It's not the end of the world as we know it. It's the end of the world as we want it.
That's the lesson the Kerry supporters will have to deal with over the next few years. The shock of the Bush reelection depressed a significant proportion of the Tufts community, including me. The visions liberals and moderates had of their country and its place in the world were shattered by President Bush's 3.5 million voter margin of victory. The world we see and yearn for will not be realized, at least not for the near future.
From the election results on the national and state levels, it is clear that the majority of Americans do not want homosexuals to marry, and they believe their commander in chief should legislate with his faith. These are the facts that are presented to the "blue states," and we cannot change them.
Instead of blaming anyone in particular, we have to step back and explore the mindset in which these Bush supporters live. A CNN exit poll revealed that 22 percent chose "moral values" as the most important issue to voters; of those respondents, 80 percent voted for Bush. These "moral values" are fascinating when seen through a cultural lens.
Want to know how Bush won? Take a look at some of the successful movies, books and television. They reveal the impressive growth of the Religious Right and the evangelical Christians; they are no longer a fringe group. These are consumers whose lifestyles are powered by their deep faith, and what was previously a niche business catering to a small portion of the population has exploded into a multi-billion dollar industry.
In movies, "The Passion of the Christ" earned more than $370 million in theaters nationwide, placing it third on the list of total box office receipts for 2004. Mel Gibson's violent vision of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ was astoundingly popular among church groups and families who flocked to the theaters in droves. The film sold more than four million DVDs on its release date and estimates for the film's total DVD gross were upwards of $400 million.
In books, Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye's "Left Behind" series have sold more than 62 million copies; the 12th and last volume, "Glorious Appearing," sold two million copies before its publication this past March. Based on the content of the Book of Revelations, the "Left Behind" books are placed in the context of today's troubled world. They center on the arrival of the Antichrist and his eventual seven-year reign over humanity, known to Christians as the Tribulation. The final installment signaled the second coming of Jesus Christ, followed by the final battle of Armageddon and the Judgment. The success of these novels is not surprising, considering that, according to a June 2002 Time/CNN poll, 59 percent of Americans believe the prophecies in the Book of Revelations will come true, and 17 percent believe the Rapture will happen in their lifetime.
In television, the penetration of God into our society is clearest when looking at last season's ratings surprise, "Joan of Arcadia." Nestled in the family-friendly 8 p.m. timeslot, "Arcadia" centers on a high-school student, Joan, who receives pointers on life straight from God, whose messages are delivered by way of a variety of human forms. For a population that believes that God oversees their daily lives, the concept of God being "one of us," to quote the Joan Osborne song and show theme, can be understandably comforting. The show's success reached new heights this past spring with its victory at the People's Choice Awards for "Favorite Television New Dramatic Series" and its Emmy nomination for "Outstanding Drama Series."
Over the past five years or so, ever since the last months of the Clinton Administration, pundits and social commentators have often joked that Jed Bartlet, President of the United States on "The West Wing," would make a great candidate. It seems that the 48 percent of the disaffected electorate went to President Bartlet for solace, as the series copped its highest ratings in over a year. On this past Wednesday, the day Kerry conceded the election, 13.8 million viewers tuned in to watch the President's staff broker a Middle East peace agreement with a recalcitrant Republican Congress.
Perhaps NBC and John Wells made a mistake in ending the Bartlet administration a year early, as was announced over the summer. Since taking over for show creator Aaron Sorkin, Wells has cashed in on each opportunity to change the program from an inspiring diamond in the rough into a melodramatic hunk of cubic zirconium. Its ratings had been faltering since the change in management, but its sudden upswing this past week is notable.
During his campaign, Senator Kerry was everything that Martin Sheen, as President Bartlet, was not. Sheen plays a commander in chief with a strong passion for leadership, with a captivating array of oratorical skills. So now that Democrats don't have a real candidate to stump for, they turn to the next best thing: a fictional president on a television show.
While I hate to admit it, Robert Novak is right. "America is a conservative country" has been the columnist's mantra this past week on "Crossfire," and I firmly believe that he is right. In order to change the world, which should be the hope of any idealistic college student, one has to realize the world he or she has been given.
The voters of Ohio and the rest of the "red states" have given us, liberal America, a world in which religious, moral values are more important than our country's war on terrorism and economy. We didn't beat them, but that doesn't mean we have to join them in supporting our President.
Support the troops and support the equally important values of liberal America. Stand up for your beliefs, but be sure not to denigrate those of the other half of the country. The future will only be bleak if you allow it to be bleak. As John F. Kennedy said, "We should not let our fears hold us back from pursuing our hopes."
