An article worthy of the Onion

While reading Drudge, I read a story that read like a story written for the satirical news website, the Onion. The Boca Raton News printed a story about a psychological disorder related to John Kerry losing the election that many people in Palm Beach county are suffering from.

A post-therapy John Kerry supporter spoke out about her trauma treatment for the first time this weekend, saying Florida psychologist Douglas Schooler took her from the depths of despair over President Bush’s victory to a new lease on life.

Forty-four year old Karen of Boca Raton, a divorced mother of one who didn’t want her last name in print, called the trauma specialist’s intensive election therapy “profoundly effective” and described his hypnosis technique as “a healing process.”

“I wasn’t sleeping,” Karen told the Boca Raton News in an interview. “I was very devastated and very astonished that people would re-elect this president. I was moody about the war and economic issues. I felt very unsettled and fearful. I thought, ‘Oh no, what will happen for four years?’”
Karen, whose medical insurance covers the treatment, said she approached Schooler last week after finding herself unable to function publicly due to President Bush’s re-election.

“Dr. Schooler absolutely understood the pain this election caused me and he opened my mind to a new point of view,” Karen said. “You’re relaxed, he talks to you and you just come out of it feeling more positive and renewed. It took one session. He did some relaxation techniques and probably did some things I didn’t even realize.”
A Schooler client for seven years, dating back to her divorce, Karen said the doctor helped her realize it had been unhealthy for her to expect Kerry to win.

“If I’d had time, I would have volunteered for Kerry, but I work full-time,” Karen said. “I was so invested emotionally, watching the debates, and was very disturbed whenever I heard a Marine has been killed. I thought Bush’s actions were war crimes. But I’m sleeping again since the therapy and have felt better ever since. I don’t know what will happen now, but I’m going to take it day by day and see what happens.”
The Boca Raton News reported last week that more than 45 South Florida Kerry supporters sought psychological help after the Democratic candidate conceded to Bush on Nov. 3.

That number, including 20 patients treated by Schooler, had risen to more than 50 by the weekend.

As I read through the article, I couldn't believe that this was real. I kept thinking that it was satire. People are actually seeing therapists because John Kerry lost the election. Maybe this is the natural result of outcome-based education or no-score little league.

The thing is, every side loses elections. While I was glad that Bush won the presidency, living in California, I had some disappointments as well. I voted against the state funding embryonic stem cell research and I definitely voted against Nancy Pelosi for Senator. Both of those races were very important to me, but they lost. So what am I going to do about it? Will I stay in bed for weeks in a deep depression at the direction my state is going? Will I rant and rave and gnash teeth every time I think of the election? Even if John Kerry had won, would I consider it the end of the world? Of course not. It would energize me to do even more to further my issues. It will make me work that much harder to convince others of my view points. This blog, in a small way, is my way of doing that. I present my views and try to give logical arguments in support of them. If I can convince just 1% of the people that come by and read my posts, then I'm doing some good and am furthering my cause.

In the end, people have to realize that we can't control everything that happens to us, but we can control how we react to them. Instead of choosing depression and a doomed outlook on the world, I'll choose to fight.

UPDATE:

Apparently Rush Limbaugh has made fun of this article as well. There's a second story about this Here