USA: A Nation of Diehards.

To outsiders America is a country of implacable moaners who just don’t know when to stop.

They carp at each other and about each other incessantly across the social, cultural and political divide.

Carping is a national pastime as well as a present day treasure in the ‘ol US of A.

Aside from the moans and groans it’s worth remembering intransigence is a trait not confined to any particular party; it applies across the board.

Americans are the diehards on the block and the world can’t help but notice.

A change in government last year has had no impact on the level of vitriol and the blame game just never ends; there’s always something to bash the other side over the head with.

Donald Trump’s four year presidency is still blamed for every manner of ill under the sun; which would be comical if it weren’t so tragic.

Renowned macabre-fiction author Stephen King waded into the fight saying; Donald Trump is worse than any horror story I’ve written.

What King overlooks is that America is the embodiment of the worst nightmare that is yet to feature in any of his tales.

While King is a good fiction writer the ghosts in his books have got inside his head and skewed his thinking.

His grip on politics is also tenuous at best.

Maybe his problems started when he was hit by a car in his driveway.

The problem is it’s easy to cast blame around but that accusing finger has to turn inwards now and then to get some balance; yet no one sees this?

The US earned the distinction a long time ago of being a nation of victims cum whiners, there was always someone better looking, cleverer and had more opportunities than they did.

Individuals considered themselves hard done by for centuries but it all came to a head when victimhood was legitimized and given a political voice.

Then victimhood became the new vogue and everyone aspired to be one.

Call the US schism what it is; an unbreachable divide and get done with.

Even personal tragedies are not immune; they are appropriated and weaponized into flaming darts to target the enemy; all part of the culture wars.

Recently Gabby Petito’s body was retrieved after she mysteriously disappeared; obviously the victim of a homicide.

Then something called ‘missing white woman’s syndrome’ is touted on a TV show; the gist of it being the disappearance of people of other race groups is not given nearly enough attention by the media.

Too much to expect that a private tragedy remain just that without trying to score political points.

Crass doesn’t even begin to describe it.

Then there the attacks on those with certain religious beliefs who supposedly represent a threat because they want to take over the country and subjugate everyone; like in a Stephen King novel?

Proof for their tall tales isn’t even required but improvisation is a skill and essential to keep the lies moving.

On the other hand people get visibly excited over the deaths of those on the opposing team who come down with the coronavirus.

Yes they have 101 rationalizations for why they think like they do but it doesn’t change the fact the country is terminally ill so there’s no cure.

Bitterenders are in it for the long haul; they dig in their heels and refuse to budge an inch, it’s the nature of the beast.

They will go down with the ship cussing out and blaming others, but go down they will.

They are determined to.