https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/do-you-think-america-will-overcome-the-divisive-hate-rhetoric-whose-responsibility-is-it-to-change <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Is America still exceptional? Is the hate speech that began during the election season now a habit that we can&#39;t break? I am avoiding most social media site because no matter where I go, news, social media, I am overwhelmed by the hate expressed by both sides. The hypocrisy and disinformation or misinformation is upsetting to a patriot. Since you have all mostly served in the Armed Forces, lead on Sun, 22 Jan 2017 15:56:21 -0500 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/do-you-think-america-will-overcome-the-divisive-hate-rhetoric-whose-responsibility-is-it-to-change <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Is America still exceptional? Is the hate speech that began during the election season now a habit that we can&#39;t break? I am avoiding most social media site because no matter where I go, news, social media, I am overwhelmed by the hate expressed by both sides. The hypocrisy and disinformation or misinformation is upsetting to a patriot. Since you have all mostly served in the Armed Forces, lead on Col Rebecca Lorraine Sun, 22 Jan 2017 15:56:21 -0500 2017-01-22T15:56:21-05:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/do-you-think-america-will-overcome-the-divisive-hate-rhetoric-whose-responsibility-is-it-to-change?n=2272174&urlhash=2272174 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>In this, I unfortunately must say it is more of a wait and see. The cues come from the top in this particular instance and I do not mean just the President. SGT Private RallyPoint Member Sun, 22 Jan 2017 16:03:49 -0500 2017-01-22T16:03:49-05:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/do-you-think-america-will-overcome-the-divisive-hate-rhetoric-whose-responsibility-is-it-to-change?n=2272190&urlhash=2272190 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>It rests with us. Someone must show responsibility in what they say and do. Cues may come from the top but actions have to start by all. Capt Private RallyPoint Member Sun, 22 Jan 2017 16:08:47 -0500 2017-01-22T16:08:47-05:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/do-you-think-america-will-overcome-the-divisive-hate-rhetoric-whose-responsibility-is-it-to-change?n=2272223&urlhash=2272223 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>What will end the hate is to realize that the venom is not only being directed one way. Both sides are tired of the other&#39;s crud but fail to realize when they are being just as bad. SSG Trevor S. Sun, 22 Jan 2017 16:23:33 -0500 2017-01-22T16:23:33-05:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/do-you-think-america-will-overcome-the-divisive-hate-rhetoric-whose-responsibility-is-it-to-change?n=2272242&urlhash=2272242 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>We went through similar doubts after Reagan became President including massive obstruction by the Democrats. Two to Three years into his first term the Democrats started to split, a swath of them found themselves agreeing with and voting with Reagan. The others continued to obstruct well into Regans second term. However, once the split happened the Obstructionists were outvoted in both chambers of Congress and could do basically nothing but watch and snivel. I think we will see the same thing happen if Trump delivers and continues to deliver. A chunk of Democrats being reasonable and fairly honest will split off and join with the Republicans.<br /><br />Your never going to make everyone happy on the Democratic side as some of them really hate Capitalism and want to move to a Socialist model. SPC Erich Guenther Sun, 22 Jan 2017 16:32:19 -0500 2017-01-22T16:32:19-05:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/do-you-think-america-will-overcome-the-divisive-hate-rhetoric-whose-responsibility-is-it-to-change?n=2272258&urlhash=2272258 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>We have always had our divisions but for me, it seems like we have been more and more divided every 4 years since Bill Clinton was elected in 1992. The unity that came from 9-11 disappeared all too quickly and we were back to partisanship in our government. I thought that President Obama had a chance to unify the nation but the Democrats forced Obamacare in a very partisan way. That led to Republicans gaining both houses of Congress. But with this election, it definitely seems worse. Unfortunately, the only thing that I believe would