Less than 200 years ago, our 16th president proclaimed that, “A House divided against itself cannot stand.” And yet we are allowing the voices of division to make our differences define us.
There are men and women of great vision who see us as we truly are: one people. We have been fortunate in the past to have people step forward, when we needed them, to remind us that there was “nothing to fear but fear itself” and that we are here by choice.
We must not listen to those voices who would divide us, but rather to the voices of tolerance.
Never before in our American experience is competent leadership so needed to lift our hearts and unite this great nation.
We have a choice to make, and it will affect us as a free people. It’s becoming more clear every day, and that is whether we see ourselves as self-serving ideological groups intent on keeping the “war without end” over our differences or if we see ourselves as a united people promoting good for all of our people. The choice is ours!
Richard Nielsen, Royal Palm Beach
I will say then that I am not, nor ever have been in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races, that I am not nor ever have been in favor of making voters or jurors of negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people; and I will say in addition to this that there is a physical difference between the white and black races which I believe will forever forbid the two races living together on terms of social and political equality. And inasmuch as they cannot so live, while they do remain together there must be the position of superior and inferior, and I as much as any other man am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race.
Who said that, Abraham Lincoln or Natan Bedford Forrest?
(Hint. There is a gigantic statue of him in DC)
The Stars and Stripes flew over slavery-legal states for 85 years.
The Stars and Bars flew over slavery-legal states for 4 years.
If, because of slavery, you favor banning the Stars and Bars but don’t advocate taking down the American Flag you are a hypocrite.
http://www.vdare.com/articles/attacking-the-confederate-battle-flag
http://www.scv.org/pdf/Livingston.pdf
https://mises.org/library/lincolns-inversion-american-union (fifth of a five part series. One can sequentially click on the internal links to go back to the first paper in the five part series)
On August 14, 1862 Lincoln invited five black ministers to the White House (first ever such meeting) and told them they were to listen to him (no dialogue then) and he went on to detail how the blacks suffered from being amongst whites and how whites suffered because of their presence in American and he tried to sell them on The Chiriqui project, which plan was to have the blacks move to Central America; Colombia region then, Panama now, where they could mine coal and be free.
https://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/16/lincolns-panama-plan/
It is impossible to have a dialogue with those who are riven with hate and whose first instinct is to engage in name-calling and, so, i just post these links so folks can read for their own selves a view of history denied them by the collectivists who control dialogue in America.
Our Nation will not and has not ever met your definition of “Nation ” Mr. Spencer , as we were never a Nation of people with a common origin , unless you consider “White ” as your common denominator . We began as a Nation of mixed cultures albeit mainly European but preceded by American Indian cultures who walked over a natural bridge from Asia , a Siberian Trail into Alaska .Our Nation was formed by ambitious men who wanted a shot at a better life and it continues to this day .Racism still lives with the White Race under pressure to stay in power. It’s too bad that in the next 100 years, that they will likely be the minority
and it’s likely that there will no longer be a White, Brown , Yellow or Black Race but a mixture of ALL three that will establish a new peace and we will again be one nation under God . I’m sorry that there are people who cannot accept such a future but hopefully, your next generation can and will and therein lies your fear.
It has often given me pleasure to observe that independent America was not composed of detached and distant territories, but that one connected, fertile, widespreading country was the portion of our western sons of liberty. Providence has in a particular manner blessed it with a variety of soils and productions, and watered it with innumerable streams, for the delight and accommodation of its inhabitants. A succession of navigable waters forms a kind of chain round its borders, as if to bind it together; while the most noble rivers in the world, running at convenient distances, present them with highways for the easy communication of friendly aids, and the mutual transportation and exchange of their various commodities.
With equal pleasure I have as often taken notice that Providence has been pleased to give this one connected country to one united people–a people descended from the same ancestors, speaking the same language, professing the same religion, attached to the same principles of government, very similar in their manners and customs, and who, by their joint counsels, arms, and efforts, fighting side by side throughout a long and bloody war, have nobly established general liberty and independence.
