The Second (Un)Civil War

There is another uncivil war coming to America. I won't call it the United States because we haven't been very united about anything recently, and the divide is getting wider every day. New voter polls are out after the political party conventions, and they seem to indicate quite clearly where we stand on either side of the chasm. Roughly 50 percent favor McCain/Palin and 50 percent favor Obama/Biden. It's more complicated than that, of course, but it shows just how close we are to a war within the country. Never mind that we're already at war with another country. The two sides seem unwilling or unable to see the other's point of view. 

It's a cultural war. The educated trumpet their disdain for the undereducated who snipe and snarl back at them. Urban dwellers look to the left, and rural dwellers look to the right. Second Amendment literalists grip their guns and ammo, and anti-gun folks fear blood in the streets. Bellicose proponents of the Iraq war roar, "Defeat the Terrorists!" and anti-war pacifists shout, "Bring 'em Home Now!"

It's a religious war. The evangelical faithful cry, "Onward Christian Soldiers!" and the scoffing unbelievers sharpen the tips of their protest signs.  Right to Lifers see only one issue in this election, and those for choice see other issues. 

It's a class war. The upper levels of society keep on getting richer, and those at the bottom of the barrel keep on scraping it. 

But what about those moderates in the middle of the chasm? They keep floating quietly down the river that carves and widens the divide. I don't hear many moderates appealing to the left or right for detente and compromise. Reaching across the aisle is getting harder and harder, no matter what the candidates say. This is one of the most divisive of campaigns and one of the most important. I know where my loyalties lie, fairly left of center, and I'm adamant about certain issues. I don't know what will happen in November, but I worry about what comes after.