In Republican circles the AR-15 is a symbol of patriotism and lawmakers wear them pinned on their clothing to show support for the deadliest gun on the streets today. The choice of mass murderers.
Today during a 4th of July celebration in Ft. Worth, Texas, during a neighbor gathering three people were killed and eight others wounded. Guess what the killer used? That's right. An AR-15. And the day is not over.
As we celebrate the country's 247th birthday there are questions about how many more the nation will celebrate in its current form?
I foresee the country continuing to drift apart into two irreconcilable blocs of red and blue states trying to occupy the same geographic space.
The two are existing in two worlds. The blue one's support reality and the truth, while the red ones live in an alternate world where Trump is king and lies are badges of honor.
The split between the two grows wider daily as the basic rules of life between red and blue states on everything from the availability of abortion to guns is contested.
Trump's cult has culled out reason and compromise in Congress and state Houses and Senates. Threats of political violence is one of the hallmarks of Trump supporters.
To be sure, the ideal of a national unity while celebrating the 4th of July has always been overstated. Since the first 4th of July celebration the country has been riven by sectional, racial, class and gender conflicts.
As it stands, the 4th of July's I remember growing up in the 1950s seemed to be a unifying factor partly because we had so many WW II veterans and organizations throughout the land.
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