unify us would be another Pearl Harbor type attack from a nation-state. I am interested in hearing from the Vietnam era veterans on here to see how this compares to what our nation went through in the 60&#39;s and early 70&#39;s. COL Jon Thompson Sun, 22 Jan 2017 16:38:56 -0500 2017-01-22T16:38:56-05:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/do-you-think-america-will-overcome-the-divisive-hate-rhetoric-whose-responsibility-is-it-to-change?n=2272322&urlhash=2272322 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Thank you <a class="dark-link bold-link" role="profile-hover" data-qtip-container="body" data-id="768099" data-source-page-controller="question_response_contents" href="/profiles/768099-46fx-flight-nurse">Col Rebecca Lorraine</a> for taking the lead by putting your finger on a very sore spot in the American psyche. What you have described is a spot of cancer which could very well grow and kill the patient. Extremists on both sides jump to fuel the fires very easily started in the minds of many many people. Capt Tom Brown Sun, 22 Jan 2017 17:08:02 -0500 2017-01-22T17:08:02-05:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/do-you-think-america-will-overcome-the-divisive-hate-rhetoric-whose-responsibility-is-it-to-change?n=2272354&urlhash=2272354 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>The leadership of both major parties need to show how we work together. Obama administration demonized GOP then wondered why no Republican would work with him. As a result the only agreement was the mandatory spending. <br />If Trump chooses not to work with Democratic party, then we can expect the same type of resistance. <br />America&#39;s best when we figure out how to compromise, I am concerned the next four years will be one sided party politics. Not the way to build a long term sustainable relationship. LTC John Shaw Sun, 22 Jan 2017 17:20:19 -0500 2017-01-22T17:20:19-05:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/do-you-think-america-will-overcome-the-divisive-hate-rhetoric-whose-responsibility-is-it-to-change?n=2272396&urlhash=2272396 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>One hopes so! There seems to be a lot of hate out their mostly from the left recently but the right was not immune to it when Pres Obama was in office. I certainly do not hate our former President or Hillary though I certainly don&#39;t agree with much of their philosophy. When I see Carl Palodino says some of the things that he said about Pres. Obama and his family and them Madonna stating she would like to blow up the WH it sure makes me wonder!! CSM Thomas McGarry Sun, 22 Jan 2017 17:33:57 -0500 2017-01-22T17:33:57-05:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/do-you-think-america-will-overcome-the-divisive-hate-rhetoric-whose-responsibility-is-it-to-change?n=2272488&urlhash=2272488 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div><a class="dark-link bold-link" role="profile-hover" data-qtip-container="body" data-id="768099" data-source-page-controller="question_response_contents" href="/profiles/768099-46fx-flight-nurse">Col Rebecca Lorraine</a> Didn&#39;t POTUS Trump&#39;s inauguration speech indicate a desire to get both parties working together for the good of the Nation? CSM Charles Hayden Sun, 22 Jan 2017 18:23:45 -0500 2017-01-22T18:23:45-05:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/do-you-think-america-will-overcome-the-divisive-hate-rhetoric-whose-responsibility-is-it-to-change?n=2272545&urlhash=2272545 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Hmmm...I think while in the past, we had issues that divided us, some of them of great significance, I think our &quot;American-ness&quot;, our identity as Americans allowed us to, at the very least, function.<br /><br />This sentiment no longer exists. Pick a divisive social issue. Persons on either side do not feel comfortable or even able to compromise, because to do so would impinge on a fundamental aspect of &quot;self&quot;. The battle lines are drawn and their side (whomever that is) is evil and lazy and bent on the destruction of the Republic. <br /><br />This is the end, or at least the beginning of it.