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It is helpful for me to remember that there was a time when Americans hated each other almost as much as we hate each other now. I still can't figure out how we

It is helpful for me to remember that there was a time when Americans hated each other almost as much as we hate each other now. I still can't figure out how we got past it the first time. As best I can tell, it was because Nixon resigned. People had the sense to recognize that a bad thing happened, and we all agreed for once. In retrospect it seems positively quaint.

deleted 3y ago
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dylan604 3y ago
I would suggest that this "first time" you are referring to wasn't actually the first time. At least one time prior (there are probably others), it was settled with a brutal war referred to as the Civil War. I wonder if we will have to drop the word "the" and maybe use Civil War II and revise history books to say Civil War I if things continue to progress in certain directions.
- rootusrootus 3y ago
  Anyone predicting Civil War II is probably too deep into their own ideology. The Civil War was a regional conflict, which is an important requirement. Democrats and Republicans may be very opposed to one another right now (at least in surface rhetoric; when we bother to discuss deeper than a few big issues we usually find more in common than not), but there's not much regionality to it. Every rural area rebelling against the nearest city isn't exactly the same idea as entire states deciding to secede.
  - jfengel 3y ago
    There are states that seem to be seriously considering secession. It would be a rational response to the belief that other states are manipulating the vote. That would bring along a lot of people who don't hold that belief.
    - dylan604 3y ago
      Just to expand with more specifics: There was a movement in the mid-90s that tried to convince everyone that Texas never properly brought back into the union, and was trying to re-declare itself as the Republic of Texas[0]. Part of Oregon wants to become part of Idaho[1]. The idea to split California into three parts[2]. These types of things don't happen when everyone is full of brotherly love and is happy with the status quo. If the GP thinks that Civil War II is so absurd, I'd suggest that's just way more optimism than I would ever be able to achieve. As things are progressing, a situation like Gilead from Hand Maid's Tale is not too far of a stretch. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Texas_(group) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Texas_(group) [1] https://duckduckgo.com/?t=h_&q=eastern+oregon+wants+to+join+idaho&ia=web https://duckduckgo.com/?t=h_&q=eastern+oregon+wants+to+join+... [2] https://abcnews.go.com/US/proposal-split-california-states-makes-november-ballot/story?id=55855441 https://abcnews.go.com/US/proposal-split-california-states-m...
Loughla 3y ago
>It is helpful for me to remember that there was a time when Americans hated each other almost as much as we hate each other now. Not to be flippant, but if it helps, there was literally a civil war. So we're waaaaaayyyy better than that today.
heresie-dabord 3y ago
> how we got past it the first time An interesting reflection. After Nixon's shame, the popular discourse seemed able to reflect constructively on his failings and on the Viet Nam war. The country recovered its reputation as a leading democracy. What the country's enemies within and without have done to information and public discourse in the past decade seems at times almost fatal to the state.
rfrey 3y ago
I don't recall the exact numbers, but I read that public opinion was even divided on the Kent State Massacre, with much hostility between the two sides.

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dylan604 3y ago

I would suggest that this "first time" you are referring to wasn't actually the first time. At least one time prior (there are probably others), it was settled with a brutal war referred to as the Civil War. I wonder if we will have to drop the word "the" and maybe use Civil War II and revise history books to say Civil War I if things continue to progress in certain directions.

rootusrootus 3y ago
Anyone predicting Civil War II is probably too deep into their own ideology. The Civil War was a regional conflict, which is an important requirement. Democrats and Republicans may be very opposed to one another right now (at least in surface rhetoric; when we bother to discuss deeper than a few big issues we usually find more in common than not), but there's not much regionality to it. Every rural area rebelling against the nearest city isn't exactly the same idea as entire states deciding to secede.
- jfengel 3y ago
  There are states that seem to be seriously considering secession. It would be a rational response to the belief that other states are manipulating the vote. That would bring along a lot of people who don't hold that belief.
  - dylan604 3y ago
    Just to expand with more specifics: There was a movement in the mid-90s that tried to convince everyone that Texas never properly brought back into the union, and was trying to re-declare itself as the Republic of Texas[0]. Part of Oregon wants to become part of Idaho[1]. The idea to split California into three parts[2]. These types of things don't happen when everyone is full of brotherly love and is happy with the status quo. If the GP thinks that Civil War II is so absurd, I'd suggest that's just way more optimism than I would ever be able to achieve. As things are progressing, a situation like Gilead from Hand Maid's Tale is not too far of a stretch. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Texas_(group) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Texas_(group) [1] https://duckduckgo.com/?t=h_&q=eastern+oregon+wants+to+join+idaho&ia=web https://duckduckgo.com/?t=h_&q=eastern+oregon+wants+to+join+... [2] https://abcnews.go.com/US/proposal-split-california-states-makes-november-ballot/story?id=55855441 https://abcnews.go.com/US/proposal-split-california-states-m...

Loughla 3y ago

>It is helpful for me to remember that there was a time when Americans hated each other almost as much as we hate each other now. Not to be flippant, but if it helps, there was literally a civil war. So we're waaaaaayyyy better than that today.

heresie-dabord 3y ago

> how we got past it the first time An interesting reflection. After Nixon's shame, the popular discourse seemed able to reflect constructively on his failings and on the Viet Nam war. The country recovered its reputation as a leading democracy. What the country's enemies within and without have done to information and public discourse in the past decade seems at times almost fatal to the state.

rfrey 3y ago

I don't recall the exact numbers, but I read that public opinion was even divided on the Kent State Massacre, with much hostility between the two sides.