I couldn't help but notice the flurry of boos from the crowd as Senator McCain mentioned now president-elect Barack Obama in his concession speech. Senator McCain, an honorable man at the end of an ill-fated campaign, quickly did his best to silence the ill-mannered members of his audience. Throughout his campaign, he expectedly spared few opportuinities to criticize his opponent in order to portray Obama as unfit for presidency. However, he was always quick to correct those who clearly stepped over the line -- those who claimed Obama was Muslim (heaven forbid!) or a terrorist, or any number of other things which were horrible and false. For running a relatively honorable campaign, John McCain has my respect.
It was the boos from his supporters that concern me.
I define conservatives as those who cling to traditional values with much fervor; they are certain that allowing others to act in a manner inconsistent with their own beliefs is somehow going to corrupt civilization as we know it and upset their way of life.
These people are absolutely petrified (and pretty much certain) that a liberal democrat in the White House is going to bring the end of days and/or ruin the country. Because they fear that liberalism will corrode society and threaten their way of life, I fear that many are not beyond resorting to violence in order to 'protect' themselves and/or send a message to those who oppose them.
But who 'opposes' conservatives? Liberals?
Do liberals attempt to pass legislation to take rights away from conservatives? Do liberals tell conservatives that they are not allowed to be narrow minded? That they are not allowed to go to church? That they are not allowed to be homophobic, or that they are required to have abortions? No.
So who has the advantage in the struggle between progression and tradition? Those who are irritated with, yet tolerant of their adversaries, or those who appear to stop at nothing to impress their own values and morals upon their foes?
