What do you think would need to happen to unite Americans? Do you think it's important to be united?

Question

No hateful answers please.

Answer 1

I think people need to learn to respect the fact that America was built on the premise that everyone has freedom of speech and freedom of expression. We all don't have to agree.

But we need to recognize that we all want what's best for our families, our communities and America as a whole. So we have differing versions of what "best" is and how to get there.

Treat each other with courtesy and respect. And I do think it is important to be united. Does that mean we all have to be in complete agreement? Of course not. But we have to treat eachother well. We're all in this together.

Answer 2

We were never meant to be completely united. Why do you you think there are so many states? States used to argue with each other all the time. Things got a little out of hand when Lincoln was president, but a nation this size can't be expected to unite over anything. The constitution delegated many rights to the states just for this reason. My opinion is that the Federal Government should only unite us when the Huns are at the gate, and the rest of the time they should butt out of our state governments and let each state decide its own policies rather than holding their money hostage in order to institute national policies. If a state doesn't respect the US constitution in its own laws, just kick them out of the union, and let them fend for themselves. So to answer your question, nothing can unite Americans (except maybe the alien invasion, but some nutcases would still think they were here on a peace mission), and no, it's not important. Individuality is expected in an open society, it shouldn't be feared

Answer 3

the American people do not have to be 100% behind anything and they never have been. What is needed badly is to discuss things and understand other points of view without resorting to name calling and hate speech. I understand people having different opinions but to resort to the stuff that is used for a discussion of an issue here sometimes is the mark of a person who is not thinking but reacting to his prejudice. I don't care if you love or hate the President or the military but if your only response to anything you disagree is personal attacks and an unwillingness to listen to any other viewpoint then you are a a bigot filled with hate. People have different views and that is good but everyone, both liberal and conservative, should stop and listen to the other and when you talk about the subject that is what you do-not talk about the person you dislike or hate because all that says is that you are basing everything you believe on hatred and not on intelligent thought or belief in something.
Probably not answering anything but the last portion and the line you put in "No hateful answers please." I think proves my point.

Answer 4

It is important that we are united. There is a reason there is the expression, "United We Stand. Divided we Fall." We must encourage open debates and discussions. It is of critical importance. It is a way of establishing what is important and what brings us together and what will keep us together. Power is being able to bring people together. Unfortunately, in the States, it seems that we have become more divided than ever though I think it is perception and not reality. I think more of us want the same things but we don't quite realize it yet. There is hope that we will recognize the truths and come together. It is to our benefit to do so and the benefit of future generations.

Answer 5

We feel we can afford the luxury of being disjointed and fractured since there are no clear threats to the existence of the United States or our allies. We are wrong, but that is the perception.

Does anyone think that Al Qaeda can cause the US to fall? If that was asked in a poll I would expect a huge majority of the respondents to answer no. Just as no one thought that a Polish Pope and an independent trade untion (Solidarity) could cause the Soviet Union to fall. Unfortunately, in the world today, these types of movements are more powerful than we could ever imagine.

To believe that we can remain at odds with ourselves is a scary proposition. This does not mean that we do not debate issues but we MUST decide to debate for the national interest and not a parochial interest of which party will win an election. This kind of narrow focus will cause us to fail in every endevour.

It also calls for us to close ranks after a decision is made. Whatever the decision is we stick together until that action is complete or until the conditions change and we can reasonably. If we elect Hillary as our next President I will be as unhappy with the result as I was when Carter was elected. I will not, however, begin opposing everything that she proposes. I am an American and I believe in our process.

I will oppose her at the ballot box but I will not oppose each and every word that she utters for 4 (or 8!) years just because I disagree with the choice of my countrymen.

If I have investigated an issue sufficiently to understand it I will let my Congressman and Senators know my concern over an issue (yes, I have done that, have you?). In addition, I may let the President know as well. I will not however, join rallies designed to be disruptive as these as extralegal attempts to influence the debate.

I will not assume that my government lies to me but if I smell something fishy I will investigate to determine whether I believe that a lie has occurred.

I will understand what the word "lie" and what the word "mistake" mean and I will not confuse them to further my agenda.

I have been able to vote since the Carter-Ford election, have not missed one (Thank Goodness!) and I feel that there has not been a single administration in all that time where the comments above have not been important.

During the Cold War we were more united than today due to the external threat. Our failure to understand the current external threat may be a fatal flaw.

Answer 6

Blueridgeliving – wow, for such a peaceful “progressive” you sure are hateful.

I don’t think we can. I know that most contemporary liberals are hateful hypocrites (see above) not to be trusted. They blame America for all the worlds woes and the same goes for Christianity. If you can find some way to blame something on Bush, do so. If you can't, make something up.

9/11 brought us together for BRIEF moment but, then the evil that is “progressivism” seeped out like black sludge and has resumed the poisoning of the populaces mind.

Answer 7

Generally, a people truly united are cable of spectacular and terrible things.

During WWII, we completely revamped our economy to war-time, came to the aid of people who we had (at best) a cantankerous relationship with, and won a war.

As a result of 9/11, we ceded our civil rights, bombed an innocent bystander and started living our life out of fear.

I really believe that Americans are more fearful now than after Pearl Harbor ... whereas the actual (vs. perceived) threat was far far higher than than it is now.

In any case, it is easy to take advantage of a country in blind panic ...

This is why it is so incredibly important to hire leaders who are independent of outside forces (such as corporations) ... people who lead for the people and not for their own agenda.

There are very few GOOD things that could unite a country the way that these wars did ... the Lunar landings come to mind (for the US), the marriage of a royal for the UK. The aquisition of the Panama canal in Panama...

Answer 8

It's not going to happen many years ago we were a Country of few people all wanting one goal. Now we are many wanting many things. We will never unite on the inside but we will always be one on the outside. I don't think we are separated .Its that important every part of us is saving the rest from something else. We will never thank the other side for keeping different things in line but we couldn't make it without it.

Answer 9

OMG!!! I was thinking just about the same thing that “HeloMoto” said on the way into work this morning… If there were an alien invasion of the planet, everything would change and the people of earth might actually unite behind a greater cause.

Answer 10

Elect a President which has ideas which cater to both sides. A true leader would be able to unite his country if he wanted because all he needs to do is make decisions based on the people and not only on big business.

Only candidate I see that may be able to do that would be Ron Paul, he is very conservative with liberal ideas. Special interests and lobbyist don't even try to buy him off.