Prompted by this thread.
OK, now that that’s been referenced… In the wake of 9/11 I perceive heightened levels of nationalism in this country. Immigration has always been a contentious issue, and a lot of people still hate ‘Others’. Maybe it’s just that the Internet has given certain people a soapbox they wouldn’t have had in earlier years, but I’m reading a lot of nationalistic opinions that seemed less prevalent before the attacks. I’ve read posts (on sites that are not dedicated racist sites) suggesting that illegal immigrants be shot as they try to cross the border, that Arabs should all be deported, that homosexuals be rounded up and executed, and so forth. Glen Beck and Rush Limbaugh spew vitriol that would make Goebbels proud. Bush the Younger and Sarah Palin offer nationalistic messages in a folksy ‘common sense’ manner. Now, it could be coincidence; but during the 2004 elections I noticed that the ‘terror threat level’ was increased whenever it was advantageous to the Republican electoral process. And of course Americans were buffaloed into supporting our invasion of Iraq. Large segments of our society want to ‘give power back to the People’ – as long as they are ‘the People’.
It was pretty scary there, for a while. Obama’s election gave me hope we’re generally more reasonable than we appeared to be for a number of years. Still, it seems there is a lot of chatter about how illegal immigrants, people who on Welfare, a whole religion, and others are The Enemy. In my opinion it’s a dangerous thing to have scapegoats – especially when people are struggling in a poor economy and job market.
I have to admit I’m not prepared to debate the topic. I apologise for that. What I’m after is other opinions to see if I worry too much about the direction this country might take, or if my fears are unfounded. IOW: Please fight my ignorance.