Election determines fate of nation"

Ellensburg Daily Record (Ellensburg, Washington)... ^ | Wed 06 Oct 2004 | Mathew Manweller

[yoe]

One of the best dissertation on the importance of this election. A must read! written by Mathew Manweller... Central Washington University political science professor...

"In that this will be my last column before the presidential election, there will be no sarcasm, no attempts at witty repartee. The topic is too serious, and the stakes are too high.

This November we will vote in the only election during our lifetime that will truly matter. Because America is at a once-in-a-generation crossroads, more than an election hangs in the balance. Down one path lies retreat, abdication and a reign of ambivalence. Down the other lies a nation that is aware of its past and accepts the daunting obligation its future demands. If we choose poorly, the consequences will echo through the next 50 years of history. If we, in a spasm of frustration, turn out the current occupant of the White House, the message to the world and ourselves will be two-fold.

First, we will reject the notion that America can do big things.

Once a nation that tamed a frontier, stood down the Nazis and stood upon the moon, we will announce to the world that bringing democracy to the Middle East is too big of a task for us. But more significantly, we will signal to future presidents that as voters, we are unwilling to tackle difficult challenges, preferring caution to boldness, embracing the mediocrity that has characterized other civilizations. The defeat of President Bush will send a chilling message to future presidents who may need to make difficult, yet unpopular decisions. America has always been a nation that rises to the demands of history regardless of the costs or appeal. If we turn away from that legacy, we turn away from who we are.

Second, we inform every terrorist organization on the globe that the lesson of Somalia was well learned. In Somalia we showed terrorists that you don't need to defeat America on the battlefield when you can defeat them in the newsroom. They learned that a wounded America can become a defeated America.

Twenty-four-hour news stations and daily tracing polls will do the heavy lifting, turning a cut into a fatal blow. Except that Iraq is Somalia times 10. The election of John Kerry will serve notice to every terrorist in every cave that the soft underbelly of American power is the timidity of American voters. Terrorists will know that a steady stream of grizzly photos for CNN is all you need to break the will of the American people. Our own self-doubt will take it from there. Bin Laden will recognize that he can topple any American administration without setting foot on the homeland.

It is said that America's W.W.II generation is its 'greatest generation'. But my greatest fear is that it will become known as America's 'last generation.' Born in the bleakness of the Great Depression and hardened in the fire of WW II, they may be the last American generation that understands the meaning of duty, honor and sacrifice. It is difficult to admit, but I know these terms are spoken with only hollow detachment by many (but not all) in my generation. Too many citizens today mistake 'living in America' as 'being an American.' But America has always been more of an idea than a place. When you sign on, you do more than buy real estate. You accept a set of values and responsibilities.

This November, my generation, which has been absent too long, must grasp the obligation that comes with being an American, or fade into the oblivion they may deserve.

I believe that 100 years from now historians will look back at the election of 2004 and see it as the decisive election of our century. Depending on the outcome, they will describe it as the moment America joined the ranks of ordinary nations; or they will describe it as the moment the prodigal sons and daughters of the greatest generation accepted their burden as caretakers of the City on the Hill."

Mathew Manweller

[Desron13]

"She and her husband are deathly scared of FrankenKerry getting in.

If sKerry gets elected, look for a subtle or maybe not so subtle shift in the makeup of the armed forces. You saw some of the shape of things to come under the Klintoon administration. The Libs do indeed fear the current military.

[upchuck]

Civil War II... I have also been thinking a lot about this lately. As of now, I'm not sure this war is coming. But it certainly could.

I've also been thinking about what Sir Tyler wrote 200 years ago:

"A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can exist only until voters discover that they can vote themselves largesses from the public treasury. From that time on, the majority always votes for the candidate promising the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship.

"The average age of the world's great civilizations has been 200 years. These nations have progressed through this sequence: From bondage to spiritual faith; from spiritual faith to great courage; from courage to liberty; from liberty to abundance; from abundance to selfishness; from selfishness to complacency; from complacency to apathy; from apathy to dependency; from dependency back again to bondage."