<br /><br />Most Americans probably identify as something other than American (black, white, liberal, conservative, gay, feminist, gun owner) before they identify as American. SFC Marcus Belt Sun, 22 Jan 2017 18:58:59 -0500 2017-01-22T18:58:59-05:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/do-you-think-america-will-overcome-the-divisive-hate-rhetoric-whose-responsibility-is-it-to-change?n=2272608&urlhash=2272608 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Whose responsibility is it? All of ours. The first step is to refrain from insults. By all means disagree. But our ideological opponents aren&#39;t our enemies. We&#39;re failing to argue issues and facts and instead divert our energies towards ad hominem. Perhaps the next step is to stop relying on internet memes to express opinions. Many of them are little more than poorly referenced finger pointing. 1SG(P) Private RallyPoint Member Sun, 22 Jan 2017 19:36:14 -0500 2017-01-22T19:36:14-05:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/do-you-think-america-will-overcome-the-divisive-hate-rhetoric-whose-responsibility-is-it-to-change?n=2272672&urlhash=2272672 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Will liberals stop their divisive and violent rhetoric against anyone who doesn&#39;t think like them? Cpl Private RallyPoint Member Sun, 22 Jan 2017 20:08:32 -0500 2017-01-22T20:08:32-05:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/do-you-think-america-will-overcome-the-divisive-hate-rhetoric-whose-responsibility-is-it-to-change?n=2272754&urlhash=2272754 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I was a Sidewinder OC working at NTC when the planes hit the towers. It was personal. I spent the last decade of service so utterly consumed by deployments and training Soldiers in FORSCOM and TRADOC that I didn&#39;t pay attention to the news. It wasn&#39;t important. America was important. I didn&#39;t have any friends or peers that had any racial component besides &quot;Soldier&quot;. I couldn&#39;t tell you where their families came from and couldn&#39;t care less. All they needed to be was proficient at their skill. Since retirement, I have watched the horribly partisan news, listened to the endless vitriol by our youth and been called by democrat pundits every name imaginable for being a middle aged Caucasian man. I haven&#39;t violated even a traffic law in 25 years. I&#39;m not a bad person, but the days of enduring insults and staying silent are over. That ship has sailed. 1SG Al Brown Sun, 22 Jan 2017 20:39:22 -0500 2017-01-22T20:39:22-05:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/do-you-think-america-will-overcome-the-divisive-hate-rhetoric-whose-responsibility-is-it-to-change?n=2272773&urlhash=2272773 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I don&#39;t see the divisive speech ending any time soon but it is ALL our responsibility to come together and start acting like Americans again. Just because someone has a different opinion doesn&#39;t make them less of a human. A little naive or misguided maybe but certainly not less of a person. Many on both sides have somehow decided those who don&#39;t think or act exactly like them must be utterly destroyed at any cost. MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P Sun, 22 Jan 2017 20:48:44 -0500 2017-01-22T20:48:44-05:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/do-you-think-america-will-overcome-the-divisive-hate-rhetoric-whose-responsibility-is-it-to-change?n=2273164&urlhash=2273164 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>This is a complex problem. There are a few reasons for this hatred. <br />The first is that we are forced into a 2 party system that is by its very nature to be antagonistic. George Washington was afraid of this in the early years of the country. He saw the infighting that having the federalists and Democratic Republicans at each other&#39;s throats. The situation at the time was worse than now. We even had a Democratic Republican vice president kill the federalist treasury secretary. <br />Secondly, we now have special places to go that people can go to avoid other points of view. People in these echo chambers begin to see opposing views as hateful to them. When one side loses an election or have a court rule against their side, the get upset and accuse the other side of being against the ideals of America. <br />Finally, we have conditioned the young to believe that their feelings and opinions are always valid. This means that people don&#39;t feel that they need to evaluate their ideas.