Posted on 09/04/2022 1:57:56 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
A new poll asked Americans about changes in the U.S. political climate, including whether divisions have worsened and what they expect for the future. Here were their responses:
Here’s the most sobering part of the report: a plurality (43%) believes a civil war is at least somewhat likely in the next decade. Only 35% say it is not likely; 22% are unsure.
Of course, conditions are markedly different today than they were in 1861, when the South and the North were contiguous geographical entities each dominated by a single party (Republicans in the North, Democrats in the South). By contrast, today’s electoral map indicates blue coasts and a red middle, but many states are experiencing deep internal divisions.
In Texas, for instance, Austin is clearly “blue” while West Texas is clearly “red.” If our state attempted to secede from the Union, I’m not sure which side would lead the effort or what the other side would do if secession were successful. Electoral maps reveal similar divisions in Florida, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan, among other states. And it is a surprising fact that in the 2020 election, Donald Trump received more votes in California (6,006,429) than he did in Texas (5,890,347).
While an organized, military, two-sided civil war such as that occurred in 1861 may be implausible today, the divisions and distrust reflected in recent polls are nonetheless ominous for our future as the “United” States of America.
“Public virtue is the only foundation of republics”
Our nation’s founders were convinced that personal virtue is indispensable to political unity. George Washington observed, “Human rights can only be assured among a virtuous people.” Benjamin Franklin added, “Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom.” And John Adams was insistent: “Public virtue cannot exist in a nation without private, and public virtue is the only foundation of republics.”
What would they think of our nation’s character today?
The answer is not simple, of course. There are many areas of American life where progress has been significant and transformational. I am grateful for our declining poverty rate, the tremendous contribution of minority businesses to the US economy, and the fact that our high school graduation rate is at an all-time high. We have seen great advances with regard to the rights of women and minorities, though we have far to go.
But when a majority of a nation’s people endorse abortion and unbiblical marriage, when premarital sex is the norm and pornography is an epidemic, when nearly eleven million children live in poverty in America and violent crime is escalating, is God able to bless that nation?
If not, what is her future?
“Reveling until they learned about the capture”
America has been the world’s only superpower since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. Our analogy in the 7th century before Christ was the Babylonian Empire, a massive military power that conquered the nation of Judah and destroyed her temple in 586 BC.
Babylon, the empire’s capital city, was the first ancient city to exceed two hundred thousand people. Its outer defensive wall was so wide that chariots driven by four horses could pass each other. The ancient Greek historian Herodotus called Babylon the world’s most splendid city. He described its walls as fifty-six miles in length, eighty feet thick, and three hundred and twenty feet high.
And yet, according to the prophet Jeremiah (who lived during the zenith of their empire), the Babylonians’ fall was sure and certain: “Her young men shall fall in her squares, and all her soldiers shall be destroyed on that day, declares the Lᴏʀᴅ” (Jeremiah 50:30). That “day” was the day of judgment coming on the nation because of her sin: “You were found and caught, because you opposed the Lᴏʀᴅ” (v. 24).
As a result, “The Lᴏʀᴅ has opened his armory and brought out the weapons of his wrath” (v. 25) because the nation “has proudly defied the Lᴏʀᴅ, the Holy One of Israel” (v. 29). This judgment was enacted by the Persian Empire when it overthrew and replaced the Babylonians on the world stage in 539 BC.
According to Herodotus, when the Persian king Cyrus captured the city of Babylon, “the inhabitants of the central parts . . . long after the outer portions of the town were taken, knew nothing of what had chanced, but as they were engaged in a festival, continued dancing and reveling until they learned about the capture.”
What a sobering reminder that “righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34).
“The truest friend of the liberty of his country”
I am not predicting the demise of the United States of America, but I would remind you that the average age of empires is 250 years, an age our nation will reach in four years.
Presuming that a nation’s future is guaranteed is a guaranteed way to hasten its demise. The best way to serve America is to help America be a nation God can bless (cf. Psalm 33:12).
What is the best way to do that?
Samuel Adams was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and was considered by Thomas Jefferson to be “truly the Man of the Revolution.” Adams was adamant: “Neither the wisest constitution nor the wisest laws will secure the liberty and happiness of a people whose manners are universally corrupt. He therefore is the truest friend of the liberty of his country who tries most to promote its virtue.”
How true a friend of your country will you be today?
Originally published at the Denison Forum.
