A Letter to My Country and the Candidates

And so it came to pass, between10:00 and 11:00 CST last night, that President Obama would be elected to serve as our President for a second term.

I had followed the election coverage on our local talk radio station, and on Twitter.  The banter back and forth as the votes were counted wasn’t exactly in the spirit of friendship, it was respectful and hopeful.

Until the election was called and the President was announced the winner.  Twitter then became a virtual online riot with name calling mixed with in your face celebrations.

It was not a time to be proud of.

And it continued this morning.  I just didn’t have it in me to watch the horrible vile things people were saying to tear each other apart.  Last night and still today, we are no longer a nation with two political parties, we are truly a nation divided.

Today, President Obama has been elected our President for another term.  While he won the election I do not think the best man for the job won. Because the best man for the job didn’t run, and never will.  The choice was between to candidate and for reasons that were their own, Americans across our country cast their vote for their choice.

The anger and pain or joy and celebration every single one of us felt is perfectly normal. It will all fade in a day or two, and we can get back to the business of living.  This country is not the America we should be, we can be.  We can all agree that this country is broke. There are no band aid fixes to all the problems we face. The government can not fix it by itself, it needs our help.  In order to heal this country and go on, we all are going to have to bend.

And by bend, I mean forgive, swallow our pride, and come together. The Republicans don’t have the answers, neither do the Democrats.  We are never going to find it on our own.

I hope that in the next four years steps can be taken, progress made to bridge the vast expanse that has divided this country deeper, more pronounced than it has been in long time, if ever.

Congratulations President Obama on your election, and to Governor Romney on a race well run.