<br />There are no quick fixes to this. We need to try to break down the walls that we have built between us and teach kids that they should always question their ideas and seek input from others because nobody has all the answers. SGT Tony Clifford Sun, 22 Jan 2017 22:58:51 -0500 2017-01-22T22:58:51-05:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/do-you-think-america-will-overcome-the-divisive-hate-rhetoric-whose-responsibility-is-it-to-change?n=2273354&urlhash=2273354 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div><a class="dark-link bold-link" role="profile-hover" data-qtip-container="body" data-id="768099" data-source-page-controller="question_response_contents" href="/profiles/768099-46fx-flight-nurse">Col Rebecca Lorraine</a> For the past eight years, I have seen changes being made that I strongly disagreed with. My self and other conservatives did not go out and riot, loot, and destroy property. The looting, rioting, and destruction of property falls on elements of the left. This can not be tolerated and must stop. Democratic leaders and civil rights leaders must be forceful in denouncing these actions and backing the police in restoring order. Both parties must find common ground and try to work together. Civil rights leaders must tell their communities that the way to succeed is to stay in school, stay out of trouble, and respect the police. All politicians, community leaders, and civil rights leaders must stop fanning the flames. These so called leaders must set the tone or our country is indeed in trouble. Our country has plenty of enemies that love to see the problems that we are facing. Sgt Private RallyPoint Member Mon, 23 Jan 2017 00:03:16 -0500 2017-01-23T00:03:16-05:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/do-you-think-america-will-overcome-the-divisive-hate-rhetoric-whose-responsibility-is-it-to-change?n=2273440&urlhash=2273440 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Just one mans opinion here. If you are waiting for the Dems or Repubs to save you, I think you might to rethink your plans. Most of the time the government is the enemy. Always looking for more money to spend on stuff most citizens don&#39;t want or need. Always making promises that if you give more four or two more years we can fix it. We are the solution folks. They are good a dividing us. By color, sex, salary, and religion. Most of you are right about how we talk to the other side. We seem to think that by using the most vulgar language directed at one another&#39;s family or the person directly we will win the argument. In reality the very ones we should be cussing at, the elected officials are directing this vile play.<br />We start to change the thoughts of others by changing ours first. I enjoy talking politics, and enjoy the occasional joke. But I refuse to directly attack anyone. I will not speak badly of anyone or attack someone&#39;s family to try and score points. I try to find the truth, as much as one can find it. But that is not enough, we must be involved in local government also. Attend local and county board meetings. Go to school board meeting. You may hear some things you like or that you are astounded at. Remember they are planning on how to educate your kids or grand kids and spending your tax money. Do not give them a free pass! But if you do not care then just keep ignoring these important issues. You usually get what you deserve in the end. MSG Jay Jackson Mon, 23 Jan 2017 00:44:56 -0500 2017-01-23T00:44:56-05:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/do-you-think-america-will-overcome-the-divisive-hate-rhetoric-whose-responsibility-is-it-to-change?n=2273500&urlhash=2273500 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>the problems were slowly going away and be deleted till January 2009... in time they would have been all but forgotten... <br />Unfortunately BHO was Not satisfied with the slow elimination of the problems and made thing worse and destroyed 50 years of healing and mending ... Now we will have to try to restart the mending and healing ... this time it will be harder because Old wounds are open and in some cases salt was poured rubbed in...<br />at best the Civil rights and race Relations have been set back 20-40 years... <br />what would have been a distant memory in My mind in 25-30 years is going to be fresh in every ones mind...<br /><br />Responsibility for Change is everyones... and it starts from the Leaders in all sectors and all the way down ... But when you have Teachers and educators and civic leaders creating the problems , rewriting history, inciting the masses over dramatizing and shoving the past in everyones face as if it were yesterday... <br /><br />This is an Issue that will be here for a Long time... SFC George Smith Mon, 23 Jan 2017 01:23:05 -0500 2017-01-23T01:23:05-05:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/do-you-think-america-will-overcome-the-divisive-hate-rhetoric-whose-responsibility-is-it-to-change?n=2273653&urlhash=2273653 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>If we want to turn