Students look at moving abroad in light of election

The recent elections might have simply divided the country into happy and unhappy people. And amongst the unhappy lot, there are some who want to leave the United States for the four years that George W. Bush will be president.\n"The thought of immigration crossed my mind because I was embarrassed by our country's choice of leader and didn't want to be associated with the 53 million dumb people," said Adrienne Carroll, a senior biology major applying to a graduate school in England.\nShe said she would like to explore the option of staying there for two more years after completing her studies. That way, she said, she would come back after Bush finishes his term.\nAnother reason Carroll wants to leave is because she does not want to be drafted. But for others it is the situation created by the Iraq war that makes them unhappy.\n"I don't agree with Bush about how he is handling the Iraq issue," said senior Emily Ragsdale, an English major. She said emigrating to Canada or Western Europe was a fleeting idea after the president won the state of Ohio and re-election.\n"Living in a country where you don't believe in the leader is difficult," she said. \nBut the conservatives have a message too. \n"If someone cannot accept their elected leader they have no right to be in that country. And here, they do not deserve to be an American," said Angel Rivera, a senior and former chairman of IU College Republicans. "They should put their money where their mouth is."\nRivera said his situation is the opposite of those contemplating leaving: He moved to the United States in part for its political offerings. \n"I believe in this country and that is why I moved to America from Puerto Rico. I love this country and I love Bush," Rivera said.\nSenior Cameron Oehler said he thinks the Bush administration is self-righteous, an idea that doesn't gel with him. \n"The Iraq war was just done for all the wrong reasons ... false pretenses," Oehler said. "This gay marriage thing makes me mad. If the legislation is passed it will be reversed. By definition, marriage is a religious union. The constitution cannot have any say."\nCarroll said she agreed with Oehler. \n"Religion and politics is getting too (intertwined)," Carroll said. "This gay marriage thing is getting to be another civil rights issue. It's a big old mess."\nSenior Lisa Inks who is majoring in English and Spanish, said she will seriously consider moving to Canada, Western Europe, Sweden, England or Spain if the gay marriage ban passes. \n"It's indicative of movement towards intolerance," she said. \nAccording to The Associated Press, the Australian, New Zealand and Canadian embassies received a number of calls from U.S. citizens who were "frustrated" and were "serious about leaving the country". Also, the Canadian immigration service Web site had 115,000 hits from the United States, more than six times the normal amount, the day after the election.\nIf the United States continues to be the aggressor in unjustified wars, people will want to leave the country, Oehler said. \n"People will be embarrassed to call themselves American," Oehler said.\nBut. sophomore William Todd said he thinks very little of this mentality and had Democrat John Kerry won the election. he wouldn't even consider leaving the country.\n"Such people should be tried for treason and shot," he said. "Leaving their own country for a leader is unpatriotic and ridiculous."\nOehler said, "Bush'll be glad to get rid of dissenters. He has no interest in hearing other people's opinions."\nOehler also said he will soon be taking some time off to study in Germany.\nBut despite all the talk of exodus, some students in favor of leaving are afraid for the state of the country if the majority of the liberal middle-class leaves. \n"This place would become worse to come back to. I don't think it would solve anything if we left," Ragsdale said.\nInks agreed, adding, "an election should be a call to arms, not mass exodus."\nBut it is not that the students want to go away forever, Carroll said. \n"We will come back eventually," she said. "When there is a change in government." \nAnd Carroll offered one more message for the world, as far as the elections are concerned. \n"We are so sorry," she said. "We tried our best." \n-- Contact staff writer Hina Alam at halam@indiana.edu.