By Saundra Dobbs

The days and weeks following the presidential election have been difficult for democrats across the country (especially those of us who have been with Kerry from the primary). I was in tears on and off for days after the results came in. I was in Florida the week before the election, campaigning for Kerry. We had a great time and felt so successful while we were there. On election night we cheered as initial exit polls favored us and when we lost Florida the room of 600 people was silent. But we had won Pennsylvania and Ohio was still up in the air.

We left for the airport at one a.m. on election night and had no access to news.

As we called home frantically trying to hear results, rumors filtered in that Ohio had been called for Bush. After a few tears we were so relieved to hear that it was only Fox News that had called it. And so we slept.

I got back to D.C. at 7 a.m. on Wednesday the third and after a shower realized I would stay glued to my TV all day, so I went into work. The people at work were somber and eating donuts in the break room. When it was announced that Kerry had conceded I tried not to cry. I kept hoping it wasn’t right but when Kerry spoke- I sobbed. I ended up leaving work after his speech. I felt so dejected and so hurt. I just kept thinking, What did we just do?

I feel like we’ve validated this administration. America has said they support pre-emption, homophobia, and religious radicalism. I am saddened by this country’s decision.

But it is over. I will still wear my JK pin and I will still frown a little, but now its time to fight. We have to fight so much harder for our beliefs. We have a Republican Congress, a Republican White House, and soon a Republican Supreme Court. Our social liberties will fall back 40 years if we just sit back and cry – or move to Canada.

We said all along that the future of our nation relied on this election. I say, don’t let it. Let’s let the future of our nation rely on what we do at the local level. Get on a list-serve for a political action committee, write your government officials every time a controversial issue is discussed, and please don’t give up.

We worked hard to get Kerry elected and we know 49 percent of America doesn’t agree with the “Bush Doctrine.” Let’s make sure they don’t forget it. Maybe Bush will try to unite the country as he says. If so, then it’s just as important to be vocal so he knows what we want.

In Kerry’s concession speech he said, “You worked your hearts out, and I say, don’t lose faith. What you did made a difference and building on itself, we will go on to make a difference another day. I promise you, that time will come – the election will come when your work and your ballots will change the world and it’s worth fighting for.” We’re all tired and deflated, but now is the most important time to stand up and keep fighting.