Are we really the united states?

  • By Bob Franken
  • Wednesday, July 13, 2016 9:17am
  • Opinion

The answer is obvious: The United States needs to unite. The question is whether we can. Frankly, it’s not at all certain that we’re even capable. In the wake of the sniper attack in Dallas, where a crazed gunman went on a homicidal rampage against cops, and still more killings by police of people of color, many are only talking a good game.

Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump — would you believe — made similar points. “Our country needs more love and kindness,” Hillary told an AME church congregation. “I know it’s not something presidential candidates usually say, but we have to find ways to repair these wounds and close these divides.” Even Trump was temporarily subdued. “Our nation has become too divided,” Trump said. “This is a time, perhaps more than ever, for strong leadership, love and compassion.”

The delicate part is bridging the gaping divide between those who blame officers for brutalizing people of color and those who angrily defend law enforcement in spite of all the evidence. “I’d like all sides to listen to each other,” said President Barack Obama. Obviously things are spiraling more out of control. There have been new shooting attacks against police even after Dallas. One of our go-to prominent police officials, Charles Ramsey, said our nation is “a powder keg.”

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

For a few moments, our leaders were offering the right platitudes: Speaker Paul Ryan and Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi, usually bitter adversaries in the House of Representatives, arranged a colloquy. Ryan, the Republican: “Let’s not lose sight of the values that unite us … our common humanity.” Then the Democrat Pelosi: “I agree with the speaker that episodes like this must not harden our divisions, but should unify us as a country.”

Let’s face it: We are not unified. Race relations are a raw wound that fleetingly seemed to be healing when we elected a black president. In fact, we sadly realize that the infection has gotten worse, particularly given the hatred from bigots who refuse to accept that Barack Obama is the country’s leader. He speaks of coming together, but his enemies insist on slamming him for the slightest hint of even-handed talk about the antagonism between minorities and police. William Johnson, who heads the National Association of Police Organizations, went on Fox News (where else?) to accuse the president of creating a deadly, dangerous climate. “It’s a war on cops,” he charged, “and the Obama administration is the Neville Chamberlain of this war.” His remarks were typical of those who either have no interest in dialogue, as opposed to their angry monologues, or have decided that further whipping up a frenzy better serves their ambitions.

They have ample reason to believe that. America is bitterly divided. There are those who compare our fracture to the violent 1960s. But as dangerous as those times were, we didn’t have the Internet back then. Now anybody has access to a worldwide audience. They can spew their ignorant hatred and fan the flames, which only encourages those who running for office to incite the mobs to fever pitch.

While it may seem obvious that we somehow need to come together, that would require everyone to step out from behind the barricades and constructively inspire a coming together. We’d all have to abandon our usual distrust. One has to wonder whether the conciliatory statements from the politicians are little more than cynical campaign tactics.

The optimist might suggest that once we get past the nastiness of the election, the time for banding together may be ripe. The problem is, we have a never-ending campaign. Besides, things are going crazy so fast that November may be too late for rescuing our nation from its accumulated antagonisms and increasing violence.

Ramsey compared our situation to “handling nitroglycerin.” It’s imperative that we find some way defuse this highly explosive situation. Immediately.

 

 

 

More in Opinion

Deena Bishop, commissioner of the Department of Education and Early Development, discusses the status of school districts’ finances during a press conference with Gov. Mike Dunleavy at the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday, April 17, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Opinion: The fight to improve public education has just begun

We owe our children more than what the system is currently offering

President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin of Russia at a joint news conference in Helsinki, Finland, July 16, 2018. (Doug Mills/The New York Times file photo)
Opinion: Mistaking flattery for respect

Flattery played a role in Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill.

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Opinion: Life is harder when you outlive your support group

Long-time friends are more important than ever to help us cope, to remind us we are not alone and that others feel the same way.

Deven Mitchell is the executive director and chief executive officer of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. (Photo courtesy of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp.)
Opinion: The key to a stronger fund: Diversification

Diversification is a means of stabilizing returns and mitigating risk.

A silver salmon is weighed at Three Bears in Kenai, Alaska. Evelyn McCoy, customer service PIC at Three Bears, looks on. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Opinion: Will coho salmon be the next to disappear in the Kenai River?

Did we not learn anything from the disappearance of the kings from the Kenai River?

Jonathan Flora is a lifelong commercial fisherman and dockworker from Homer, Alaska.
Point of View: Not fishing for favors — Alaskans need basic health care access

We ask our elected officials to oppose this bill that puts our health and livelihoods in danger.

Alex Koplin. (courtesy photo)
Opinion: Public schools do much more than just teach the three Rs

Isn’t it worth spending the money to provide a quality education for each student that enters our schools?

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks to reporters at the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday, April 17, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
Letter to the Editor: Law enforcement officers helped ensure smooth, secure energy conference

Their visible commitment to public safety allowed attendees to focus fully on collaboration, learning, and the important conversations shaping our path forward.

Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire file photo
The present-day KTOO public broadcasting building, built in 1959 for the U.S. Army’s Alaska Communications System Signal Corps, is located on filled tidelands near Juneau’s subport. Today vehicles on Egan Drive pass by the concrete structure with satellite dishes on the roof that receive signals from NPR, PBS and other sources.
My Turn: Stand for the community radio, not culture war optics

Alaskans are different and we pride ourselves on that. If my vehicle… Continue reading

U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) delivers his annual speech to the Alaska Legislature on Thursday, March 20, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
Opinion: Sullivan, Trump and the rule of lawlessness

In September 2023, U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan established his own Alaska Federal… Continue reading

UAA Provost Denise Runge photographed outside the Administration and Humanities Building at the University of Alaskas Anchorage. (courtesy photo)
Opinion: UAA’s College of Health — Empowering Alaska’s future, one nurse at a time

At the University of Alaska Anchorage, we understand the health of our… Continue reading

U.S. Rep. Nick Begich III, R-Alaska, address a joint session of the Alaska Legislature on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Opinion: A noncongressman for Alaska?

It’s right to ask whether Nick Begich is a noncongressman for Alaska.… Continue reading

You're browsing in private mode.
Please sign in or subscribe to continue reading articles in this mode.

Peninsula Clarion relies on subscription revenue to provide local content for our readers.

Subscribe

Already a subscriber? Please sign in