Was America Ever Great?

Was America ever great? That is a question that will run rapidly in our minds for years to come. America has built an image of strength, power, liberty, and equality. But, that is not the full picture.

America has had its fair share of war. From the revolutionary to Vietnam, the nation has seen destruction on genocidal levels. Some wars you can say were justified but, how can murder be justified? Barbarism has existed since the beginning of our species but so has intelligence.

If domination on a global scale is the norm then let’s be abnormal. For the sake of the youth, the elders must rid themselves of the old ways. The supreme court has blocked student loan forgiveness, why? When you take a look at who is in the chairs, there is no surprise here. Democrats control the senate but Republicans rule the supreme court and have for a long time. A string of Inconsistent laws are passed and reasonable ones are denied all for personal agenda. Both parties have differing ideals on how the country should operate.

Red, White, and Blue

For example, Democrats are mostly pro-choice while republicans are pro-life. Republicans are often against same-sex marriage but democrats support it. The two most prominent political parties with power over the country’s well-being can not reach a middle ground.

This is in no way a shock to most, it has been this way since before the nation was founded, why? The most logical answer is power and agenda. The modern philosophies of Liberalism and Conservatism are stuck in a political bind. Conservatives want traditional family and religious values to hold firm and liberals want fluidity and flexibility with those things.

Democrats believe in Equal rights for minorities, and support social welfare and gun control. Other central democratic beliefs include less strict immigrant laws and the preservation of the environment. Republicans believe in social conservatism, low degrees of governmental interference, and a large chunk of the private sector.

Ideologies

Republicans are labeled as the right wing and Democrats the left. This is just another way of identifying between the two. But, that only helps my claim even further about the country’s failure to fully unite. Liberals want a progressive government, one that evolves and adapts to better suit its citizens. Conservatives beg to differ, rather than evolve they would rather maintain what they feel makes America great. Again this begs the question, was America ever great?

Red, white and blue is the colors of the American flag. Republican colors are red and democrats’ blue, in the eyes of America they are complete opposites but so are Blood and Crips, street gangs. The color white must be their blank space keeping them apart and preventing unity.

The world’s most powerful country is at the same time the most divided. The most chilling evidence is the civil war from 1861-1865. The fact that it had to happen is bad enough but for it to be over African American slavery is even worse. This once again begs the question, was America ever great?

Opinion news by Mikal Eggleston

Sources:

CNN: Live Television

Britannica: The Republican Party

Brittanica: The Democratic Party

The U.S Embassy: The Democrats and the Republicans

Featured Image Courtesy of emosoda’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License

Inset Image Courtesy of Thomas Hawk‘s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License