The citizens of the United States of America have a right to applaud themselves for having given to mankind examples of an enlarged and liberal policy: a policy worthy of imitation. All possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship. It is now no more that toleration is spoken of, as if it was by the indulgence of one class of people, that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights. For happily the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens, in giving it on all occasions their effectual support.

George Washington

(via Ebonmuse)

There was a picture circulating the internet, I don’t recall if it was the Gore-Bush fiasco or the Kerry-Bush fiasco, separating North America into three countries: Mexico, The United States of Canada, and Jesusland. While I think that map reflected many of the divisions regarding politics and religion currently afflicting this continent, the recent election (a.k.a. The Obama Landslide), shows how clearly that map missed the boat.

It isn’t that people living on one side of a state line are rational, reasonable people and the ones on the other side are hate-mongering bigots. Most of the country is filled with hate mongering bigots! At a nearly 50% rate! And in some places where it’s unexpected, they got out and voted for some really bad, really dumb, really unAmerican things.

What is unAmerican these days? If you listen to the right (good for generating rage or humor) voting for Obama, preferring peace, respecting the rights of individuals to worship and marry as they chose is definitely unAmerican. Wait, no, UnAmerican, big “:U”.

While it is true at the founding of the USA they didn’t have everything figured out, and wrote some really vague sections of the constitution (2nd amendment anyone?), they were headed on the right track. UnAmerican is “to sanction bigotry, assist persecution.”

So I say, to the people who voted for Obama not because he is black but because he was the better choice, good job. To the people who got out and voted against those horrid abortion bans in several states, thank you. And to the people who supported and/or voted for Proposition 8 in California:

FUCK YOU

Oh, and go read that Ebonmuse link.