things around we are going to have to start putting the needs of Americans over greed. We are going to have to look out for one another, ensure everyone can get the medical care they need, ensure everyone can get the education needed to be all they can be, ensure we protect our environment for future generations. We need to start working together for the common good. SSG Private RallyPoint Member Mon, 23 Jan 2017 02:50:15 -0500 2017-01-23T02:50:15-05:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/do-you-think-america-will-overcome-the-divisive-hate-rhetoric-whose-responsibility-is-it-to-change?n=2274501&urlhash=2274501 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Yes, we are still exceptional, but I fear we have a long way to go before people in power truly put America first. For way too many years our political process has put the needs of political parties ahead of those of the people they were elected to represent. The recent election may have given Republicans control but not enough to accomplish many things without the support of Democrats. I don&#39;t see this &quot;across the aisle&quot; support coming any time soon so the divisiveness is going to continue. I kind of agree with Col Jon Thompson that we will need some type of event to get us to focus on the needs of America again. Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Mon, 23 Jan 2017 10:25:04 -0500 2017-01-23T10:25:04-05:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/do-you-think-america-will-overcome-the-divisive-hate-rhetoric-whose-responsibility-is-it-to-change?n=2274620&urlhash=2274620 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>It will change once people get over being butt hurt about Great Grand Daddy and accept responsibility for their actions. For crying out loud stay in school, out of gangs, away from drugs and the thug life. After we have had a Black President and Attorney General. One would think that the only thing holding them back is playing the racist victim card. SFC Pete Kain Mon, 23 Jan 2017 11:01:52 -0500 2017-01-23T11:01:52-05:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/do-you-think-america-will-overcome-the-divisive-hate-rhetoric-whose-responsibility-is-it-to-change?n=2275100&urlhash=2275100 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Yes, America is still exceptional. It is the only Country in the World based on Northern European &quot;Protestant/Christian&quot; values. Unfortunately, the number of Americans who agree with those values is rapidly declining. I would say the that America is currently engaged in a war between two ideologies. On one side are those traditional Americans who love freedom, respect individuals, their rights, and their property (Capitalists) and on the other are those willing to use violence in the promulgation of their Social Justice/Liberation ideology (pseudo Marxism). Of course the majority of Americans are on a wide spectrum between the two side. <br /><br />With the elevation of a Capitalist to the Presidency and Republicans (not all of them are Capitalists) in control of both the Senate and the House, the Marxist Left will need to act out more and more in an effort to fool the majority of Americans, who have not picked a side, that the Left is the party of the majority in America. And that means more screaming, more rioting, more acting out, more hypocrisy, more disinformation, and more propaganda. I will not be at all surprised if we see a resurgence of 1960s style violent protests. We&#39;ve been cursed to live in interesting times. MSgt James Mullis Mon, 23 Jan 2017 13:53:28 -0500 2017-01-23T13:53:28-05:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/do-you-think-america-will-overcome-the-divisive-hate-rhetoric-whose-responsibility-is-it-to-change?n=2275178&urlhash=2275178 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>We will have to wait and see. I know Democrats are worried that Trump presidency will be a success. Obama and Hillary push that naritive. It was all about Obama skin color. That&#39;s why he could not pass anything. Fueling the fires by commenting on or sending Eric Hiolder to every protest by blm. We know Fergasin was a lie. And blm being front and center at Hillary convention. And had to be shamed into doing a moment of silence. Such was disrupted by Hillary or one if he surragets yelling blm. TSgt Kenneth Ellis Mon, 23 Jan 2017 14:12:43 -0500 2017-01-23T14:12:43-05:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/do-you-think-america-will-overcome-the-divisive-hate-rhetoric-whose-responsibility-is-it-to-change?n=2275518&urlhash=2275518 