FRAGMENTED NATION Have we become a nation of fragments?
Some very serious writers were very much concerned back in the 1980's about the nation being divided into regional and sectional units.
People in the entertainment industries were among the first to react to such change
From 1975 into the '80' television viewers were watching the three major TV networks 93 per cent of the time. That figure dropped to 63 per cent in the decade. You were watching such shows as “The Honeymooners”, “All in the Family” and other such well-done shows” but all that changed suddenly with the advent of cable systems, TV tapes, and the first of the computer games. Viewing habits changed radically as program quality fell. They all retain swatch of old shows today and re-runs are endemic.
Technical innovations hit us in unexpected ways, too, such as the long-distance telephone business falling into ruin; the Gulf War, in attention of Interstate Highway maintenance and replacement or enlargements as needed. Train travel more or less died; air travel changed radically with unknowns being featured - even favored, new lines, small airlines grabbed a slim-profit routes. Union hazards continued as a serious problem.
The problem stemming from uncontrolled illegal immigration is causing “local” problems and I read of it happening in all sections of the dividing nation. I feel this is the most important of all the problems in which we are currently involved. It will prove to be a major problem we are going to have to face eventually.
Do you agree that we are , as a nation, fragmenting? Breaking up? Falling apart? Take a few moments to thread through the warp and woof of our changes in what we loosely call “life styles” , our religious beliefs and our patriotism.
Have we lost a sense of belonging? I think we have good reasons for concern.
A.L.M. August 26, 2005 [c324wds]
