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America Divided

Ernst

.30-06
"Philanthropist"
Was talking to a young man, whose less than a third my age, the other day and he ask if there had ever been a time that America was more divided than today? At first I was a little taken back by his question. But before I answered I ask if he had studied American history in school and if so, what was covered. After a short exchange I came to realize that for many of our younger generation history is what "happened five minutes ago."

Told him while things may seem bad today there were, from my perspective, three periods in history that America was really divided and the fate of the Republic was at certain risk. First was in the 1860s during the Civil War. There are many perceived reasons for why we had a Civil War. Views today widely differed, and while too many Anerucans suffered or died, the nation survived. I suggested a couple books he should read including a four part series on the Battles and Leaders of the Civil War.

Second, again from my perspective, was the 1930s and the Great Depression. While this was slightly before my time I heard first hand from my parents what they went through, how America struggled, and how divided the country was during this era. These were tough folks but despite great difficulties they and the country survived.

Finally, we talked about the 60s, something I experienced first hand. The nation was probably as divided during this period (at the personal level) as any time in history. And, unfortunately it was brought into every living room, every night, by the national tv news. Anti-war demonstrations, race riots, airplane hijackings, campus violence, bombings across the nation, Vietnam vets treated as criminals, a drug culture, draft card burning, youth escaping to Canada to avoid the draft, nightly body counts from the war and music. And the music! Probably the best music of all time and it still endures today, thankfully. But despite our troubles we survived as a nation. Unfortunately, many scars remain, especially with our Vietnam war vets, for which I am one.

After talking for over an hour the young man thanked me and said he had a greater appreciation of the past and it helped him focus on all the things going on today.

I think it would be wonderful if each of us took a few minutes to focus what we have, what we've endured in our lifetime, and what we can do to ensure the future of our nation.

Regards
 
Ernst, two things really stand out for me here. One the young man apparently was concerned with how things are today, and two that you took the time to give him your perspective. Well played. Too many young folks today are not concerned with what the elders think or their perspective.

The older one gets, hopefully wiser and more measured, certainly more experienced, we get new perspectives on how things got the way they are at the present. Perhaps that young man came away with a greater respect of what it means to be an American.

Todays world presents different challenges than what our parents and grandparents, or us for that matter have had to deal with. Not necessarily worse, but different. Todays youth have different tools to help them face the challenges, but I believe that as in the past the ones that are tough and smart will be able to cope and handle the situations as they arise.
 
Thank you Ernst.

Not just for taking the time to speak with the young man. But for your attention to how things are going. And especially for your service fighting Communism during the Vietnam war.

I can't go back and change anything about how our veterans were treated when (if) they came home. But I never felt that way in the first place. I was young then and didn't even know what vietnam was. Let alone to treat a soldier bad. That's not something that I've ever done or would do for serving our country.

There are many people who did not believe in all the peace, love crowd who knew how to anything but love or peace. Seems like today, that is just as prominent with that kind of crowd who scream for peace, but are willing to destroy you to have their kind of peace.

Like you, I've seen a lot of things in our country in even the last 20 or 30 years that I don't like, I don't agree with, and ultimately that I think is plain wrong.

Yet, here we are.

I've heard of many people who are not liking it grumble about uprisings and civil war 2. Which I think is ultimately inevitable in the end. Whether the Republic can weather the attacks or not, or if something altogether is enacted is anyones guess, but I do fear for our Country and pray for it.

But thank you for taking the time to speak with him. I hope he does take a little of his time away from the electronic devices to actually learn something.
 
Here we are 5 weeks later. The radical leftists are trying to, and partially succeeding in taking over the Democratic party. Their battle cry is free,free,free for everyone. It all sounds so sweet to young ears, because they have never worked and paid taxes and actually owned anything. This take from that group to give to that group has always irked me. From my experience all this has ever accomplished is making the group larger that is willing to be the takers.

We are certainly more divided than we were only 5 weeks ago when this thread was started.
 
And it's also sad that we're referring to them as radical leftists, like that's worse than any other democrat.

Many of them are socialists, plain and simple.
 
Certainly not your father's democratic party. Appears the goal is to "out left" each other. The more ridiculous the better. The democratic party has lost it's soul!

Not sure many really know what socialism is in practice! But it's the buzz word of the day.

Real question is where are the middle of the road, moderate democrats?

Regards
 
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