The USA has been so deeply divided over issues (e.g., the war in Iraq) is there going to be a new Civil War?

Question

The arguments flying between liberals and conservatives (not to be confused with democrats and republicans who are two sides of the same coin) has gotten so bad that it appears there is a new Civil War looming, and if you don't believe me, read this crazy anti-liberal's post:

http://news.messages.yahoo.com/bbs?action=m&board=37138459&tid=apalzarqawissuccessor&sid=37138459&mid=441

Yahoo has even kept the post up on their servers despite the fact that instigating some new Civil War in America is a worse threat to national security than terrorism. Historically, the American Civil War was fought over values such as the "right" to own a slave (an obvious distortion of rights) and today people are arguing over the "right" for Americans to defend themselves against terrorism by taking the war to a country like Iraq and turning Iraq into a host nation for the war on terrorism, and there are many Americans supporting this despite the thousands of Iraqi civilians known to have died.

From a post below:

"Our soldiers would not be killed by terrorists, they would be killed by their own flesh..."

as strange as that sounds, that's my point. I don't think Americans understand the atrocities of war, and that's why they continue supporting it. It makes me think only when there is some civil war uprising in the U.S. will the crazy war started by the U.S. in Iraq finally end.

Answer 1

A new Civil War? That depends on a lot of things.

- Will the current administration continue to act like domestic laws and international treaties do not apply to them? And if they do, will the American people continue to vote such people into the White House after Bush's term is up?

- Who would fire the first shot? The last time there was a big domestic terrorist attack by an American, it was conservative Timothy McVeigh.

- Will the current president do anything to fulfill his pledge to "be a uniter, not a divider"? Ever since 9/11, all I have seen from this one-party government are attempts to capitalize politically on the attack and the anti-terror whirlwind that followed. Nothing has been considered sacred: "terrorism" has become the new rationalization for loads of new government spending & woe to anyone who questions the one-party government's decisions.

- Has the Republican White House or the Republican Congress ever actually offered an olive branch to the loyal opposition, or taken some action that met liberals in the middle of an issue? Not to my recollection. Should we expect more pointless votes on divisive issues such as flag burning and gay marriage, votes designed to cause division among both the elected leaders and the public in general? Perhaps our current leadership should be reminded that they are supposed to represent ALL Americans, not just their campaign contributors and partisan loyalists.

- What would the battlegrounds be? Red state vs. blue state? The geographic lines would be all over the place compared to the Civil War. And this time, states' rights aren't the clear issue: folks in Massachusettls generally aren't trying to tell Texas what state laws they can or cannot have and vice versa.

Unless one side really, really wants to start shooting the other (and we know which side believes in "pre-emptive strikes"), I believe there won't be a Civil War based solely on issue position differences. America has proven pretty resilient since the last Civil War. But I guess we'll have to wait and see if there are any limits to how far the politicians will go in order to consolidate power and muffle dissent.

Answer 2

I seriously doubt that a civil war will erupt in the U.S. Much of the population is against our soldiers being over there due to fatalities/government spending. So, if there was a civil war in the U.S. it would contradict exactly what they are standing up/fighting for. We would be fighting ourselves. For what purpose?... To deal with our own affairs?(leave Iraq)...Well, it will certainly force us to concentrate on the U.S. However, we would be in worse conditions than the "War in Iraq." Our soldiers would not be killed by terrorists, they would be killed by their own flesh, their own country; other innocent people being ordered to kill for a cause oblivious to them. And, most civil wars are over territory conflicts as well. How would the U.S. divide over a civil war? This would be worse than 9/11. WE would be the ones responsible for the deaths of thousands/millions of people in OUR country.

Answer 3

The current state of affairs will not create a civil war in the US. There are strong emotional ties to various issues, but not strong enough to generate the dedication to violence that would need to be created to start a civil war.

Answer 4

It's possible, but not in the near future. Our prez. is so worried about someone else country being terrorized and ignoring his own country that soon the people will rise and take their own stand and fight for our right to freedom as they did before but it will probably be the "People vs. The Government" and believe me the people will win.

Answer 5

Well if there is another civil war the liberals will be regretting undermining the second amendment because you are definitely going to be wanting as much firepower as you can get.

Answer 6

No!!!

Americans are too lazy to have a civil war. Plus they would have to stop the war every day to watch the springer show.

Answer 7

While most "liberals" seem to be anti war they do seem to field a great deal of hatred and bigotry towards those with different opinions. Even so I don't see them as capable of a war; remember its the conservatives that are gun owners.

Answer 8

Doubtful.

Answer 9

Rhetoric aside I doubt it and I am a conservative. It is hard to rally around a White Flag anyway.

Answer 10

Yes. Now's the time. Go Blue states! Let's settle this abortion thing once and for all.