A Country Divided  

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There are a few of us that paid attention in History class I'm sure. Some of us found the past to be an interesting story to be read. It didn't really seem like more than that to me. It was simply a story about distant people doing things that were far and long away. American History was a bit more interesting to me, but only because it was something I could see, hear, and taste. It was about those things that surrounded me. My present was tied directly to what these people did only a couple of centuries past. The biggie for our class was the Civil War. What started it? There were a large number of reasons, but everybody always hangs onto the slavery issue. Human rights are as good a reason as you can get in my opinion to have a war. If people are being treated like so many oxen, then something is wrong in the world. States rights were another reason for the war though. Granted I don't agree with the rights they felt were infringed upon (the rights of the states to keep slaves), but nonetheless it was a matter of the federal government taking over the state and essentially telling them how things were going to run. Was it the best way to go about it? No I think they should have allowed the states to secede and then let them attempt to make their way without a trade agreement with the U.S.

What should have been done, or could have been done doesn't really matter. That is the past and we made our bloody way through that as a nation and we came out of it in one piece. Kudos to us for managing something that has killed many a nation. It is in fact the reason that so many struggling countries today have not been able to drag themselves out of poverty. Internal struggle is the key component to kill a country.

I have been watching the news and listening to the radio more often than usual. Trying to get a feel for how things were going to work with this health care overhaul. Let's call it what it is, it's a Health Insurance Reform. Will it work? That doesn't even matter. This whole debate on whether we could insure the uninsured is not what this has become. This debate has split our nation. Good or bad legislation aside, the fact that it's split us as a people makes this bad.

I've always thought of the U.S. as sort of like a bunch of fraternities of a college. They talk trash to each other, and they play tricks on each other. They even occasionally fight. The thing is that when there is somebody coming against their school they unite and for that time they are one school, one voice, one family.

We in the past have been that way. The states might differ on some things, but at the end of the day we are one voice, one country. We have managed to rise up and defend ourselves on countless occasions. We have defended those that needed us (and some that maybe didn't need us). We have been there to lend a helping hand when tragedy struck, and we have been there to offer our teachers, doctors, clergy, and military to those that wish to also live free.

Whether you agree or disagree with the package that is now passing doesn't matter anymore. What matters is that we divided on an issue once again. It wasn't slavery, and it hasn't yet become secession. It's turning into states rights. It will surely mean many court battles and propaganda. For the first time in my life, I don't feel like I have the right to be proud of being an American. I'm ashamed at what our politicians have done. They have portrayed us as simpletons, extremists, anti-American, Unamerican, socialists, communists, Marxists, militia and a few that I'm not going to put on here (they are just dirty).

All that's really left is to hope and pray that we make it through this as a nation. It's time for the fraternities to come together and sound off as one voice. We need to take this opportunity to reflect on what our values are. What matters to us, not just as a country but as a person. Is it really something good if half the people think it's bad? Is it really the answer to our problems? I want a Jimmy Stewart like figure in office. Honesty, integrity, those core values that are sadly missing from about 95% of our elected officials.

I can honestly say that I wouldn't have cared how the health care issue would have went if there would have been an overwhelming majority of people wanting the change that was being offered. The problem is that we didn't really know what the change was that they were looking for. We still don't know all of the details of this legislation. THAT'S what bothers me. We are being mislead, and I don't care who is doing the misleading, I just want it to stop.

It's time to mend some fences, I just hope we have our country when it is all said and done.

This entry was posted at Monday, March 22, 2010 and is filed under , , . You can follow any responses to this entry through the comments feed .

31 comments

I say YIKES right beside you...

March 22, 2010 at 2:16 PM

Bravo! I think its ridiculous that we are even working on this damn health care reform. There are people in this country that are losing their jobs, their homes and cannot afford to live on what little they have. BUT hey at least they can be insured!

March 23, 2010 at 1:27 AM

Interesting how Pelosi and her cronies tell the Dems to vote for health care even at the expense of their own career. This way, she gets what SHE wants, and she still keeps her job, it doesn't matter to her if her collegues get voted out.
What happened to 'For the people BY the people'?.

