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I have been in the US since 2000 and I really believe this country needs war to stay together. Without an external enemy people will start fighting each other.

Buldak 8y ago
I have difficulty seeing the Iraq War (or Vietnam, or really any war since WW2) as a source of unity among Americans.
- maxxxxx 8y ago
  How about the "Cold war" and the "War on terror"? I agree that the country is looking for a feel good war where they get out as heroes and winners like WW2. The golf wars were planned to be that but didn't work out.
Tempest1981 8y ago
Let’s unify around renewable energy for the world.
- TaylorAlexander 8y ago
  And open source knowledge!
mikeash 8y ago
If you had been here during the 90s, you would have seen us being perfectly fine without a war. Not that the 90s were completely peaceful for us, but we had long stretches without much going on. There was plenty of stupid political infighting, but nothing like the division caused by the invasion of Iraq.
- maxxxxx 8y ago
  From a distance it looked like the country lost its mind with the Clinton situation. I think that was also the start of the current extreme partisanship.
  - mikeash 8y ago
    It was far worse with Obama, despite the wars going on.
- bluntfang 8y ago
  huh? crack epidemic. Rodney King. Gang violence. NYC crime wave. etc.
  - mikeash 8y ago
    All (except Rodney King) trending nicely down during that time.
kibwen 8y ago
Perpetual war against impoverished countries isn't bringing the US together--in truth it's one of the biggest issues currently tearing the US public apart.
java_script 8y ago
> Without an external enemy people will start fighting each other. Thank God there's none of that happening.
curioussavage 8y ago
I don’t think that’s true. I’d argue the opposite. Especially given the whole melting pot nature. Whoever the current “enemy” is there always plenty of “them” or people who look like “them” living here which means we get things like internment of Japanese Americans or the harassment of anybody who looks like they could be from the Middle East. There is plenty of patriotism drummed up buts it’s all shallow. Support the troops has more to do with letting your government send them to die wherever they want and less about concern for them.

Buldak 8y ago

I have difficulty seeing the Iraq War (or Vietnam, or really any war since WW2) as a source of unity among Americans.

maxxxxx 8y ago
How about the "Cold war" and the "War on terror"? I agree that the country is looking for a feel good war where they get out as heroes and winners like WW2. The golf wars were planned to be that but didn't work out.

Tempest1981 8y ago

Let’s unify around renewable energy for the world.

TaylorAlexander 8y ago
And open source knowledge!

mikeash 8y ago

If you had been here during the 90s, you would have seen us being perfectly fine without a war. Not that the 90s were completely peaceful for us, but we had long stretches without much going on. There was plenty of stupid political infighting, but nothing like the division caused by the invasion of Iraq.

maxxxxx 8y ago
From a distance it looked like the country lost its mind with the Clinton situation. I think that was also the start of the current extreme partisanship.
- mikeash 8y ago
  It was far worse with Obama, despite the wars going on.
bluntfang 8y ago
huh? crack epidemic. Rodney King. Gang violence. NYC crime wave. etc.
- mikeash 8y ago
  All (except Rodney King) trending nicely down during that time.

kibwen 8y ago

Perpetual war against impoverished countries isn't bringing the US together--in truth it's one of the biggest issues currently tearing the US public apart.

java_script 8y ago

> Without an external enemy people will start fighting each other. Thank God there's none of that happening.

curioussavage 8y ago

I don’t think that’s true. I’d argue the opposite. Especially given the whole melting pot nature. Whoever the current “enemy” is there always plenty of “them” or people who look like “them” living here which means we get things like internment of Japanese Americans or the harassment of anybody who looks like they could be from the Middle East. There is plenty of patriotism drummed up buts it’s all shallow. Support the troops has more to do with letting your government send them to die wherever they want and less about concern for them.