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Gazette endorses Kerry
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EDITOR'S NOTE:
Though primarily a humor publication,
the Humor Gazette is run by a longtime journalist who
reserves the right to be serious from time to time about
important issues facing America and the world.
John Breneman, Editor
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As he did during the complicated political season leading
up to the state primaries, and as he continued to do during
the time he was the apparent Democratic nominee for president,
and as he showed throughout the rousing and elegant speech
he gave at the Democratic convention in Boston, John Kerry
proved he is determined to chip away at the fortified rock
of skepticism that most Americans feel about the political
system in this country.
Kerry's eloquent theme of inclusion, unity and hope were
not based in either party politics or in government legislation,
but rather in the idea that America can indeed prosper and,
most importantly, be strengthened through the commonality
of the simple but egregiously overlooked and undervalued themes
of this republic: decency, compassion and simple respect.
These words, though familiar, are the bedrock of both the
United States Constitution and its Declaration of Independence.
And they will play an ever more important role in how this
country conducts itself, how it is perceived and how its desires
are accepted throughout the world in the coming years of the
21st century.
And so the strength of this country, under a Kerry administration,
will not be just economic, or militaristic -- both important
and encompassing -- but spiritual, as well. And by spiritual
we mean the natural and abiding spirit of patriotism that
lives within most Americans. This is the spirit that will
encourage us to take care of each other.
Because John Kerry understands this, and because John Edwards
understands this, we are endorsing the Democratic ticket to
lead this country for the next four years.
John Kerry's challenge to us all, one that is no doubt supported
by the unbending optimism of Edwards, is to ask us to reconsider
the idea that we are not a country divided by political party,
by the color of skin, by the denomination of parish, by the
size of our paychecks, or by the disparities of our backgrounds.
Rather, John Kerry and John Edwards are asking us to remember
-- a reminder that could not be any more timely -- that our
purpose as Americans is to leave our community, our state,
our country and world in better shape than we found it.
President George W. Bush tapped into a popular sentiment
four years ago when he promised to be a "uniter not a
divider" but he has not followed through on that sentiment.
While divisiveness may be fodder for talk show hosts and political
pundits and, yes, satirists, it is not the business of the
American people. Everywhere people are asking for a return
to civility. We are striving for peace -- not just in the
world, but in our neighborhoods and our schools.
If John Kerry and John Edwards follow through on the promises
they are making along the campaign trail, if they continue
their themes of bright hope, and less corrosive political
behavior, not only will they begin to win over the hearts
and minds of the very many American who have dropped out of
the political process, but their ability to work with a sense
of bipartisanship will serve to seeing much of their important
legislation passed.
It is not enough to think these good thoughts, of course.
The war on terrorism must continue to be fought. The situation
in Iraq is as delicate as any the world has ever known. We
have other hot spots -- Iran, North Korea -- and of course
there is a growing global population that must be fed and
kept healthy. The challenges facing our little planet are
daunting and exhausting.
If there is an area that received too little notice during
the Democratic convention, it is the environment. The health
of our natural resources is the fount out of which our success
or failure as a country and as a world will grow. If there
is too little water, too little space, too few fish, too much
smog, and too little money put into solving these problems,
then the fight against terrorism will seem almost parochial
by comparison.
The countries of this planet shifted, in the last half of
the 20th century, from looking forward to simply trying to
maintain the status quo. We have stopped investing in the
future because the present state of affairs has become too
complicated and expensive to manage. There's no time for planning.
John Kerry and John Edwards must, when they enter the White
House, begin a global campaign to reverse this mode of thinking.
They have the natural hope and optimism to make this happen.
We urge the vast legion of smart, invested and interested
readers who use the Internet to change this world for the
better to commit themselves to the Kerry/Edwards ticket in
November.
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Humor Gazette
Editorial Board
John Breneman
Lars Trodson
Chris Elliott
Jeff Raper
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It is, as John Kerry said, time for a change.
If you agree with
this editorial,
please share it with a friend.
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