Four years ago, as the nation sat, stunned, at the announcement that George W. Bush would be taking the presidential seat and leading our nation for the next four years, I made a prediction. Am I psychic? Well, yes I am, but that is beside the point; I think many people made the same prediction. I predicted that at some point in the forty-eight months to follow, while under Mr. Bush's rule (four years and I still refuse to give him the title), the United States of America would become embroiled in a conflict that would involve the middle east and Saddam, and that Bush Jr. would pick up where his Daddy left off and a can of Texan-style whoop-ass would be opened.

Now here we are in the dog days of 2004, looking at a possible four more years, and boy am I nervous. Let me go back three years. Now, I have voiced this opinion before to my friends, who hastily quiet me and look over their shoulders for men in sensible shoes. But this is the land of the free and of the first amendment. I will, as an editor's note, say that this is only my opinion. However, I think I might be able to dredge up a few hundred-thousand followers to this train of thought.

I think Mr. Bush not only knew that something cataclysmic was on the horizon, but I think he took steps not to interfere. Yes, we've all read the CNN transcripts of Ms. Rice's defense of Mr. Bush and the intel leading up to September 11, 2001. But let me voice what I know so many people have thought deep down in the back of their minds, the part that Homeland Security suppresses: he let it happen. Sacrifice a few for the good of the many. "Bring them on!" -- says Bush of attacks (7/2/03).

Early in 2003, I made up a small sign and hung it from my vehicles rear window: it was a picture of Mr. Bush, with the heading INTERNATIONAL TERRORIST. I knew this would inflame a lot of people, not only in the conservative town I live in, but everywhere, but I had hoped it would make some of them think. Even though there was no evidence of those damned Weapons of Mass Destruction to back up such a move, America had just invaded Iraq. Like most of America, I was livid--how dare Bush act in my name!

In the days that followed the initial attack, many Americans were easy to trigger; red, white and blue-motif décor was being brought out of the attics and e-bayers were making a killing. Testosterone-driven patriotism was at an all-time high and in small towns such as mine, monster trucks with ten-foot flags billowing off their tailgates wasn.t an unusual sight. I constantly had people verbally accosting me in parking lots for my unpatriotic signage and accusing me of being a traitor to the flag. "Whoa there," I'd say to them, "since when does exercising my first amendment right equate to being a traitor?"

"Our troops are over there fighting for your freedom, so you can keep that right."

(Note: no, I never did point out to them that one can not oppose free speech, then defend it in the next breath . I thought it would confuse them at the very least.) "At what point do you think your freedom is in jeopardy?" I would ask them. "Have you heard of an impending invasion that I have not?"

This would always make them stop for a moment as I watched their wheels upstairs spin, grasping for logical purchase--obviously they weren't used to having to form their own opinions, and a media channel was nowhere to be found. At that point the right-winged attacker usually turned and walked away, mumbling things under their breath that sounded faintly like "Hail Bush."

Fast forward. The "war" that isn't is still raging on, the death toll continues to climb and the rich are getting richer. We're sitting on the brink of November 2nd, and not only is our nation waiting with baited breath, but so is the rest of the world, like Middle Earth facing the future of Sauron. In the movies, good always prevails over evil. But four years ago, evil rose to the top--or was placed there by the Supreme Court. "I came to this office to solve problems and not pass them on to future presidents and future generations." --- Fund-raising stop at Hanover Marriott in Whippany, New Jersey (12/2/03).

Well, Mr. Bush, I'd say your goals are a wash--you.ve all but bankrupted the nation, made us the world enemy, killed over a thousand of our soldiers, made a laughing stock of Christianity, and left all but the Senators' and Congressmens' children behind. But hey, here's your bright side: your Daddy is proud and Dick's happy because Halliburton is thriving! You've played the ultimate game, and people died, Mr. Bush. They aren't just nameless, faceless grunts doing their job. Will you be there to comfort the child who cries out at night for a Mother who is never coming home?

Michael Moore said it in his acceptance speech last year, but I will reiterate: Shame on you Mr. Bush, shame on you. Let's make sure this egotistical, zealot fool doesn.t have another four years of our lives. But I am only one person. I'd rather ignore this all until it blows over, besides, there's nothing only one person can do. I hate politics. You would be amazed how often I hear this sentiment.

But oh, contraire! One person can change the course of history. One person can mean the difference between the trek back to world peace, or earthly demise. Register to vote, get your friends, colleagues, and relatives registered to vote. Turn off your televisions and turn on your minds; read everything you can, whether it is pro or con Bush and see the truth. Open your hearts and join the collective consciousness and send healing energy not only into the earth, but to those stuck where duty dictates.

In closing, I would like to quote to you an excerpt from a song of which I am particularly fond.

How much do I know/ to talk out of turn? You might say that I'm young/ you might say I'm unlearned But there's one thing I know/ though I'm younger then you Even Jesus would never forgive what you do.
- Masters of War, Pearl Jam edition

--Olwinn Solvhauk