“You know, I laid out a doctrine. You just got to know it still stands. It says, ‘Either you’re with us, either you love freedom, and with nations which embrace freedom, or you’re with the enemy.’ There’s no in-between, and that doctrine still stands.” — George W. Bush, November 2001
“Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.” — Matthew 12:30
“A nation divided against itself cannot stand.” — Abraham Lincoln
ACHTUNG: This is not a fair and balanced story. It is an editorial by the editor
It has often been said lately that we live in a divided nation, particularly in our political views. And Lincoln’s quotes serve as a stern reminder of what can happen if we don’t find common ground about things that matter and work together.
The election of Donald Trump as president on Nov. 8 illustrates this problem very well. It would be almost impossible to argue that he is a uniter, not a divider, as famously claimed during the previous decade by George W. Bush.
Why are we so divided?
Much of it still stems from old passions that we thought were brought to a head and settled by the Civil War. We still have very different views about racial issues, and I submit the election of Trump has proven we do not live in a post-racial society.
I also submit many of us are encouraged to take a rigid stand on issues and to avoid any compromise with the other side. It’s gotten so bad that we too often regard fellow Americans with whom we disagree not as brothers and sisters, but evil people who must be defeated or eliminated.
One arena that encourages this thinking is sports. Though all high school football games and high school basketball games include perfunctory game opening remarks about sportsmanship and cooperation, the real mission for the members of both sides is to win, sometimes at all costs. And sometimes the goal is to humiliate the opponent.
It’s a perfect storm for the us vs. them mentality.
Former University of Michigan football coach Brady Hoke went as far to say he could never wear any scarlet and gray (Ohio State colors), even in casual circumstances. The rivalry between Michigan and Michigan State gets ugly now and then with name calling, taunts and insults.
We often see insults on Facebook directed toward opponents who somehow have become regarded as evildoers. When we become fans of sports teams, we too often see anybody but our favorite or ourselves as the enemy, as bad people, and in some cases, as subhuman. This gets dismissed often as harmless fun, but it has grown in numbers and intensity over the years since I was a child.
Even more guilty in the us vs. them disunity is fundamentalist Christian religion. It is commonplace for too many churches and pastors to preach that those unlike them are agents of the Devil, evil and treacherous. Too many Christian people are taught that others never should be compromised with because the debate is strictly a matter of right vs. wrong, good vs. evil.
Demonizing the other side too often results in serious division within our ranks as Americans. Yet examples are everyday occurrences and it doesn’t appear anyone is interested in bridging the gap because it feels like it’s no longer possible. When you start believing the people on the other side are evil or subhuman, it becomes too easy to try to eliminate them in our own holy wars.
So America’s political theater has become increasingly toxic because of an uncompromising red vs. blue and Republicans vs. Democrats contest. The media loves it because gets more publicity and attention and sells more advertising.
Indeed, we are a horribly divided nation, and somebody benefits from this vitriol, from this war of words and war between tribes. We need to begin to understand who benefits from this war, who is egging it on, or we will wind up just like Lincoln warned more than 150 years ago.
We are all Americans and I am proud of it! Yes, we are ! Let’s not get too agitated. I love the USA and you should as well. All will be fine. Trust in the Constition and the great people of America! I do……
I read your comments with some misgivings about where to lay the blame for our divided country.
It is my belief that we have always been divided, to some degree. To my knowledge. there has never been a President elected unanimously. Thusly, there have always been those opposed as well as those that support. No one can hold one man responsible for the attitudes of the people. Would you call Lincoln a divider? I wouldn’t. I’d call him a man that had certain beliefs and a concern for humanity and our country.
Donald Trump has repeatedly asked for support from all the people. He has asked for a chance to move the country in a direction that enough of the electorate supported, to elect him into office. He believes he can renew prosperity to a failing economy. He believes insecurity has been caused by our lack of nationalism. That insecurity and a willingness to always sacrifice, has been a detriment to our own well being, both emotionally and materially, with neither being mutually exclusive.
I just can not accept that he or his ideas have been the cause for the hatred and divisiveness that we are experiencing as a nation. It is the people that oppose his ideas and programs that are responsible for the hysteria that seems to have gripped our country, not the President himself.
