Why we are struggling and divided

One of the more disturbing aspects of the response to the pandemic is the exposing of how divided we are as a nation. The division has been there for a long time. One could argue that the division has always existed. As soon as the Revolutionary War ended, there was division. Having a nation didn’t solve that division, it only highlighted it. That division took the form of political parties, among other things. History tells us of the early divisions in this nation — divisions often around the notion of race and what to do about it. But there were also divisions on the scope of government. That’s what the two early political parties were founded on.

During the Presidency of John Adams in 1798, our second president, the Alien and Sedition Acts were passed. Here’s what History.com has to say about these acts:

“The Alien and Sedition Acts were a series of four laws passed by the U.S. Congress in 1798 amid widespread fear that war with France was imminent. The four laws-which remain controversial to this day-restricted the activities of foreign residents in the country and limited freedom of speech and of the press.” ( Source)

And that’s just at the beginning of the nation. As the nation progressed there were division that resulted in a Civil War, in new emerging political parties that stood for opposing ideals and values, the role of government in terms of regulating business, all sorts of rights — voting rights for women, African-Americans, age of voting, etc. Divisions around monopolies and taxes…