To me this seems almost prophetic. I'm thinking we're in the "complacency to apathy" stage.

Other thoughts?

[CyberAnt]

I AGREE .. THIS ELECTION IN 2004 IS FOR THE SOUL OF AMERICA.

[Coffee_drinker]

point out the fact that it's the right that has all the guns

Good point LOL, we do have all the guns, this should be much easier than the first Civil War. Not only do we have them but we know how to use them. CD

[Calusa]

Three (3) count'em, trois, tres, drei SUPREME COURTS JUSTICES. Did I mention that THREE SUPREME COURT JUSTICES are at stake. This is Thermopylae and where are we gonna find 300 Spartans. Armageddon. Boys and girls were playing for the future, nay the existence of WESTERN CIVILIZATION. Any questions? Go Bush!

[Lexinom]

Arm yourselves and your loved ones ping.

[Lexinom]

Ping

[HarleyD]

"...We didn't hate Clinton the way they hate Bush!"

Ummmm...well....er...ahem...

The only difference is there was some legitimate reasons.

[Wolfstar]

Outstanding statement of just what's at stake in this election.

[SeaBiscuit]

I agree, if we can't stand firm now, as we are under President Bush, and elect weaklings that are intimidated by the whore media, that acquiesce to Political Correctness and popularity ratings then we send a message of defeat to all our enemies. That horrific event would show the world that America will bow to opinion rather than uphold principle. sKerry must not win!

[DeweyCA]

This election is crucial, but the election in 2008, when Hillary wants to win will be crucial also.

[hiredhand]

Arm yourselves and your loved ones ping.

Yes sir! ...well on the way.

[CygnusXI]

Well, IMO.

It would most likely come from the Left rioting, etc, etc, when and if GWB wins.

Remember, to the Left politics IS their religion, so another Bush victory under (what they consider) shady procedures would be akin to crucifying Jesus.

Whether or not it would forment into a civil war, or days/weeks of chaos is the question.

Personally if Kerry wins, I will pray for the US and wait for whatever may come...

[Shaun_MD]

Tinfoil hat time.
I can envision UN troops being brought over to put down an armed rebellion under a Kerry administration.

[Shaun_MD]

I think with the way the country is divided, anything is possible. I would lean more toward the left beginning an armed conflict, but if Kerry won under dubious circumstances I think a major revolt on the right would take place. I think we have already started down the path to a second civil war.

You asked if I would personally
get involved in an armed conflict. If it meant protecting
American citizens and my family or defending the Government then yes I would. Without question.

[Lexinom]

We've been in the war a long time. What will come, will come gradually. Just look at the last two years: Anti-sodomy laws struck down, gay marriage, even the most modest of restrictions on abortion consistently struck down with no Constitutional basis, the Ten Commandments removed from a courthouse in the South.

Possible future developments based on our current trajectory:

* Revocation of tax-exempt status for churches.
* Fines and punishment for speaking publicly against leaders.
* Fines and punishment for speaking publicly against protected constituent groups, incl. sermons referencing abortion and homosexuality.
* Pledge of Allegience removed from all classrooms.
* Federally-maintained list of suspicious "insurgents", known to hold beliefs at odds with the government and an impediment to the international vision.
* Federal usurping of large chunks of industry, for our "protection".

* Removal of our guns.

Much of this has been and can be effected through taxation patterns, as we've seen in the last decade with so-called "sin taxes".

I don't rule out an all-out civil war, which is why I say again, arm yourselves for your own protection.

[Ancesthntr]

Civil War II or no, you might see a mass exodus of Europeans to the United States

No thanks, we don't want them. They're the folks that are responsible for Western Europe being flushed down the crapper in the first place. Its like NYC residents fleeing to NJ - and now look at what has happened to NJ over the last 20 years, its become a carbon copy of NYC in many ways.

[Ancesthntr]

I can envision UN troops being brought over to put down an armed rebellion under a Kerry administration.

One could write an interesting novel about the subject, or a similar one.