Bush's world
Congratulations to George W. Bush on winning a second term as president of the most powerful nation in the world. In yet another cliff-hanger, Bush defeated Democratic challenger John Kerry by capturing 274 electoral votes to his opponent's 252 electoral votes. Bush also won a slim 51 percent majority in the popular vote.
We congratulate the American people for concluding this important process and commend their enthusiasm in carrying out their civic duty by coming out in large numbers to vote.
Indonesian leaders should also learn from the graceful conduct of both candidates -- the loser graciously conceding and the winner magnanimous in victory. Although the campaign was often bitter and political differences remain, both Bush and Kerry underlined the need for healing and unity in their final speeches.
Certainly there is a lesson to be learned in this, a custom to be embraced by the future leaders of Indonesia's young democracy.
No small consideration should be given to Kerry, who could have protracted the process through legal suits. His wisdom in allowing the electorate, not judges, to determine the outcome of the election is a mark of true statesmanship.
This election also taught us a little more about the average American. About their hopes and perceived fears; of their awareness, or lack thereof, of their place in the global community.
We learned of the depth of conservative moralism in American society, their economic preferences and, most importantly, their biases in the war on terror.
Who American voters elect is entirely their own prerogative. We, as friends of the United States, respect their choice. Governments around the world, out of decorum, also have welcomed the election of Bush.
Nevertheless, amid the exclusively American complexion of many of the election issues, the grand theme of the election was inherently of a global nature. The 2004 U.S. election was in essence a "referendum" on Bush's war against terrorism and his unilateral invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq.
It is probably for this reason that people around the world were aghast when they woke up to find Bush had been reelected. It is incomprehensible to many outside the United States how such a developed society could still trust a man who waged war under false pretenses.
It is not our place to say there is a prevailing sense of "letdown" at the American choice, but how else but with disappointment could the international community react to an affirmation of an administration that espouses unilateral preemptive strikes against sovereign states.
We can only attribute support for this narcissism to the narrow-minded id brought about by an isolationist mentality -- the world according to America, because America is the world.
Millions around the globe adore America -- its people, culture, democratic ideals and respect for the rule of law. But millions more despise the country's conceited policies that disrespect the rights of other nations.
This election provides the White House the opportunity to mend fences with the global community, much in the way Bush pledged to reach out to Kerry's Democrats. Bush can choose to stoke international animosity by continuing as a global bully -- a world am-Bush-ed by unilateralism and nationalist chauvinism. Or he can attempt a reconciliation by listening to friends and respecting the United Nations.
For its part, Indonesia should continue to engage with the United States and the Bush administration. The underlying people- to-people relationship is too strong to collapse under the pressures of short-term real politik.
Despite his victory, the election also sent a strong message to Bush: Almost as many voters as supported him -- just 3.5 million fewer -- believed he was wrong in his policies.
Whether or not Bush heeds this message will determine his legacy as a great president or one of "folly, noise and sin".