I had dinner with my family last night and as usual, I walked away with a greater sense of clarity.  We somehow got on the subject of people who received medals during WWII.  My grandpa, a veteran and former Combat Engineer in the European theater, had something profound to say. 

 

""I just don't see how it's possible to pick out only a few people who deserved awards for bravery during that time. Everyone was brave."

 

Tomorrow is veteran's day.  It is a day where we take off work or school to celebrate the bravery of soldiers that have fought in every war our nation in which our nation has participated.  We don't take this seriously enough.  Instead of honestly reflecting or spending time with those who have been in a war, we instead have blowout sales at Mattress Discounters and Levin Furniture (but hey, there's nothing more American than a sale).  These soldiers fought against evil (World War II), for independence (Revolutionary War), for land (Mexican-American War), for justice (Iraq/Afghanistan), for the containment of an virulent idea (Vietnam), for the cessation of taxation against ferret owners (War of 1812, at least I think that's what it was about).  But perhaps the greatest was our war for unity: the Civil War. 

 

We were a nation divided.  And over 620,000 soldiers died for a "United" States of America; 51,000 of which died here in Pennsylvania over a three-day battle in Gettysburg, only a day before the Fourth of July in 1863.  Abraham Lincoln gave my favorite speech in American history, shortly afterward: the Gettysburg address. 

 

 "But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

 

 

Well it's about 145 years since that speech and I honestly think we might be on the verge of another split.  We've become too polarized in this country over politics, or at least it would seem that way.  On both sides, parties have become entrenched in their positions to the point that no one can address the problems at hand reasonably.  This government of the people, by the people, and for the people, just might perish from this Earth.  We're like a Siamese twin that is standing on the beach at low tide.  One of them wants to go swimming, the other wants to play Bocce ball.  Bottom line is that, if they don't cooperate and move in the same direction, the tide is going to rise and drown them both.

The debate over health care reform has exhausted the patience of the American Citizens.  It's the straw on the Bald Eagle's back.   And this time revolution will not spring from a reaction to tyranny or injustice.  It will be born through annoyance with our fellow citizens.  This debate and the lies perpetrated from both sides has caused the dregs of society to yell the loudest.  

"Last Thursday there was a rally outside the U.S. Capitol to protest pending health care legislation, featuring the kinds of things we’ve grown accustomed to, including large signs showing piles of bodies at Dachau with the caption “National Socialist Healthcare.”  - Paul Krugman MY Times

No one wants to tolerate the idiotic political views of their neighboring states any longer.  So like a surgery performed on Siamese Twins, I propose a split.  A multi-country solution. Let's face it, Rodney King was wrong.  We all just can't get along.  I say we divide into 14 separate, sovereign countries.  I think that unfettered, each new country can be successful.

Coming soon...my new vision for the United States: Balkanized (map included).