The future of the American Republic

Welcome to A2k bostworth1485!

For me it is starting to feel like Watergate all over again, but that is just me. I would hope things would transpire in an orderly fashion but as the Bush numbers plummet, the war turns more deadly, and more scandal is discovered I am afraid that the current divisions will only widen.

This problem of always calling folks who do not agree with you or your party affiliation unpatriotic is so reminiscent of the McCarthy era and the Vietnam ere. But after each of those dreadful periods we did catch some breaks as a society.

But I am not a specialist in international economics and politics. Just an observer and a believer in cycles of history.

JoanneDorel

I hope your right that we are only going through a cycle that will pass. The only thing worse that what is happening now would be apathy during all these events.

Interestingd question Bostworth
I've got a lot of faith in the system of this nation and it's people---especially the middle class. The political elites on both sides can manipulate their group of followers but the undecideds will determine the outcome and they are not so easily manipulated.

It will be very interesting in a macabre way, to see if the terrorists decide to influence this election as they did in Spain.

Our enemies do not want Bush to win so it will be very interesting to see what action they take.

The terrorists believe they are winning so long as they can keep negative headlines on the front pages of American newspapers and they are enjoying a measure of success doing that.

I think the pendulum will swing, however, and American people will again see assimilation as preferable to multiculturalism and shared values as preferable to political correctness. And when that happens, I have every confidence we'll be okay.

Excellent analysis FoxFyre

Now that you mention it there is a very good possibility that the push for multiculturalism and political correctness are responsible for the current polarization. Not to mention the unmasked intent of the ACLU to force the citizens of this country into absolute secularism.

The America I grew up with was a melting pot for sure but people came here for many reasons but mostly for opportunity and religious freedom but in so doing they wanted to become Americans. They wanted to remember and maintain features of their old culture but they wanted to learn our language and assimilate into the American culture. They wanted to learn our language as the primary language.

Now they come here for the benefits of free health care (which is only available to illegal immigrants and to really poor people ) AND they expect us to provide an interpreter because they don't want to learn our language and all the while tell us what a stinking rotten country we are. I have no desire to go to any latin American country but I can imagine trying to get health care of any kind.

Yeah----I'm a little polarized

I also agree about the pendulum effect-----when will it start it's return from the far left and it's multicultural insanity?

The World War II generation was still around and managing lots of things through most of the 80's. Then, as the flower children of the 60's moved into management positions in government and business, things started getting shaky. I think often of how assimilation was superior to multiculturalism and how shared values served our country so well up to the last couple of decades.

Years ago I was executive director of a large YWCA in the midwest. One of the services we provided was citizenship classes which included instruction in U.S. constitution, U.S. law, history, etc. and English as a second language.

In those days naturalization required sufficient proficiency in English to pass a written or oral exam on the required course work and required the ability to write (from memory) and recite in English the Oath of Allegience to the United States. In case anyone thinks that was a cakewalk for these wonderful people, here is the oath:

Oath of Allegiance

I HEREBY DECLARE, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen;

That I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic;

That I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same;

That I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law;

That I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law;

That I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law;

and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion:

SO HELP ME GOD.

The last swearing in I attended, the rules had relaxed a bit and the judge offered the class the option to take the oath in their native languages. To a man or woman, each one declined and proudly took their oath in English.

I have no doubt every one went on to distinguish themselves in every way. One gentleman had been on a waiting list to immigrate for 17 years. He was maybe the proudest of all.

These people did not want to be multicultural though they no doubt celebrated those wonderful parts of their heritage they brought with them. They wanted to be Americans 100%. They were my heroes.