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The Cost of Unity in America »
Posted by: Spadecaller 1 year, 10 months agoSoon after the World Trade Towers fell, a unique phenomenon of historical significance occurred; Americans became united. Have we forgotten?
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Spadecaller
Welcome to my profile. About me: I'm an artist of several kinds; from bull to painting. I don't spare too many words. Most ...
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Comments: 156
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Spadecaller
Feb. 3, 2008, 11:03 a.m.With the presidential campaign and the partisan sniping that goes on here on Propeller and in our nation at large, I was reflecting about how divided our nation has become. And, then I thought back to 9-11. Does it bring back any memories worth renewing? It did for me.
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Bkumm
Feb. 3, 2008, 11:20 a.m.I've said it before and I'll say it again. When Americans start looking at ourselves as Americans first, rather than as Black, White, Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Irish, Italian, German, Armenian, Hispanic, Republicans, Democrats, Liberals or Conservatives then we can truly begin the long process of healing the breaches within our great experiment. Until then, everything we do is for naught.
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walden3
Feb. 3, 2008, 11:48 a.m.Not just Americans, but the whole world was united with us in our grief. It was a brief moment that could have been seized to once again claim our place as the "shining city on a hill." Instead the tragedy was used for division, empire and personal gain.
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jordan11
Feb. 3, 2008, 11:49 a.m.we affirmed our commitment to freedom -- that we would not forfeit our way of life to the purveyors of fear and terrorism.>>>>
Yes, I remember. And then we were told we'd have to set 'freedom' aside in the name of fighting terrorism, and fear took over common sense. The failure of this administration to properly deal with the threat before it happened was lost in the rhetoric of fear. The fact that our freedoms had nothing to do with 9/11 coming off, and the failures of our government to pay attention was swept under the rug. The intelligence agencies of the world, and our own agencies, had done their jobs without usurping our freedoms. But for some reason, that can't happen again without doing so. Knee jerk emotionalism will be our downfall.
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GHOSTWHOWALKS
Feb. 3, 2008, 11:53 a.m.We became united in a way we haven't seen in decades and we weren't alone. Most of the world stood with us. Help on that fateful day poured in from everywhere. Where did it go? That feeling of coming together? Just when did we lose that and why? The answers are blowing in the wind and i'm not smart enough to know the answers.
Bkumm is correct. We have allowed ourselves to become disenfranchised and led astray by fear, religion, color, and we wander in cliques lost within one small tribe, all the while forgetting the whole; when we should be striving to hold onto that which brought us together. After all we are Americans not individuals; but a family.
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Spadecaller
Feb. 3, 2008, 11:55 a.m.I believe diversity is a wonderful aspect about this county. But, it is the hyperpartisan politics that plagues us with division that is paralyzing and counterproductive.
People do not need to relinquish or subjugate their beliefs or their affinities to other causes and groups, but as citizens I believe it is our civic duty to protect our constitution from foreign or domestic enemies above all other political ties.
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Francisca
Feb. 3, 2008, 12:06 p.m.Spadecaller: This so special day (the 11th September)a unique phenomenon of historical significance occured:Europeans became Americans....We were not Italian, English, German, Spanish, French, ect...we were at least for that brief moment in time: citizen of the World against purveyors of fear and terrorism! Unity makes Force, Division makes weakness...All of us have the same combat: wellbeing for everyone...It's not easy because we are numerous and the "cake" is very very small!
Thanks for the video!
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Spadecaller
Feb. 3, 2008, 12:14 p.m.Part of what needs to be set right is to get out of Iraq.
The events of 9-11 had nothing to do with Saddam Hussein, yet the Bush/Cheney administration used a nation that was already predisposed to fear.
The mere mention of weapons of mass destruction, after the towers had fallen was enough for many Americans to lose sight of reason.
Despite the subterfuge and dishonesty, too many of us lost their senses and surrendered to the politics of fear. I hope that false pride will give way to reason, so that we can begin to repair some of the damage and set a new course for our future.
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Poulenc
Feb. 3, 2008, 1:40 p.m.Well, Spade, you can't really expect people to stay as purposeful as they did following a collective disaster, and the shared grief, which was in itself bonding, over that, even six month after...
Nonetheless, what was revealed was the POSSIBLE...and it felt very, very good.
