My final plea

As the election season finally draws to a close, let’s take one last look back at what we have seen.

This election has, in many ways, drawn Americans further apart from each other. Supporters of the conservative movement have been very vocal in their fear and mistrust of their liberal counterparts. Beliefs of liberal supporters, while more subdued in the statements of their opinions, are in many cases no less extreme.

Liberal-leaning Bill Ayers’ questionable history with this country has been well covered. Palin has bluntly referred to him as a terrorist. She has also referred to the pockets of this nation who agreed with her as “the real America,” implying that any part of the country who disagrees with her is fake America. Nancy Pfotenhauer mirrored this sentiment when she referred to “real Virginia.” With her husband the presumptive candidate of the favored party for President, Michelle Obama was finally proud of her country, implying that she had not been for the 26 adult years prior. In response, Michele Bachmann opined that the Obamas could be considered “anti-American.” Some conservatives outright consider Obama himself a terrorist. Frank Schaeffer, of the liberal Huffington Post, has stated in no unclear terms that “McCain is a threat to America.” And finally, Palin invoked the almighty Bill of Rights just this Friday by saying that the First Amendment itself could be in danger if she continues to be criticized for the statements she has made.

But the First Amendment, in fact, is what has made these past months possible. What sets America apart from any country which came before it, and many which have come since, is the foundational basis that who is right or wrong is irrelevant. When a civilization deems one group the authoritative source, any corrosion of that group defiles the entire nation it represents. It doesn’t matter, then, whether McCain really is a threat to America, or where Obama supporters’ patriotism lies. What is important is that all sides express their views and allow the people to decide.

Unfortunately, there are even those who are trying to suppress that allowance. However, both sides have aggressively worked to prevent voter fraud and suppression from rearing their ugly head in any significant way. Efforts like those in Virginia telling Democrats to vote on the 5th, when their ballots will be worthless, have been quickly extinguished. Conservative governor Charlie Crist quickly worked to extend voting hours in Florida, even though all signs indicate that the move benefitted Barack Obama.

So we can all brush aside these ideas of fake or anti-Americans. This election has had a profound effect on many people. At least one quarter of Americans will feel betrayed, ignored, and possibly even rejected by their country this Tuesday. Yet all of this ugliness is symptomatic of what makes this country great: that we are allowed to say what we think, and exercise our Constitutional right to vote based on those thoughts.

The only truly un-American thing to do at this point is to waive that right.