Bush won a second term in the last U.S. presidential elections by almost 51 percent. That means more than 50 million Americans voted against Bush.
While Bush appeared to bask in the glow of his Inauguration Day festivities, the overall feel of the event was paranoia and fear. Snipers watch from above. The contentious, heavily armed, hyper-secure motorcade passing down Pennsylvania Avenue made the U.S. look like a Banana Republic: a country that is politically unstable and is typically governed by a dictator or the armed forces.
The inaugural streets were the streets of mutual disdain. On one side of the fence, you hear the parade announcer say something about one nation under God. The patriots make jokes about the protestors, but only barely audibly. On the other side of the fence the protesters turn their backs on Bush, but really it was about everybody turning his back on something, someone, some other American's unacceptable ideas.
Posted by dancoy at January 21, 2005 12:52 AMWhy the blackout if you don't vote?
Posted by: livinia at January 21, 2005 04:14 PM"Not voting" is a democratic right and a personal expression, it doesn't mean I don't care. The little blackout and this blog post are just a personal expression -- probably more like a momentary bout of political Tourettes. I usually stay silent. Political and religious expressions of any kind ultimately result in conflict with someone else.
Posted by: dc at January 21, 2005 06:04 PMI'd like to see more personal expression from you.
Less safe.
More.
Less silence.
Go on now.
Show me.
Check out "Masked and Anonymous", the recent Dylan film.
Posted by: blondeau at February 1, 2005 11:59 AM