Several recent conversations with friends have reiterated to me that we are more divided as a nation than we have been in a very long time. It’s no secret that the United States is a country that has always been marked by its diversity. Different backgrounds, beliefs, and opinions are part of the fabric of American society. However, recent years have seen a rise in political polarization and division that has left many feeling that the country is more divided than ever before.
There are many factors contributing to this growing divide. One of the most significant is the proliferation of social media which has created an echo chamber effect that reinforces people’s pre-existing beliefs and limits their exposure to differing viewpoints. You would think it would widen their exposure to differing viewpoints and opinions. This has fueled the spread of misinformation and conspiracy theories, which in turn has eroded trust in institutions and further divided the country.
Eroding trust in American institutions was a key factor in one discussion I had recently. This friend was highly infuriated that people who live within a great country that provides them freedoms and huge benefits continually deride those institutions. He was very upset by anyone calling any president names, or “not my president“, or using slurs like “Let’s Go Brandon“… And he is right.
Furthermore, there has been a breakdown in civil discourse and the ability to have productive conversations with those who hold different viewpoints. Instead of engaging in respectful dialogue, many Americans are quick to dismiss those who disagree with them as ignorant or immoral. This has created a culture of intolerance and hostility that further exacerbates divisions within the country. I recently wrote about this in my blog article called Cordial Discussion.
The consequences of this division are far-reaching. It makes it difficult to pass meaningful legislation, as politicians become more focused on scoring points with their base than working across the aisle to find common ground. As previously mentioned, it also erodes trust in institutions, as people increasingly view the media, the government, and other institutions with suspicion and skepticism. This can make it difficult to build a shared sense of national identity, which is important for the health and well-being of any country.
It’s important to note that the division in the United States is not uniform. Different regions and communities may have different experiences and levels of polarization. However, it’s clear that the country as a whole is more divided than it has been in a long time. If we are to move forward as a nation, we must find ways to bridge these divides and find common ground. This will require a willingness to actually LISTEN to each other, engage in RESPECTFUL dialogue, and work towards SOLUTIONS that benefit all Americans, regardless of their background or beliefs.
How do you feel? Is this country too far gone for meaningful dialogue that will result in a stronger nation? I’d love to hear your opinion in the Reply section below.
MyConservatism 
5 responses to “Divided We Fall”
It used to be that we could agree on the facts and have a difference of opinion on what to do with them or how to react.
A good part of the problem is that we can’t even agree on facts. Worse still, people refuse to define how they determine what data to believe because they change it based on what they want to believe.
If you can’t state what your principles are or defend your logical conclusions against basic questions, you either don’t understand them or you know that they are wrong. Yet so many people fall into this area today.
I asked someone if Santos lied and their response was that “he stretched the truth”. It’s not stretching if he said he graduated from schools he never attended or worked for companies that never employed him.
Lying to ourselves will be our downfall. Conservatives used to bash liberals for this but now they are just as bad. How did we get to this point?
LikeLiked by 1 person
More individuals need to read “How to Win Friends and Influence People.” However, I’m inherently opposed to ” go along to get along. ” The deterioration of our southern border is something no one born in this country should go along with.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t think we need to agree to get along. We should be able to disagree, understand other perspectives and all get along.
These extremes without any flex that call for a civil war just shows how bad we are at this now.
Normally done by people claiming to and the Constitution while ignoring the behaviors and words of those who wrote it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well what I believe in reality is that the lines have been blurred. The division within America and even within the political parties is just is not making any kind of sense to me. Growing up there was division within my own family and we made it work, There were Republicans and Democrats within our core family members, there were Christians and non-christians,Redskins fans and Cowboys fans and we debated in an open honest way without hurting feelings, cussing ,or making anybody feel that their opinion was less valuable than the other. I don’t understand why this cannot happen in politics. I do believe that this world is divided and I’m not sure if we can get it back on course but I am sure hoping so so that our children and grandchildren will have a government and a world that they can be proud of. Even when I talk to friends that I’ve known for many many years and friends that we all have shared since childhood there is still such a division people unfriending each other and not speaking to each other over beliefs is only keeping it divided we have to be able to appreciate what the other person is saying.It seems stretching the truth is the new ” not really a lie”.
LikeLiked by 1 person
As a society, we stopped talking to those who believe differently and have lost the ability to do so productively as a result.
LikeLike