Systematically "dismantled" by Bush and Co. But the hunger for shared purpose remains, witness the Obabama enterprise, which has already proven to be invigorating, in my opinion.
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canadianrancher57
Feb. 3, 2008, 1:49 p.m.When the lines that have been drawn between all men are removed then we act and think as one, If the divisions could be remove in your country it would become what it once was, if the divisions could be removed in the world I would have my wish come true. I remember the Challenger disaster where I believe the world stopped and said a prayer, I remember when a plane crashed into the Potomic River and I saw a man help others to safety and then silently disappear beneath the water, I think many stopped and said a prayer. That man showed what the world considers a hero, one who helps others.
There are many who post on these stories who claim your country is the greatest country in the world and stand behind it regardless. AT this point I could start drawing lines but that would defeat the cause of this artical. What I ask people is when you are the greatest should you not lead by example, this means in regards of your citizens as well as the people of the world. Just a thought.
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grungeplunge
Feb. 3, 2008, 2 p.m.Unity of purpose shouldn't cover up or pretend to ignore fundamental diversity of approaches, provenience, etc. On the contrary - this is actually where rational patriotism rather than unreasonable nationalism/chauvinism should come in.
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icono1
Feb. 3, 2008, 3:10 p.m.To quote spade..." too many of us lost their senses and surrendered to the politics of fear."
So true. And we are just now coming to our collective senses and realizing the devistating exploitation of the American and World citizen that 'fear' lead to via governments and corporations.
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pismo
Feb. 3, 2008, 3:39 p.m.If we had not made Sept 11th 2001 a political battlefield in the years following, the country and the world for that matter would have stood behind the war on terror. Political exploitation of the attacks has divided this country more that it was before the attacks and arguably more than any time in the history of our country. It's as if we have climbed a mountain just to fall off a cliff........
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chevydog
Feb. 3, 2008, 3:52 p.m.Yeah, for a while we were united. And the rest of the world felt for us. And things were possible.
Then some political operative figured out that he could use 9/11 as justification for some things that were wanted all along. Just wrap yourself in the flag.
So we went off to Iraq to overthrow an SOB we never liked. He probably deserved it, even though he had nothing to do with 9/11. But we diminished ourselves in the process. And all those people who we "knew were up to something", we now had justification to find out "what they were up to." Very little, in general. And on and on, all the while diminishing ourselves more.
Sometimes it seems like a slow-mo bad dream. One big hurt and a million little ones. Even worse because most of the hurt was administered to ourselves by ourselves in the name of "security."
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Spadecaller
Feb. 3, 2008, 6:19 p.m.Among those who pretend to be unifiers, there are also those who despise African-Americans, Jewish-Americans, Latino-Americans, Italian-Americans, Arab-Americans,etc... and others who have the right to retain their respect for their various backgrounds.
The richness of this country always meant that Americans could retain their identity and their dignity. With our diversity we can still put our nation first to defend our constitution from those who would prefer to cast it aside.
Many of the members of the various hate groups, such as the KKK, neo-Nazis, and Aryan Nations, and even Dominionists, often denounce African-Americans, Jewish-Americans, and Gay-Americans; they call them "hypenated Americans."
These people are dividers. They would prefer cleansing America of its "impurities," under the false banner of Christianiy and patriotism. Do not be fooled. They do not consider all Americans equal.
Unity respects difference; it embraces it.
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eugenegerard
Feb. 3, 2008, 9:08 p.m.The premise that we were unified depends on one idea. We were not LIED to. All of our patriotism depepended on truth.
Once we started to find that 911 and all the lies that led us into an illegal and unjust war caused cracks in our solidarity to form.
The most egregious sin of the Bush criminal enterprise besides the million deaths it has caused and the polluting of Iraq with DU is the distrust it has sowed across the world and the US.
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eugenegerard
Feb. 3, 2008, 9:16 p.m.Please forgive the typos in the last post. All mistakes are due to the Big Game and beer.