This country and this people seem to have been made for each other, and it appears as if it was the design of Providence, that an inheritance so proper and convenient for a band of brethren, united to each other by the strongest ties, should never be split into a number of unsocial, jealous, and alien sovereignties.
http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/fed02.asp
Dear Mr. Nielsen. Your claim is demonstrably untrue but that is not surprising in that our educational system has failed al of us so spectacularly and so one is required to learn these things on his own and which factual knowledge tends to work as an intellectual emetic that purges the progressive propaganda from one’s mind if liberty had been bred into his bones.
As to your dreams of the disappearance of the white man (he is racist according to your considered opinion) does the white man have a right to exist? I don’t think that racist means what you think it does. Try looking for the definition of the word.
I bring this up because it is y’all who have introduced race into this thread, not me.
I simply asked what are, essentially, rhetorical questions but those questions raised ideological objections to the extent that they could not even be entertained without having racial motives imputed to them – and me.
Now, that is a moral unity in here but I don’t think that is the sort of unity you are seeking after, is it?
First, Mr. Nielsen, nice article and follow-up (to Larry Spencer). We have always been a diverse ‘nation’.
Second, to Larry Spencer. He has proved himself over and over again to be a racist bigot. He doesn’t like name-calling (but does enough of it himself), yet he continues to show his hate and bigotry. How can one not call him names??
In his latest response he cites four sources. One (the last) is a historical piece and is fascinating – from the NY Times and needs to read completely. The others are from alt-right, anti-immigration, revisionist history, neo-confederate online sites. This is why I have always told people that you need to look what your sources are and what agenda they have. Mr. Spencer doesn’t do this, he only uses sources that agree with his agenda.
Mr. Spencer wishes for an all-White America. Sir, it ain’t gonna happen. And besides that, it never was like that! But I think you have proved with these submissions how un-American you are. How bigoted/racist you are. How un-Christian you are. And basically how vile and disgusting and intolerant and putrid you are to civilized society.
One last thing, Are you related to alt-right, Neo-Nazi Richard Spencer? I ask this because of the obvious same last name, but also because of the vomit that you both spew.
The definition of “nation” was a dictionary one. It was not my definition.
The quote from the Federalist Papers described such a nation – one that no longer exists.
Racism; Prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one’s own race is superior.
Genetic fallacy: One judges something as either good or bad on the basis of where it comes from, or from whom it came.
This fallacy avoids the argument by shifting focus onto something’s or someone’s origins. It’s similar to an ad hominem fallacy in that it leverages existing negative perceptions to make someone’s argument look bad, without actually presenting a case for why the argument itself lacks merit.
The absurd claim that only sources one accepts as legitimate are worthy is one of the least defensible forms of ideology as that information from the sources one shares an ideological sympathy with automatically excludes facts/information from a different perspective.
If one acts in that close-minded way, one is engaged in merely succoring/reinforcing his ideological bias and will never have to learn to defend his unexamined ideology; and then, all he can do is point and screech; Bigot, Homophobe, Sexist, Racist, White supremacist, KKK, Nazi, Nazi, Nazi.
This is a place for opinion but I am done trying to write what my opinion is for those who hate me have no intention to listen or dialogue. It’s the new democracy, the new unity!!!
So, y’all won.
Enjoy your victory.
Adios
PS – this comment should have been UNDER Larry Spencer’s comment below – it is a response to his note.
Let’s first look at Mr. Spencer’s definition of a Nation: “A large body of people united by common descent, history, culture, or language, inhabiting a particular state or territory.” And now let’s accept this. A key word here is the ‘or’. Remember that for later.
When have we been united by common descent? Even forgetting about the Native Americans we have had people of many “descents” since Europeans started coming over, or does Mr. Spencer mean “White European Descent” and does not distinguish between English, Scottish, Irish, Dutch, German, Spanish, etc. (And I think this is what he does mean.).
Common History? We all have a common history in this country, some longer than others. Those whose ancestors came over on the mayflower have a longer history that those who came over from Scandinavia in the 1800’s, from Africa in the late 1600’s, etc., but we all have a common history. Can you only be American if your ‘common history’ dates back to a certain period?
