Pick your battles, not your war.

Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;
For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward.

(Doctrine and Covenants | Section 58:27 - 28)


It's difficult to tell if anyone is really serious about this recent discussion of secession. I think not. Still, it sounds a lot like the whine of "I don't want to play this game any more" when someone's had a losing streak. Maybe the Bushies have been a little hard on the Kerry supporters, but I really can't blame them. For four years it's been "selected, not elected". For four years it's been "He's an idiot!" For four years it's been "Bushitler!" And when somebody finally stomps the spoiled little name-calling brat in a game, it's "I don't want to play any more". Seriously, I'm fed up.

I'm fed up with people saying that America isn't sensitive to the needs of other countries, and automatically ascribing the worst possible motives to everything we do. We pay more in foreign aid than any other country on the face of the Earth. Were we truly the greedy bastards we're made out to be in the media and abroad, such largesse would be seriously curtailed, if not cut off altogether.

I'm fed up with people saying that Bush isn't a statesman. There are times for the nuanced phrase, for a boot to have a "dapper strap." And there are times to talk straight and plunge into the fire. In the words of Dr. Seuss, "I meant what I said, and I said what I meant, and an elephant's faithful, One Hundred Percent". We're currently engaged in two military actions, one in Afghanistan, and one in Iraq, with a coalition of dozens of nations. Discounting building that coalition as being somehow not the work of a statesman is disheartening. In fact, I think it's intellectually dishonest.

To those of you who are disappointed, disheartened, or disturbed over the election, I say - quit your whining. Pouting, complaining, and cynical snarky comments will not make you feel any better. Nor will they allow the unity you seem to think Bush should be magically bringing to the land. (Oh, wave your magical pixie wand, Mr. Bush, and make us like each other!). Get up, get out, get busy. Participate in the process.

To those of you who are taking the opportunity to rub some faces in it, here's an idea. Quit it. This is America. Show the tolerance the left says you're so devoid of. Show that you are willing to accept people of any political stripe - even Deaniacs. Take this opportunity as a sign - your efforts aren't wasted, people will respond. Get up, get out, get busy. Resting on your laurels here will lead to a rash, and you getting your butts kicked next time around.

On both sides, listen. Listen for understanding. There's always the chance that someone will make a good point that will change your thinking about one issue or other. There is always the possibility that you are wrong. Understand that. Embrace it. And don't let it stop you from participating. Listen, so you can respond intelligently to earnest questions raised by those who don't agree with you, and by those who aren't sure who they agree with.

Ready...
Set...
Go!!!