I visited with a friend today and we discussed our opposing views about the current occupant of the White House. I asked him point blank, “Is there anything Trump could do that you would approve of”? His answer was an emphatic “NO!!”. The point being, if Trump policies brought full employment to the country, with higher wages, he would find a reason that Trump was not responsible for it. And every mistake Trump makes will result in an “I told you so!”.
The sentiment of “My way or No way” did not all of a sudden begin with Trump being elected, so it is somewhat disingenuous to hold him responsible for “Being a Divider”.
You are right in mentioning sports contests and the rabidity of fans. And associating our political elections as a contest, rather than a query or polling of the people. People associate with a sports team and psychologically assume the identity of a particular team. When the “team” loses, they are outraged and seek out blame. Not any associated with the team, as they would be blaming themselves. It is the referees or cheaters that are to blame, not the team (me). The referees and the opposing team then become the “enemy”. Do you blame the team players for the attitude of the fan? Hardly. So, it is somewhat of a misconception to blame Trump for being a divider.
It is we, that have lost all tenets of decorum and a wait and see attitude. We have become spoiled and only concerned or consumed with our own gratification. Even to the point of wishing destruction of all, if we can not have our own way. It is a sad and disturbing phenomena to observe, but the blame lies within ourselves, not with the team we root for or the team that we oppose. And the failing of our Democracy is the failing of those that choose to destructively oppose the will of the people, because their team (They) lost a contest.
Just read your 2017 comment. It is now 2022. Trump has proven himself to be a criminal since you wrote your comment. Sucks to be you, huh?
This is what Mr. Moras wrote five years in response to my editorial:
I read your comments with some misgivings about where to lay the blame for our divided country.
It is my belief that we have always been divided, to some degree. To my knowledge. there has never been a President elected unanimously. Thusly, there have always been those opposed as well as those that support. No one can hold one man responsible for the attitudes of the people. Would you call Lincoln a divider? I wouldn’t. I’d call him a man that had certain beliefs and a concern for humanity and our country.
Donald Trump has repeatedly asked for support from all the people. He has asked for a chance to move the country in a direction that enough of the electorate supported, to elect him into office. He believes he can renew prosperity to a failing economy. He believes insecurity has been caused by our lack of nationalism. That insecurity and a willingness to always sacrifice, has been a detriment to our own well being, both emotionally and materially, with neither being mutually exclusive.
I just can not accept that he or his ideas have been the cause for the hatred and divisiveness that we are experiencing as a nation. It is the people that oppose his ideas and programs that are responsible for the hysteria that seems to have gripped our country, not the President himself.
I visited with a friend today and we discussed our opposing views about the current occupant of the White House. I asked him point blank, “Is there anything Trump could do that you would approve of”? His answer was an emphatic “NO!!”. The point being, if Trump policies brought full employment to the country, with higher wages, he would find a reason that Trump was not responsible for it. And every mistake Trump makes will result in an “I told you so!”.
The sentiment of “My way or No way” did not all of a sudden begin with Trump being elected, so it is somewhat disingenuous to hold him responsible for “Being a Divider”.
You are right in mentioning sports contests and the rabidity of fans. And associating our political elections as a contest, rather than a query or polling of the people. People associate with a sports team and psychologically assume the identity of a particular team. When the “team” loses, they are outraged and seek out blame. Not any associated with the team, as they would be blaming themselves. It is the referees or cheaters that are to blame, not the team (me). The referees and the opposing team then become the “enemy”. Do you blame the team players for the attitude of the fan? Hardly. So, it is somewhat of a misconception to blame Trump for being a divider.
It is we, that have lost all tenets of decorum and a wait and see attitude. We have become spoiled and only concerned or consumed with our own gratification. Even to the point of wishing destruction of all, if we can not have our own way. It is a sad and disturbing phenomena to observe, but the blame lies within ourselves, not with the team we root for or the team that we oppose. And the failing of our Democracy is the failing of those that choose to destructively oppose the will of the people, because their team (They) lost a contest.
Their team lost in 2020, and how did they choose to respond? Was it by joining together and trying to move forward in a constructive manner after peacefully accepting the loss, or by having a continuing destructive tantrum? Their “team” has refused to move on and unite with the winners to start to address the problems we face.
There are many agents who greatly benefit from a divided America including foreign powers and those who profit from the division. When you post a divisive meme on social media you are doing the work of these factions.