March 23, 2010 at 5:52 AM

I am not really up to date with politics and I don't know much about American history, but from the way you described it, it's bad! I agree with Jerry on the economical problem being awful!

March 23, 2010 at 12:34 PM

I hope it works out in your favour! I am not to comfortable on the politics of it all, or else I would answer more in depth.

I just hope that everyone ends up happy :)

March 23, 2010 at 7:14 PM

I'm afraid it won't end up good Kato..Regardless if this ends up being a good or bad bill doesn't matter anymore...We are split as a country...It's sad to hear people in the local supermarket arguing about this.. :(

March 23, 2010 at 8:55 PM

All that matters is that the people should not suffer due to the dirty politics of a few people!

Lets hope everything settles down to a positive state by the time all this is over.

March 24, 2010 at 9:16 PM

This is one of the best phrased and thought out responses to the health care issue I have seen.

I too hope we can all pull together.

http://fromlazytolady.blogspot.com/

March 24, 2010 at 9:29 PM

Honestly, I don't even watch the news anymore. I don't believe what I'm being told by any of the politicians or the media outlets. I'm tired of everything that doesn't go Obama's way being labelled as racist... not by him, but always by someone.

Racism is never okay, and it's stupid soundbytes like the ones I'm talking about that diminish true racism... it's like the boy who cried wolf, you know?

IMO it's a class of people, not a race of people, that are the problem. A class of people I can't identify other than to say they have no pride in anything, they expect everything, and they feel entitled to whine or take advantage or shirk. They can be rich, they can be poor, they can be any ethnic background, age or sexual orientation, but they're all the same class of worthless.

Unfortunately, some, most or even all of our politicians fall into that class. They don't give a shit about us, they only care about the deals they make under the table.

I'm going to quit before my comment is longer than your blog! Good post!

March 24, 2010 at 9:29 PM

I agree with many things you said, but the very last is what I agree with the best.

I am someone who was against this bill. Not because I'm not for health care reform, but because I truly believe the majority of people were against the bill. I was against it because so much of the bill was kept in secret until late Sunday upon which then there was over 700 pages of law.

It felt shoved down our throats, it feels like the main backers of this bill took the attitude that they know what is best for us. For me.

I am saddened by this whole process.

Again I will say that I think health care needed some type of reform, but this. This wasn't it.

March 24, 2010 at 9:41 PM

I should also note that I have been called everything from a selfish bitch to a complete idiot because of my stance.

I have yet to understand why someone who disagrees with me feels the need to call me childish names instead of respecting my opinion. I certainly can respect someone who differs than my belief.

March 24, 2010 at 9:44 PM

Just read this over at DDoR and it's a great post. Really good.
I've also read all your comments, and agree with most. They all have good points. It's just so dang frustrating. : /

March 25, 2010 at 12:12 AM

I also read this at DDoR. And all I can say is AMEN!

My boss recently did a post regarding the bill and not being able to support it because no one will tell the American public what is in it.

It looks like it has been repealed as of about 2:30 this morning because of "improper" things in it that have to be fixed and then on to another vote.

March 25, 2010 at 5:05 AM

Here here!!!! The depth and truth of this post says it all.

March 25, 2010 at 5:35 AM

Ahhhh...proof that people read entire posts! ;)

Nice work Bendigo!

March 25, 2010 at 5:47 AM

*standing ovation*

I do hope you submit this to every publication there is. Surely at least ONE of them isn't being run underhandedly by those select few that are running our country and would eagerly run this to print.

March 25, 2010 at 6:04 AM

This was wonderful! Almost was going to drive up north to give Ian a big hug...I am a Libertarian, and am big on individual and state rights, and I have mixed children and would never be pro any type of slavery...but, there is so much truth to what you said...very well done!!!

March 25, 2010 at 6:15 AM

Over from a Daily Dose of Reality.

Well said! I wasn't for the bill either. I think there are good things in it, like the fact that children with pre-existing conditions will be able to get medical care, but at what cost does this bill come to us?

