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Lamentation 03 November 2004 4 15:21 I suppose it's over. With a popular vote margin of more than a million, it is pointless to contest Bush's election this time. Kerry, the gentleman, has conceded, rendering further consideration of the votes moot. I abhor Bush and his cronies; everyone knows this. I believe this administration to be the most irresponsible, corrupt, and generally foul regime ever to gain power in the history of this nation. I would like few things more than to see them deposed, imprisoned, tried for heinous high crimes, convicted through due process, and sentenced to be dragged into and through the streets, beaten, and publicly hanged for their misdeeds by the people whom they have betrayed. This will, of course, never happen. America has now indisputably and irrevocably proven itself to be the nation of spineless, gutless fools which I for years have decried. For my part, my intentions are no secret. It pains me to do so, having just begun to settle into New York, and learned to wear as a badge of honor the bruises and scrapes, both physical and otherwise, acquired as one of the proud survivors who inhabit this metropolis, which might well be the centre, the seat, the capital of the Modern World. At the end of the term of this year-long lease on my new apartment, though, if I am able to find some desirable country which will grant me quarter, I shall leave this one and seek asylum there. I believe that I could live out my ambitions happily in a number of other cities -- Montreal, London, Paris, perhaps even Dublin, and I would not have to bear the pain and the shame of being associated with a nation which clearly hates and in no way represents me. I have known for years that I am not, at heart, an American and that to find my home, I would likely have to live in exile. I have never felt comfortable or safe here; I have never had a sense of belonging among these people. For my thoughts are not their thoughts, neither are their ways my ways, to paraphrase the prophet Isaiah. In any case, I think I shall no longer write of political matters here. No election has ever meant so much to me as this one, but it is clear that my words are wasted on a persistently ignorant people. Those who have need of them will not read them, and those who read them have no need of them, so no matter how vile the offense or how great my indignation at it, I shall strive not to discuss the transgressions of America's government, which continually defies my will. America the Beautiful, it is clear that God no longer sheds His Grace on thee, nor crowns thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea. From the First Chapter of the Lamentations of the Prophet Jeremiah: 1 How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! How is she become as a widow! She that was great among the nations, and princess among the provinces, how is she become tributary! 2 She weepeth sore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks: among all her lovers she hath none to comfort her: all her friends have dealt treacherously with her, they are become her enemies. . . . 5 Her adversaries are the chief, her enemies prosper; for the LORD hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions: her children are gone into captivity before the enemy. 6 And from the daughter of Zion all her beauty is departed: her princes are become like harts that find no pasture, and they are gone without strength before the pursuer. 7 Jerusalem remembered in the days of her affliction and of her miseries all her pleasant things that she had in the days of old, when her people fell into the hand of the enemy, and none did help her: the adversaries saw her, and did mock at her sabbaths. 8 Jerusalem hath grievously sinned; therefore she is removed: all that honored her despise her, because they have seen her nakedness: yea, she sigheth, and turneth backward. 9 Her filthiness is in her skirts; she remembereth not her last end; therefore she came down wonderfully: she had no comforter. O LORD, behold my affliction: for the enemy hath magnified himself. 10 The adversary hath spread out his hand upon all her pleasant things: for she hath seen that the heathen entered into her sanctuary, whom thou didst command that they should not enter into thy congregation. . . . 12 Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? Behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the LORD hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger. 13 From above hath he sent fire into my bones, and it prevaileth against them: he hath spread a net for my feet, he hath turned me back: he hath made me desolate and faint all the day. . . . 16 For these things I weep; mine eye, mine eye runneth down with water, because the comforter that should relieve my soul is far from me: my children are desolate, because the enemy prevailed. 17 Zion spreadeth forth her hands, and there is none to comfort her: the LORD hath commanded concerning Jacob, that his adversaries should be round about him: Jerusalem is as a menstruous woman among them. . . . 19 I called for my lovers, but they deceived me: my priests and mine elders gave up the ghost in the city, while they sought their meat to relieve their souls. 20 Behold, O LORD; for I am in distress: my bowels are troubled; mine heart is turned within me; for I have grievously rebelled: abroad the sword bereaveth, at home there is as death. 21 They have heard that I sigh; there is none to comfort me: all mine enemies have heard of my trouble; they are glad that thou hast done it: thou wilt bring the day that thou hast called, and they shall be like unto me. 22 Let all their wickedness come before thee; and do unto them, as thou hast done unto me for all my transgressions: for my sighs are many, and my heart is faint. May God have mercy on us all. r Last Dispatch - Next Dispatch