This year's election has provided for quite a bumpy ride. Swing states turned from red to blue and back again on online maps of the Electoral College, fears regarding Election Day terrorism surfaced with the emergence of Osama bin Laden's video and exit polls were woefully inaccurate yet again.
Americans like you and I went to the polls and voted and our process worked another glorious time.
This phenomenon, whose outcome many on this campus may be still celebrating or smarting from, is unheard of in other countries.
There are not free elections in many regions of the world and we as Americans are truly blessed to live in a country where people accept the outcome of an election without turning to violence or planning assassinations.
Although I am elated about this country's decision to give President Bush four more years, I want to extend my consolation to the supporters of Sen. Kerry.
Please, don't do anything silly and move to Canada. We need you here to participate in the political process. We need you to keep us conservatives honest and challenge us in the realm of ideas.
Some of my closest friends are supporters of Kerry and I want nothing more than to continue examining the political world with their unique insight and companionship.
Regardless of who won the election, these next weeks should be a time for healing wounds left by a tough emotional campaign and not spouting ridiculous and hurtful comments about either the winner or the loser.
Unfortunately, not many people took this election well, and there is much anger directed toward this president and the American people who elected him.
The anti-conservative hate speech promulgated by many opponents of the president in the media needs to stop for the sake of decency, solidarity for a country at war and basic journalistic integrity.
To provide an example of what I mean one needs only to look at the headline from the British tabloid The Mirror. How can this paper claim objectivity and write headlines stating "How can 59,054,087 people be so dumb?"
Even worse than an international insult of the intelligence of more than half of the voting population of the United States is the persistent, scathing and intolerant attacks on the president and his supporters for their religious beliefs.
Far too often have I seen Christians and our beliefs smeared by writers in this paper, professors and other hateful people. The writers last week must have thought it clever to juxtapose Christianity and fascism because this is not the first time it has been done.
I would like to remind everyone that outspoken Christians were some of the first to be executed under fascist dictators.
Furthermore, we currently continue to be persecuted and killed in Sudan, China, the Middle East and elsewhere for our belief that God sent his only Son, Jesus Christ, to die on a cross so that all who believe would not die but live forever.
I find these attacks on the Christian community's faith and First Amendment rights extremely troubling.
Where is the religious tolerance from these "open-minded" people? Where is the acceptance for our "lifestyle"?
As we have seen over and over again from the extreme left when it comes to tolerance, Christians need not apply.
I think the writers last week hit the nail on the head. People hate the president and his supporters not because of a tax policy or a healthcare plan but because of their deep-seeded beliefs. I have heard some bemoan this fact and cite the tired separation of church and state argument.
Unfortunately for them, on matters of religion, the Constitution states quite clearly that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."
This means the president, congressmen have the right to freely exercise their religion and vote, pass legislation, or deliver speeches in accordance with their religious beliefs.
For example, if sometime in the future, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) sued a congressman for expressing religious beliefs in public and or voting according to those beliefs, the ACLU would be violating his First Amendment right to free exercise.
By the way, the suppression of such beliefs is an example of fascism at work. Go on, belittle us as much as you want. Our beliefs are legal.
Reading some of these editorials, hearing leftist supporters on TV and seeing protesters on the streets of New York fills me with pity for these people. They let a seething hatred of conservatism and George W. Bush's ideals and beliefs drive them to lunacy.
In a rage, not understanding or even attempting to comprehend the other side's position, they lash out with curses and hateful language. They hardly ever mention Kerry's good points or his policies.
Instead, they denigrate the president's policies and usually smear him and other conservatives with personal attacks.
Although I do not personally like Kerry, he would never stoop to such tactics and his supporters should follow his heartfelt concession speech of reconciliation.
If you're still upset about the outcome of the election, there is a Congressional election in two years. Campaign for as many liberal candidates as you want and do your best to get them elected.
In four years, there will be another presidential election when you can cast your ballot.
In the meantime, the American people and the democratic process have spoken, and we all need to accept the outcome.
