[Exquisite5]

In this, the aftermath of the election of 2004, I am dissapointed. I am not sad, because I have God's joy in my heart and know that throughout all His will will prevail.

I have tried to make myself focus on the positive things that Dubya might provide for the country (and for me). In an effort to stay positive because life here, even under Dubya's reign, is much better than life many places I am tried to catalogue a list.

1. Great time to start a small business.
2. If you're a physician, Dubya and his homies will likely soon cap medical malpractice awards (although I would hope you'll still strive to do malpractice-free work).
3. The people on this board (college educated professionals or soon to bes) will likely get a nice tax break
4. We have a real standard of comparing public schools. With all of the problems of No Child Left Behid, at the very least we can know when a school is "failing" and not rely on rumor, gossip and guess.
5. The tax code will be simpler and you won't have to pay someone to do your taxes.

I am most definitely not a republican and even less conservative. However, I am a Christian so in some respects I share conservative ideologies, but I tend to focus much more on generosity and Christ-likeness than Republicans do. I say all this about my party affiliation just to say, please don't take this post as supporting Republicans. I am just trying desperately to find the light in the darkness.

I am reminded of the last lines of Desiderata :

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.


Please, sisters keep this in your hearts as you go about. With all America's problems she is still probably the best place for you to live. And even if she's not the best, she is still one of the best countries to live in (and you are personally likely far better off)- our poverty line is well above the wealth line in many countries.

So, to all my fellow disheartened Dems out there- I know that right now you likely feel scared, anxious for your rights, deceived and in dismay regarding how the poorest of the poor voted for someone who'll likely serve you and I more than he'll serve them. If you feel the way I do, please turn that into positive energy.

Let us work with what positive things there are and continue to make our land better. We are African American, but if you're like me you know FAR more about America than Africa and America is your home. So lets make her more OURS.

Let's USE dubya they way he used T.D. Let's stop working for the Republicans in their businesses and USE Dubya by taking advantage of his small business initiatives.

Let's make some lemonade.

I know it is very dark. Right now, I wish I could sleep for the next four years- it is so dark. But let us not curse the darkness- let us light candles.

Remember in 1968 the Republican party was said to be all but dead-- do they seem dead to you?