you. But the government will still keep you scared of those tan-skinned terrorists hiding under your bed).
Fear = control.
In the past, politics was dominated by aspirational theologies. The politicians came to you and promised clean water, a job or the right to vote. Now the politics of aspiration don’t work because we’ve all got our widescreen TVs and our DVD players. So how do you inspire the electorate? Fear.
Make ’em scared and they will tick the box. Pathetic, ain’t it?
The worst thing is I am seeing the same rhetoric spouted by Bush being adopted by Blair and he is trying to scare this country into voting for him. It won’t work with us because we ain’t that gullible. We’ve been invaded, had the Empire and bought the T-shirt. We’re jaded and cynical. America is still a young whipper-snapper and has a lot to learn.
Now I am not going to say that you were wrong for voting Bush, because you wasn’t. It was your prerogative and, at least, you took the time to vote. But the one thing I will urge you to do if you did vote Bush is to get yourself a passport and to travel outside the US. Visit Europe. Travel. That’s all I ask of you. This will help you to do two things:
1) You will learn to appreciate other cultures
2) You will love your own country even more
Blah, blah, blah…it means nothing. Why waste my time even typing this? It’s not going to change anything. The only thing that changes anything is the passage of time. And so, we just have to wait and wait and wait until this black period of world history passes us over.
But I’ve got it off my chest. GAK!
Tomorrow is 5 November. This is the anniversary of some Catholic trying to blow up the Houses of Parliament. We celebrate the fact that Guy Fawkes, this 17th century terrorist, was hung, drawn and quartered (very slowly, of course) by burning an effigy of the fellow and lighting fireworks. Hurrah!
Click here for a little bit of history.
It’s also someone’s birthday and because it shares this day, I can never forget it. So another word of advice: marry someone whose birthday is shared with a popular local holiday.

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