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I posted before, but, here is today&#39;s thought. <br /><br />It is everyone&#39;s responsibility to change and I see two major places for change. One, do not talk hatefully. It is okay to disagree, but, not okay to do so with hate. Two, quite calling every statement that you do not agree with hate. It most often is not. Capt Private RallyPoint Member Mon, 23 Jan 2017 15:54:18 -0500 2017-01-23T15:54:18-05:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/do-you-think-america-will-overcome-the-divisive-hate-rhetoric-whose-responsibility-is-it-to-change?n=2275960&urlhash=2275960 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>While I am quite aware and have experienced quite a lot of Divisiveness, I have not seen a lot of hate rhetoric. Can you please provide some actual examples of hate rhetoric? MSgt Private RallyPoint Member Mon, 23 Jan 2017 18:17:52 -0500 2017-01-23T18:17:52-05:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/do-you-think-america-will-overcome-the-divisive-hate-rhetoric-whose-responsibility-is-it-to-change?n=2276034&urlhash=2276034 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>until we have responsible journalism, both sides have scewed what is truth and fiction, as far as the left they need to chill and let the new potus lead, there are way too many presumptions made without real evidence, let him lead and after his term then decide, I&#39;ve seen way too many jobs out sourced and already pay more taxes than I want just to cover those that don&#39;t work MSG Private RallyPoint Member Mon, 23 Jan 2017 18:52:42 -0500 2017-01-23T18:52:42-05:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/do-you-think-america-will-overcome-the-divisive-hate-rhetoric-whose-responsibility-is-it-to-change?n=2276515&urlhash=2276515 <div class="images-v2-count-1"><div class="content-picture image-v2-number-1" id="image-131952"> <div class="social_icons social-buttons-on-image"> <a href='https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rallypoint.com%2Fanswers%2Fdo-you-think-america-will-overcome-the-divisive-hate-rhetoric-whose-responsibility-is-it-to-change%3Futm_source%3DFacebook%26utm_medium%3Dorganic%26utm_campaign%3DShare%20to%20facebook' target="_blank" class='social-share-button facebook-share-button'><i class="fa fa-facebook-f"></i></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Do+you+think+America+will+overcome+the+divisive+hate+rhetoric%3F+Whose+responsibility+is+it+to+change%3F&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rallypoint.com%2Fanswers%2Fdo-you-think-america-will-overcome-the-divisive-hate-rhetoric-whose-responsibility-is-it-to-change&amp;via=RallyPoint" target="_blank" class="social-share-button twitter-custom-share-button"><i class="fa fa-twitter"></i></a> <a href="mailto:?subject=Check this out on RallyPoint!&body=Hi, I thought you would find this interesting:%0D%0ADo you think America will overcome the divisive hate rhetoric? Whose responsibility is it to change?%0D%0A %0D%0AHere is the link: https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/do-you-think-america-will-overcome-the-divisive-hate-rhetoric-whose-responsibility-is-it-to-change" target="_blank" class="social-share-button email-share-button"><i class="fa fa-envelope"></i></a> </div> <a class="fancybox" rel="4cee29eae39904fef5e059e653ccbd86" href="https://d1ndsj6b8hkqu9.cloudfront.net/pictures/images/000/131/952/for_gallery_v2/0ce4ee23.JPG"><img src="https://d1ndsj6b8hkqu9.cloudfront.net/pictures/images/000/131/952/large_v3/0ce4ee23.JPG" alt="0ce4ee23" /></a></div></div>The way this will change is one person, one group, one leader at a time. I do not expect government to solve this problem. I have purposely stayed off rallypoint because I didn&#39;t want to be involved in hate filled posts disguised as discussions. On FB, I have done something similar because I have friends from one of end of the spectrum to the other. I went for a nice neutral feed of cute animal videos as I watched politics play out. I voted. Trump is in. The next question is what can I do to make my community better? What strengths do I have to contribute to help reunify our country? Does it help heal the country when I only talk to people with the same viewpoint as mine? We must head to the trenches. While in the military, we managed to get along for the sake of the mission. Maj Kim Patterson Mon, 23 Jan 2017 22:39:38 -0500 2017-01-23T22:39:38-05:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/do-you-think-america-will-overcome-the-divisive-hate-rhetoric-whose-responsibility-is-it-to-change?n=2277489&urlhash=2277489 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Can America overcome the divisive hate rhetoric? Yes. Whose responsibility is it to change? All of us!