Common Culture? We are a very different ‘nation’ than any that has ever existed, welcoming all (and even capturing some) into our society. Mr. Spencer does not do this. Only white, Europeans are ‘our culture’ to him. Luckily for the rest of America we have welcomed all people, and grown the better for it.
Common Language? Our language is English, and while it is true not everybody here speaks this language we should be proud of our diversity and what it has bought us that it has not brought other nations.
However (now, back to the word ‘or’), one only has to have one of these factors to make a nation, but we really do have all four. I think this line from your comment: ” Since the tyrant Lincoln destroyed state sovereignty and slayed America, what is to be our unifying principle?” has just shown your true colors. And they are not pretty colors, Mr. Spencer, they are bigoted colors, racist colors, evil colors.
Mr. Spencer, you claim to be a devout Christian, but by your remarks in this comment alone (forgetting many of your other writings) you have shown yourself to be very un-Christian and certainly very un-American.
I understand that you wish the South had won the war, slavery still existed and we could still keep people of different backgrounds out of our country and away from you (unless they were serving you, of course) and have the great White society you would like. But it’s not like that. We are a nation (of course you don’t agree with the Pledge Of Allegiance), and the better for the diversity. What we are worse off for is that there are bigots like you who are still around.
My wife wanted me also to let you know: “as Trump supporters are saying to Hillary supporters: He won, get over it, you should also remember that the North won the civil war, so get over it”
Now take off your white robe and hood, Mr. Spencer. (I know you will come back with another rant/diatribe, you always do!)
I think, admittedly, I did not explain myself well in a couple of categories.
Common descent – we are all humans, who for millennia and millennia have banded together for many reasons. Common, unlike Mr. Spencer’s all-White version of ‘common descent’.
Common history – well explained.
Common language – most speak English, if some don’t that’s fine, but most do speak English. Many nations around the world have people in them who do not speak their main language.
Common culture – Many different cultures blended into one – American.
But judging by Mr. Spencer’s standards there is almost no nation on earth that meets his totally pure definition of ‘nation’. African countries combine different ethnic groups, peoples of different cultures, languages, etc. – mainly based on the way Europeans drew the map of Arica during colonial times. Asia? Many countries have different languages, cultures, etc. from the different regions that over the years have been fused together into one country, many times by conquest. What about Canada? Even if we only consider the English/French dichotomy (Which you really cannot do). Oh wait, they are both white European so that is the same in Mr. Spencer’s view. Scotland? Many Polish (for example) have moved into places like Edinburgh, where they have been welcomed, but ask the Scottish National Party if Scotland is one nation and I think you will see that they feel they are! Anyway the list goes on.
However, we, America, are a nation. But maybe not the way Mr. Spencer would like – An all-white Roman Catholic America, conforming to his views.
There are men and women of great vision who see us as we truly are: one people is the hopeful claim of Mr. Nielsen but the definition of ‘nation” does not describe what America has become.
Nation; A large body of people united by common descent, history, culture, or language, inhabiting a particular state or territory.
Now, at one time America was a nation but it has ceased to be one nation; it is now a multi-racial, multi-religious, multi-ethnic, multi-national conglomeration of incompatible and unassimilable cultures but one can make reliable assumptions and predictions about the many different people in the individual cultures within this confused and confusing state of affairs.
But, it might be better to ask a few questions;
Who will Somalias in Minnesota vote for?
Who will blacks vote for?
Who will ____ (insert primary identity) vote for?
Since the tyrant Lincoln destroyed state sovereignity and slayed America, what is to be our unifying principle?
Liberalism, secularism, conservatism, LBGTism, Multinational corporatism, our empire?
Sadly, Mr. Nielsen, this nation is over and the best that can be hoped for is that the damage resulting from its demise and dissolution is as minimal as possible.
Most men mistakenly imagine America is the best and most powerful nation on earth but that is just an example of how pride goeth before the fall for the plain and simple truth is that when an empire imagines t is at its strongest is when it is at its weakest.
Way to show your racism and anti-Americanism in one fell swoop. And on Veteran’s Day! Congratulations to you.