For a long time now, many of us even slightly left of center have grown all too familiar with the constant cries of "you hate America!" Whole books have been written about how much we allegedly loath this country and have tried to betray it over the last hundred years.
Until now it's never occurred to me to even consider such harsh terminology in describing any of my fellow Americans.
But I say with the utmost conviction, the Republican who gloats over the Kerry voter, who pokes fun, who fails to offer his sympathies and lend a shoulder on which to cry, hates America. He is not interested in healing this country; he's interested in prolonging the pain.
Right now there are tens of millions of people in all 50 states who are in serious pain over this loss. A gaping wound has spread across this country. The victor who sticks his fingers into the cut, rips it open even wider, and pours in the vinegar, hates America.
This is the sign of the person who cares more about himself and his party than his country. They're patriots all right -- patriots of a country that does not exist except in their own minds. They're black knights wearing heavy helmets that tunnel their vision. And what of that gash squirting bright red blood? "It's just a flesh wound!" How can there be a true injury? Their America is solid because we crazy, God-hating, Osama lovers aren't part of it.
Jesus, George W. Bush's favorite political philosopher, once said "what you do unto the least of my brothers you do unto me." Similarly, what you do unto your fellow Americans you do unto America.
That goes for my fellow liberals as well. Many of you are very, very angry right now. Six words: he who angers you, conquers you. I'll use the terminology of one of our Saints, my beloved Virginia Woolf. We must not think and act in the red light of emotion, but in the white light of truth. Any rage or hatred we hold against the administration is a weapon they can (and do) use against us.
As for the genuine patriots of this country who happened to vote for Bush, I know what to expect from them: "Dave, I'm really sorry. I know how disappointed you are. Everything's going to be OK. Here, have another shot with me." That's how America should work. That's the America in which I want to live. Isn't that better than a Nelson-style "Ha-Ha!"?
And I'm sure they'll make their jokes and have their celebrations; they will just have the compassion and intelligence not to do it in front of me.
As indicated by Friday's column, one of my principle hopes for a Kerry presidency was the belief that he would be the one to take a moderate, bipartisan route and bring together warring factions of the country -- he would take a needle and thread to the wound. President Bush has demonstrated time and time again that he's not interested in doing that. ("It's hard work!")
But Bush is not the Republican party. Regardless of his actions, his supporters are still capable of extending a hand, passing the tourniquet, and together with the liberals, stopping the bleeding.
Write to David at swimminginbrokenglass@yahoo.com
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