Disrespect over election results disappoints

There is a bumper sticker floating around Boone with a picture of Barack Obama wearing a turban and the phrase, “Change you will submit to,” surrounding him.

Even if someone does not agree with Obama and his message, I think promoting  the attitude represented on that sticker is absolutely ridiculous.

Obama was elected as our 44th president Tuesday evening in an election that made history. This fact is non-disputable; he is the first black person to ever win the Oval Office.

It is disheartening to hear or read hateful comments from some people who think Obama should not have been elected.

For example, my favorite thus far: one Appalachian State University student set her Facebook status to express her disappointment by calling Obama a “Muslim” and said she would be praying for the United States.

Another individual proclaimed, “Communism, here we come.”   

It is perfectly fine to be disappointed in the outcome of the election, but comments like the ones above—as well as that bumper sticker—make me sick.

The outcome of the election cannot be changed, and America has elected Obama as its leader for at least the next four years.

Even if you shed a few tears Tuesday evening during John McCain’s concession speech, it is time to dry your eyes and start supporting our president-elect.

No one can deny our country is in a poor and disappointing state right now. If change—real change—is to occur, we must rally together and make things happen.

This cannot happen, and will not happen, with some of the attitudes I am seeing regarding Obama.

America was not founded on the principle of disrespect.

McCain said during his concession speech, “My friends, we have come to the end of a long journey. The American people have spoken, and they have spoken clearly.”

He went on to tell his supporters to join in the effort of offering congratulations.

“I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in…offering our next president our good will and earnest effort to find ways to come together, to find the necessary compromises, to bridge our differences, and help restore our prosperity, defend our security in a dangerous world, and leave our children and grandchildren a stronger, better country than we inherited,” McCain said.

I commend McCain for such a noble speech, as well as for his hard work during what had to be an extremely difficult and wearing election season.

I think his supporters should sincerely take to heart his comments. By calling our new president-elect a “Muslim” or an “Arab,” an injustice is done to what the McCain campaign stood for, as well as our country.

There were many people in America who poured time and effort into supporting McCain, and I know the loss must be disappointing.

But it is time to move on. McCain knows it, and so should those of his supporters who continue to call Obama names and say they are moving to Canada.

Although the election has taken most everyone’s minds off of President Bush, I’m sure you can remember the countless insults, names and general disrespect thrown his way. That may or may not have been necessary, but did the public backlash really help anything?

“For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime: two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century,” Obama said in his victory speech. “…The road ahead will be long.”

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