<br /><br />How can we overcome it, by sticking to the golden rule of treating others as you wish you to be treated. This doesn&#39;t mean to blindly follow but to listen to other&#39;s ideas and to do so respectfully. We can all disagree on things but it doesn&#39;t mean we have to be jerks to those that do not agree with us. When we all start to talk like the smart, educated professionals that we are, we can start to make the change. SGT Ben Keen Tue, 24 Jan 2017 09:15:44 -0500 2017-01-24T09:15:44-05:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/do-you-think-america-will-overcome-the-divisive-hate-rhetoric-whose-responsibility-is-it-to-change?n=2280858&urlhash=2280858 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Interesting survey results and dialogue. I&#39;m hoping we can all stop hating on each other, be proactive citizens, stay engaged in this country&#39;s governing, character, values, and sing &quot;America, The Beautiful&quot; everyday and mean it! Thanks for participating! Col Rebecca Lorraine Wed, 25 Jan 2017 08:35:38 -0500 2017-01-25T08:35:38-05:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/do-you-think-america-will-overcome-the-divisive-hate-rhetoric-whose-responsibility-is-it-to-change?n=2286021&urlhash=2286021 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Big Topic that should be an issue for all Americans at this point in time. Of course it is the responsibility of we, the people, to facilitate the change. And change always starts with one&#39;s own attitudes and behavior. <br /><br />The hate speech during the campaign may have been one for the books because of social media being used to address issues in exaggerated and negative ways that seem to still be creating divisiveness and polarity. Although some of it may be due to bad impulse control, we might do well to recognize that the effort could also be the tip of an iceberg. <br /><br />Having been involved in a so-called &quot;teamwork&quot; effort, for a time, with a group of people who worked hard to superimpose questionable ideology (particularly targeting idealistic college students) - I would have to suggest that such efforts are far more &quot;organized&quot; and far-reaching in the civilian world than many might imagine - often in the guise of &quot;peace work&quot;. In my personal experience it seems an extension of the threat&#39;s &quot;Cold War&quot; methodology - especially when the folks involved actually say they are Marxists and/or Maoists while marginalizing everyone in the group who does not commit to at least being far far left on the political spectrum. I suspect that some regions, or cities, attract more than their share of such well organized networks. <br /><br />I considered it a badge of honor to have been marginalized by such folks. lol But the trouble that can cause speaks to how extensive and functional such networks are. And for the record, I am no more enthralled by folks on the far, far, right. I actually consider &quot;right&quot; and &quot;left&quot; to be &quot;foreign&quot; terms when used politically to replace &quot;liberal&quot; and &quot;conservative&quot;. &quot;The left&quot; refers to the right as &quot;Fascists&quot;. &quot;The right&quot; refers to the left as &quot;Communists&quot;. As such &quot;left&quot; and &quot;right&quot; are not analogous to &quot;liberal&quot; and &quot;conservative&quot;! <br /><br />The increasingly bad habit of double standard hypocrisy, disinformation, and misinformation, especially as they relate to our nations foreign policies is likely to be our nation&#39;s downfall, if not the increased use domestically of the same. Both efforts undermine the exceptional nature of our nation. <br /><br />When push comes to shove we are not a nation of political extremists. Our nation of people has always embraced passionate individualism intent on self-definition and defense of others, rather than negative defining of others. Perhaps if the percentage of Americans who have chosen to serve in the military was larger, and if more folks in government were veterans, I would be more inclined to say there would be less wheel spinning in the efforts to get back on the right path as a nation - as expressed in our nation&#39;s stated values, principles and ideals. At this point my concern is: how bad will it get before it gets better. SGT Mary G. Thu, 26 Jan 2017 17:40:09 -0500 2017-01-26T17:40:09-05:00 2017-01-22T15:56:21-05:00