Adapted from Dr. Jim Denison’s daily cultural commentary at www.denisonforum.org. Jim Denison, Ph.D., is a cultural apologist, building a bridge between faith and culture by engaging contemporary issues with biblical truth. He founded the Denison Forum on Truth and Culture in February 2009 and is the author of seven books, including “Radical Islam: What You Need to Know.” For more information on the Denison Forum, visit www.denisonforum.org.
Gimme a break. Even a 3rd grader knows that the Egyptian pharaohs ruled for 2800 years. This article is a bunch of BS.
The US is not an Empire.
Some old neighbor of a friend was saying this while my family and I were visiting. I hate to argue when I’m a guest but he said we are a conquering imperial nation in front of the children
So I asked him what nations did we take over, under our constitution (so not counting the Bush family empire).
He said eh, eh, duh, doh, uh, Guam. We took over Guam
I asked him if that was what he was seriously going to use to argue that the US with the best fighting force ever is imperial
He said eh yeah.
He was used to my wimpy friend and her wimpy husband, a typical Air Force Pilot. Ready to let people walk all over the US unless they have orders.
“ The further away from Jesus that America moves, the further away we move from being a Republic.
We are teetering on the edge right now.”
Typical conservative
We just tossed out the right to have an abortion as a constitutional right. That is a giant step back toward God.
“ Unless and Nineveh style revival takes place, where everyone from the President on down dresses in sackcloth and sits in ashes, this nation is doomed.”
Who says that’s not what people are doing?
The danger to the country is not war, but economic collapse. There is no willingness from either party to slow down government spending, and no effort to try to restore value to our money. Eventually, this inflation will lead to a vibrant black market and alternate economy that will be used by people who are productive. Cryptocurrency will be the center of this.
Also define “beginning” and define “end”!
Also the list seems very incomplete! What about Asia?
“Also the list seems very incomplete!”
See my #19.
I give the US about 10 years or less.
But the USSC made it a state right.
Two steps forward, one step back.
Not sure where this person got this bit of information but it is very very wrong.
Uh, so the US is above or below average?
Private property is the cornerstone of civilization.
Unfortunately the state has sanctioned the taking thereof for so long now, and the welfare mentality metastasized, small wonder we are witnessing the devolution.
You forgot the Eastern Roman Empire!
They considered themselves Roman to the end - 1453 A.D.!
Number of registered voters per state, top 10
Maine - 81.99%
Alaska - 80.58%
Michigan - 79.98%
Kentucky - 78.29%
Vermont - 76.45%
Delaware - 74.93%
North Dakota - 72.64%
Colorado - 72.18%
Alabama - 71.52%
New Jersey - 70.33%
All states are listed here:
https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/number-of-registered-voters-by-state
“As soon as we start being an empire, you can start the clock.”
I recall either Nixon or Reagan going on in a lengthy conversation about how the USA was not an “empire”. I imagine both of the touched on it, but I think it was Nixon that I’m recalling.
The Roman Empire lasted longer than that and Rome was an empire when it was still a republic, since even then it ruled over other peoples. Egypt and Japan lasted longer because of geography. On the other hand 200, years is a pretty good run for a Chinese dynasty. The empire remained, but a new family and sometimes a new ethnic group ruled. There do seem to be cycles of about 75 years, and if a country messes one of the transitions from cycle to cycle up it may be in trouble.
America did not become an “empire” until the 20th century. That’s when America started becoming involved in international politics.
Face it, we are nowhere what we were. We are a banana republic thanks to all the freeloaders who have bled this country dry. Government is corrupt and does not serve the people.
“But the USSC made it a state right.
Two steps forward, one step back.”
No. The USSC did not make it a state right.
One problem big big problem with Connery is they do not make it their business to understand the basics of their government
Many of the laws enacted by leftists are hundreds even thousands of pages. The entire constitution, amendments and bill of rights is readable. That’s because there is no corruption in it. There is no sneakiness there’s even an amendment outlawing the very things people are ignorantly disrespecting the flag over
Majority of conservatives do not know the issues
They think that because it is a way of life not an ideology that they do not have to know anything other than what’s for dinner.
That because they do not have to sway others to conservative thinking that they don’t have to know enough to defend it and they will not take the win
Then we have this. No the USSC did not make abortion any kind of a right.
For the first time in 50 years, we can ask God to bless the US without that embarrassment them at we the people allow abortion as a constitutional right.
We do not. Never have. It has been annulled.
Exactly.
At the very earliest, you could start the clock at 1945, but even that is arguable.
Rome lasted as an empire for about 450 years.
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