I think the fact that they kept this thing under wraps until the very end says a lot. Was reform needed? Yes. Most definitely. Was this it? I'm inclined to say no. Not only are so many against it but also are there ramifications we have yet to see. A tax on tanning salons? Really? So don't tax us to pay for it. Tax businesses which will then raise rates to pay those taxes. In effect it will trickle down to us.

It's scary, really.

March 25, 2010 at 6:22 AM

I should note that I don't tan. That's not the point.

March 25, 2010 at 6:23 AM
Anonymous  

This is a great post! I am split on the whole health care debate and I think that it is mostly because I have no idea what is in it. I think that it is a great IDEA that everyone should have health insurance but we need to think of a better way that all sides agree on. Why can't they work on a bill together? It is just sad to see our country at odds with each other. This is tearing us apart. I am almost embarrassed to be an American right now.

BTW...stopping over from DDOR!

March 25, 2010 at 6:40 AM

Great post! It's a scary thing to see.

March 25, 2010 at 7:07 AM

Great responses!!! Thanks for all the comments..Thanks for putting this in a few more faces Ian :)

March 25, 2010 at 7:56 AM

Coming over from DDoR and have to say that I agree. Very well said.

March 25, 2010 at 8:51 AM
Anonymous  

We have been a nation divided many times over; slavery,segregation, women's rights to vote, Rowe V Wade, The Great Depression... this list really could go on and on. I hope we can all find a way to come together united and strong, not that I mean Utpoia or anything, but resolute. Whether you agree with the bill or not there is some dirty politics on both ends going on. It shames us. Great post Bendigo, really I think your best ever.

March 25, 2010 at 9:18 AM

I agree with you. If the people are not being informed and most are against it then how can anyone back it. Great post, I really enjoyed reading it.

It's a scary time.

March 25, 2010 at 10:15 AM

Stopped by from Daily Dose...

I just wanted to say THANK YOU FOR POSTING THIS! I am so thankful to be somewhat removed from this entire debacle as my husband is military so I have awesome insurance through him. But as someone who really tries to be civicly responsible I think it is just abhorrent that this whole issue came down to essentially, mudslinging. I don't even really know what the bill says because any information you get on it comes from someone with an agenda and the news outlets were just focused around the circuses that were the town hall meetings, summit, etc.

I finally found a link to the actual legislation that I plan on trying to sift through soon.

From what I was hearing about the bill I was really on the fence about. I firmly believe that reform is (and now hopefully was) needed. But I am concerned what passed will only Band-Aid but not cure the issue. Or will fix one blemish in the system, only to have another one pop up as a direct result.

March 25, 2010 at 10:36 AM

Totally agree about the complete disappointment in our politicians and government. It's absolutely embarrassing. And I also agree with you in the fact that if 1/2 the people in our government DON'T agree with this bill, then it must not be a very good legislation. And we need to go back to the drawing board.
What scares me the most is that I haven't talked to a single person who understands this bill in its entirety and can explain it. The American people are completely in the dark on this and the media is only showing us a fraction of what this legislation includes.
Good job Bendigo!! Great post.

March 25, 2010 at 11:31 AM
Anonymous  

Hello Visiting from Ian's blog!

I agree with you. Usually weather I agree with a presidents decision or not I say "Well he is my president so I support him" I kind of feel the same about the Healthcare reform, yeah we may need to change things a bit to make it work. The fact that people are making death threats to our leaders and vandalizing their homes and offices scared the hell out of me.

I think the bill has been passed not much we can do about it, like it or love it, we should work together as a nation to make it work.

I too hope we come out of this Ok.

March 25, 2010 at 11:43 AM

It is so sad that now we don't even have the right to not have health insurance...nor did we as the people get to vote on it! Wondering where our rights are!

March 25, 2010 at 1:47 PM

HI there,

I saw your post over at Daily Dose of Reality and it's wonderful. I agree completely, and especially liked your metaphor of the fraternity life-like situation.

I do hope things will settle down soon and I am tired of all the drama surrounding the situation. I almost can't bear to watch the news or read the paper anymore.

Wonderful post!

March 25, 2010 at 6:59 PM

great post. I hate any kind of political BS. Are we ever going to have an honest politician? All they care about is the next election and if they look good. Pisses me off!

March 26, 2010 at 12:46 AM

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