A Post at barbrastreisand.com

...Barbra Streisand
Posted on November 8, 2004

In response to the results of the Presidential election last week, I would like to share with you a quote from Thomas Jefferson. Although written in 1798, I feel his words speak perfectly to the strong sentiments of frustration and disappointment 48% of the country feel.

"A little patience, and we shall see the reign of witches pass over, their spells dissolve, and the people, recovering their true sight, restore their government to its true principles. It is true that in the meantime we are suffering deeply in spirit, and incurring the horrors of a war and long oppressions of enormous public debt......If the game runs sometimes against us at home we must have patience till luck turns, and then we shall have an opportunity of winning back the principles we have lost, for this is a game where principles are at stake."

The Sad State of American Politics

Bush won. Life must go on regardless of the challenges we are forced to deal with. This state of affairs just demands that we work even harder to protect our democracy and freedom because they are under attack. And for those that believe that flying planes into buildings or blowing themselves up will do any good are the biggest fools and dupes of all. George Bush would have still gone into Iraq without 9/11 but it helped him legitimize it. Like Pearl Harbor and the sinking of the Lusitania in previous times, the attack just gave the Bush government a blank check to do exactly what they wanted to anyway – wield a big stick and build their power base. That’s not to say a strict code of non-violence is the right course of action either – unfortunately we have not evolved as a species to the point where freedom and justice can be maintained without occasionally applying force. The danger comes from the threat being used to manipulate people well beyond any rational or responsible use of power. That is where we find ourselves again. John Kerry and millions around the United States stood up to fight this threat – maybe a more dangerous threat than that posed by any terrorist – and fear has won the day. We must not give up. Love conquerors fear. We must not sink in to despair, regret and anger. We must continue to fight for justice and personal freedom because they are under attack and that attack is not from outside, it is being waged from the White House.