My anger at this EXACT point has kept me up nights for a long time (about four years, I'd guess).

Stealing the election is an atrocity worth everyone's outrage.

But the complete and total lack of corresponding outrage at the underlying issue of marginalizing minority voters as a political strategy is inexcusable.

This was allowed to pass in 2000, and looking back (quite vividly, thanks to the now-famous video footage of the CBC's attempts to raise this issue in congress), it is heartbreaking. Because it led to Bush in the White House? Yes. But even more so because, even those who give the most lip service to fighting for equality and justice, did little or nothing to challenge the dismissive treatment of so many good citizens of this country.

I white and I am from the Deep South. But I swear that I will be good and @#%damned if I stay silent about this issue in this election year. Not because I want Bush to lose or Kerry to win - but because what is happening to fellow Americans is reprehensible and the antithesis of the principles upon which our country was founded. And if it can happen to "them," believe me, fellow caucasions, it can - and will - happen to you and me one day if we don't speak up now.

And all the majority talk about "The Black Vote" and how "they" should "wake up" and vote for the party "with their best interest in mind" needs to stop. If folks like me and many of you here aren't willing to do whatever it takes to insure that all men and women are TRULY equal in America, we ought to all go back and live in our glass houses very, very carefully and stay away from the ever-tempting stones!

Didn't mean to go off on anyone in particular, or on DU friends in general. Thanks for allowing me to vent for a moment tonight!