A House Divided Cannot Stand

POLITICAL COMMENTARY

Politics -- all of them -- are destroying this country.

By JIM PURCELL
Publisher, The Chronicles

The reason I do not allow political partisanship on the site is because politics is destroying the United States -- right now. Today.

Politics have become too charged to be of use to anyone as news anymore. Politics has become the great divider of Americans. There is no longer debate in this country -- there is feral hatred between Democrats and Republicans. It is as if there are two halves of America that cannot stand the very existence of one another. I have seen fanaticism in this country, in the realm of politics, before -- local through national -- but nothing like this in my 50 years. Still, there are many people caught in-between these protagonists and it is like seeing two trains heading toward each other and there is nothing anyone can do to avert it. Certainly, those caught in-between will be caught in the explosion, more is to pity.

The polarities of political thought on issues ranging from government, to medicine, education, the military and science have become so extreme, so polarized, so galvanized that it seems as if the fabric of our nation, which I once thought was made of steel, seems to be coming apart.

I remember the early 1970s through a child's eyes, generally considered a time of moderate social unrest in the history books. There was discontent in the country over continued American involvement in Vietnam and with the Watergate debacle. Frankly, though, that was small potatoes compared to the bile and acrimony that exists today between conservatives and progressives, Republicans and Democrats, call them whatever you want.

I am not saying that one side of this equation is all 'right' or all 'wrong.' In some things, I think conservatives are right and in others I believes more progressive people are right. Yet, there is no more middle-ground to be had by anyone anymore. The fact is that, in several weeks, there will be a transition of power at the local through presidential levels. In some cases, who holds power will remain the same and in others they will not. It has been that way for a long time in the United States, since we took over the store for ourselves.

Whether someone loves the new president or hates the new president, whether they voted for Mr. Trump and the conservatives or they voted against them -- let us not tread too heavily on the ground beneath our feet. Americans of all stripes are going to need to remember we are one nation, or else we will not be a nation at all. We can make it so we, as a society, will be not the great American people of legend but a large collection of eccentric tribes residing under one compromised flag, if the level of public savagery does not come to some restrained level.

It is a lesson that America taught the world when it made itself free and stayed free: No one will be oppressed for very long anymore in this country. It is a fact. Progressives that mean to re-enact the 1960s before this president has even been sworn-in will not make a stronger nation. They will not win. Conservatives who might want to undo all of the works of this nation since 1970 and punish progressives along the way will not win. All these two groups, so intent upon the others' destruction, will do is leave this nation as a burning husk. It came close before, during the 1960s. I would not wish to see it so again.

Mark my words about this: If Americans cannot lower the level of their unprovoked political rage, this nation will be hurled headlong into civil unrest. All of us can turn America into a great, ugly spectacle if that is what is wanted by enough people. And, whether it is progressive unrest, or whether it is conservative unrest, without some sense of restraint, there will be no victory for anyone to enjoy.

Americans have lost the ability to discuss things, in my opinion. As a people, we have lost the steady virtues of those who came before us, who kept this land whole and prosperous for so long. However, unless someone who is just dripping with common sense makes themselves felt pretty darn soon, then chaos may soon slip out of the bottle again. Like it did when many of the people stirring the pot now have no recollection of because they were not yet born or even thought of in their grandfather's eyes.

No, I will not play a part in the lunacy that is shaping up. I will not shill for this one's side, or shill for another's. Maybe the issues and problems of our nation have become so compromised that now there is no more room for discussion. Maybe this is just the chickens coming home to roost. Well, the truth is that after all the hot-heads have had their way, after all the grand speeches have come and gone and the 'causes du jour' have all been played out on television, Internet news, cable and YouTube, there will be regret. Hatred and evil thought brings nothing good with it. Forcing one's views upon another with no regard to the other's perspective will only result in conflict.

Of course, in America, protesting and writing letters to the editor, fielding candidates, raising money for campaigns -- all of these are acceptable ways to enact change. I am not talking about reasonable means of change. I see a storm brewing, a fair-sized one. And, I don't like the way the clouds look on this one. I worry about great public clashes of ideas that exceed what is reasonable, what is prescribed.

As ugly as this new world we will be walking into next year gets, be assured sanity will inevitably raise its head again someday; look upon all that will have to be rebuilt, and take a deep breath. It will ask itself 'why,' but know the answer already: Because people are the damnedest fools.

There is very little uniting Americans today. And, our enemies overseas just love it. It looks like a heavyweight fight about to take place. But, I look warily upon this coming event. The crowd in the audience doesn't have popcorn or programs on their laps in this one. They have brought with them broken bottles, pieces of chain and good-sized sticks with nails driven through them. No, there will be no good sportsmanship in the rounds ahead I think.

I urge restraint. I urge caution. I ask for common sense. Historically, though, common sense in times like this is usually way too much to ask for, though.