A Nation Divided Cannot StandPhoto: America has a history of being either liberal or conservative. It has lost the ability to moderate its views. The nation is more divided than ever and it's only a matter of time until it falls if it doesn't stop its present course.
November 8, 2006
Richard Markland
From the results I've seen this morning, America's disenchantment has spoken. Forecasts before the election varied and both parties could basically pick a poll out of the political hat in order to convince voters who would win Super-Dud Tuesday.
Campaign 2006 has been a comedy of errors. When addressing this topic, I find it difficult to take the election process seriously due to childish campaign ads and a barrage of political signs posted everywhere. It has become a game children play, yet as a nation we can't see what is happening. I have a mixture of anger and deep concern. My anger is not towards individuals, but actions taken by leaders who do not have the welfare of the nation as a top priority. My concern is for where the nation is headed and how we have resigned ourselves to the status quo. Complacency will destroy any nation in its path and America is infected with apathy from head to toe.
Ruffling feather's is not popular. Political correctness is a disease as deeply embedded as anything can be. Spiritual correctness is its bed partner and when politics and religion decide to embrace one another, it's a recipe for disaster. Although we call ourselves the United States, we are not only deeply divided, but equivalent to a ship without a compass. Popular opinion is based upon whatever is convenient for the moment. America wants solutions, but pain is not permitted in order to bring about change.
The gay lifestyle is accepted as an alternative or diverse sexual preference. Abortion is giftwapped as the right to choose. A corrupt political system is not seen for what it is. A smile, wink and a handshake is the magic ingredient for re-election. Entertainment is an obsession, but considered a necessity. Credit cards are an economic curse, but without them, Americans would not survive. America is a nation on a treadmill running out of control and the way we search for solutions is tearing the nation down the middle.
To disturb any facet of the status quo is equivalent to what happens during the game of pin ball. Offer concrete solutions and the word "TILT" will disrupt everything. America is tilting, but in what direction? It's a fragile state of affairs and one single major catastrophic event, or a series of small events, is all it would take to unravel everything.
Anyone who is willing to stand up and be counted is viewed with disdain and hatred. Many people don't realize how much they want to blend in, yet desire change. Views of how changes should take place are political in many cases. To openly state problems are due to a spiritual crisis will result in outrage and jeers. We want voices of reason, but only if they take on the level of a streetwise naivety.
We are divided and it's no longer just a matter of a two party affiliation, but Americans are in little agreement on everything. We simply want to do our thing and election 2006 is a warning. We are living on borrowed time and fragmenting ourselves in different directions due to anger and disillusionment. Warnings of what we are doing to ourselves falls on deaf ears, but it has to be said. America is in deep trouble, but we are blinded as a nation.
A state of emergency should be declared. Flags need to hang at half mast. The American spirit is in need of a physician. This election has shown the condition of the American spirit, but America will not look at itself realistically, but insist it's just a phase.
There is a warning to anyone who is willing to stand up and be counted. It's not popular. Verbal daggers can come out of nowhere. Lines are drawn when it comes to what is and isn't permitted. Barriers must not be obstacles, but destroyed by anyone who is wiling to go against popular opinion.
Americans are making choices, but they are the wrong ones. We are divided and we have become our own worst enemy. Without a sense of direction, we will fall in whatever the direction the wind blows. If you listen closely, you can hear a category one hurricane building in strength and it's coming our way from all directions.
(c) By Richard Markland
From the forthcoming book:
"What America Doesn't Want To Admit" |
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