Merriam-Webster defines "terrorism" as the systematic use of terror especially as a means of coercion. A "terrorist" is one who uses terrorism to accomplish political goals.
Who better to fit that description that George W. Bush?
Americans have said over and over that homeland security and terrorism are the top priority. Polls everywhere show it. It's apparently the number one reason why Bush won this election.

We had a chance to remove the world's biggest terrorist from power, and we didn't have the balls to do it.

I'm ashamed of my country.

I watched last night as the map turned redder and redder. As Florida fell. As all of the central states sucummed to the terror of this administration. Amy and I couldn't understand why America was choosing its own destruction. Why people would vote this way. Why anyone would rather have four more years of Bush than turn to better leadership.
Then I thought about it, and began to understand.
We talked about it in history class today, and the same theme kept coming up.

"I didn't vote for Kerry because I like Kerry, I voted for him because I hate Bush."

Indeed, that seems to be the predominant reason for people to vote Kerry. Bush supporters love Bush. They love what he stands for, and actually WANT him to be the next president.
The majority of Kerry supporters, like me, support him for the simple reason that he isn't Bush.
That's possibly the most fatal flaw in this election.
In looking to blame someone, as everyone does, I saw the Democratic party. They could have had this election solid. If they had chosen a better candidate in their primaries, they could have had an easy time yesterday night, turning state after state blue.
If they had chosen based on issues rather than on something like veteran status, we could have a Democrat sitting in the Oval Office next year.
But they didn't. Foolishly.
So I blame the Democrats.

Then I looked at Ohio. A margin of under 150,000 votes. If those voters would have known their votes would determine the election, would they have changed their minds?
Probably not. Ohio just passed the most restrictive anti-gay-marriage amendment ever, prohibiting anything that even resembles marriage for same-sex couples.
Is that wrong? Yes.
But it just goes to show that Ohio is overwhelminginly conservative... to the point that a blatant act of discrimination could be written into the highest law of the state.
So I blame Ohio.

I look at Bush, and what he has turned our country into.
He has single-handedly amassed one of the largest deificits ever, from a huge surplus.
He has invaded soverign nations with no right to do so and with no acceptable rationale.
He has divided our nation down the middle, yet continues to believe that what he is doing is right.
In some ways, I have to admire him.
In others, I hate his existance.
He stole the election in 2000.
So I hate Bush.

But Bush didn't steal the election alone.
Who voted to end the Florida recount?
Who voted to end the recount that, under every possible circumstance, would have resulted in Gore winning the White House?
The Supreme Court.
So I blame the Supreme Court.

But then, looking back on everything and reflecting, it's ridiculous spreading blame like this.
What happened, happened.
It's nobody's fault.
I respect everyone's opinion.
I respect the Republicans who voted for Bush.
I respect the Democrats who voted for Kerry.
I respect the independents who voted however they felt their conscience dictated.
So who's to blame for what happened?
No one.

Even so, this election brings to the forefront everything that is wrong with America today.
Now that it's been brought forward, perhaps someone, somewher will recognise the need for change.
Perhaps they will make their voice heard, and never give up until change has been brought about.

Maybe the US won't exist tomorrow. Maybe it will. I don't know.
All I know is that what's happened has happened.
There's nothing I can do to change it.
What I have to do now is to accept it.

I sat there last night, staring at the front page of Yahoo, crying when I saw a Bush victory was inevitable.
Maybe it was childish, but I was afraid for my life... for the future of the nation.
It's a very, very longshot, but I saw America falling as a result of four more years of Bush.
I didn't know what to do.
I didn't know who to talk to.
So I cried. Silently. All the while hoping that some miracle would happen... that the votes somewhere had been miscounted... that my worst nightmare wasn't about to come true.
But it did.
So I dealt with it.

Am I still afraid? You damn well bet I am.
Not of a draft, not of nuclear war, but instead of the very people I am supposed to put my trust in, the leaders... the politicians... the people of America.
I'm going to be afraid for a while.
But there's nothing I can do about that.

People are talking about organizing protests. That Bush somehow "stole" this election too.
No, that's not what we need right now.
We need acceptance.
That's what Kerry was man enough to do this afternoon.
This is what 51% of America wants.
In a democracy, that's the majority.
It will be a long time before I accept the rule of Bush.
But at least I'm going to try.

Edit: This really, really, really worries me:
Vice President Dick Cheney told the Republican victory rally that the results of Tuesday's elections translated into a mandate for the president's policies.

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