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Mdiar
Feb. 3, 2008, 9:34 p.m.I apologize for not commenting on this sooner Spade. I've been hoping for a very long time for something to unify us. It is possible but I'd rather it not be another event like 9/11. In alot of ways I think Obama is a very good possibility of this. His bipartisan message and his seeming willingness to work with others is a very good sign I think. I didn't pay attention to much at this time of my life, a brother of mine had just died and I was fairly young anyway, so I don't really remember alot of the stuff that happened. I think Obama could give a very positive sign to the rest of the world as well if he's elected. I usually don't care about international opinion, at least the negative, but it would be nice if we could send a message to everyone with this election. A message that we do not hate people who are Muslim, or have a Muslim name, or hate people who are not WASPs. We embrace them as part of the nation that is the USA. To become an example for all, once again.
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Spadecaller
Feb. 3, 2008, 10:28 p.m.Mdair
Yes, I agree. I believe Obama really wants to unite this country and is willing to work for what is best for the greatest number of Americans.
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Mdiar
Feb. 3, 2008, 10:47 p.m.I still am considering a write-in of Theodore Roosevelt though! Bull Moose '08!
"Speak softly and carry a big stick."
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mediawiz
Feb. 3, 2008, 10:34 p.m.Well yes, fear, anger and revenge against a common enemy is unity if you want to call it that. Hitler used that tactic very successfully. However the underlying problems (the enemy within) are still there. It's certainly a great diversion. If people are in fear they're hesitant to make changes in government; the economy and other social issues take a back seat; the constitution is violated and citizens give up their civil rights. in other words create a problem that makes the citizenry reactionary and then provide the solution that achieves your aims.
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Tcaros
Feb. 3, 2008, 11:26 p.m.I think shock makes people unite. Hopefully good comes out of it when there is a common cause, but we are finding out that this administration fellow Americans. We were played by a shocking event into backing whatever this President wanted. It's becoming more obvious that there were alterior motives in place. Some of us even suspect there are further reaching implications. This country became afraid to speak out for fear of what might happen to them. That in itself works against unity.
I think this country can unite after this administration is over. The healing can come when there is a full investigation of all the illegal activities that violated our laws and concience. We can regain our standing, our values, our honor by exposing the wrongdoing and speaking truthfully. We should expect this from our leaders.
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Spadecaller
Feb. 4, 2008, 3:54 a.m.In reviewing the thread, I could see the dividers and cynics weaving their reasons for division and using hate and fear to justify their opinions. I could see the hyperpartisan maniacs and the good ole boys and girls who want hyphenated Americans to disappear. I could also see a majority of people who want to include ALL Americans without conditions based on sect, denomination, politics, organization, or institution.
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IzaBluByU
Feb. 4, 2008, 3:59 a.m.The thing we all need to remember is, the fathers of this nation, were the first immigrants to come here from a place where their freedom had been restricted, with the idea of making this place better. Honestly, a good share of the 'political' speeches since 9/11 have been more than just expressing a differing opinion. They are cold sedition, and yet these people feel a rather unjustified hatred for leadership that was elected quite honestly by we the people. The system was set up to try and give us a buffer from the 'charisma' that some leaders would have who have no solid sense of morality. GW Bush has made his share of mistakes. When compared to his predecessor his mistakes were made largely with this nation first. Sad that a lot of folks can't see past their buttocks on issues such as this. If he'd have gotten the immigration issue straight I'd have no problem supporting someone just like him again.Unfortunately,can't vote for McCain & Abel of choice for anything
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hyperbola
Feb. 4, 2008, 8:49 a.m.Frankly this whole thread seems juvenile and superficial.
To be real americans, in the sense of the fundamental principles of american democracy, you have to put fundamental human rights AHEAD of the trappings of nationalism. The reason that we are divided these days is that we have forgotten that and too many are claiming "nationalistic unity" to justify their particular social or political preferences.
In the modern world, "american unity" is not particularly important and may just be provincialism. American media tends to downplay internationalism because it enables control of us by our "elites", but the world is already far too globalized for that to have much sense.
If America recovers in the world, it will not be because we are "unifed" and expand our military imperialism, but because we rediscover the principles of equality and democracy we have lost AND because we begin to apply those principles in our dealings with the world.
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Spadecaller
Feb. 4, 2008, 9:22 a.m.Cynisism is the defense of embittered souls to the possibilites of postive change.
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markoller
Feb. 4, 2008, 11:27 a.m.When the Nazis burned the Reichstag, they did not deliver maudlin sermons about togetherness. I wish the same could be said about the neocon Ministry of Propaganda.
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