Posted: Sun Dec 02 2001
Nation Sharply Divided Over How To Show Unity

The shockwaves of the tumbling twin towers had barely subsided before the slogan wars began in full force. Experts are still in disagreement as to which appeared first but within a day both "God Bless America" and "United We Stand" were clearly the leaders and slugging it out toe to toe. We asked supporters of both slogans to discuss their feelings with us.

As United supporter Joe Hawksworth puts it "We wanted to show that we were willing to put aside differences and stand together as Americans. United We Stand said it all in only three words." but God supporter Cindy Bookthumper sees things differently.

"We wanted to show unity also," Counters Bookthumper, "But in a time of great evil people instinctively turn toward the loving mercy of our Heavenly Father."

Joe fidgets irritably and complains, "But 'God Bless America' doesn't say anything at all about unity."



"It certainly does. It speaks of America unified in the one true unity. The unity of God's Loving Kindness." She replies with just a hint of growing anger.

"Loving kindness? I wonder how those 6000 people who got burned and crushed feel about God's Kindness?"

Cindy's eyes narrow. "Some of them deserved it and are getting plenty more in hell. Sometimes when God smites the unholy the holy get hit as well. But I'm sure that the innocents are now at peace with Jesus. The world is an imperfect place and Satan has been given control of the earth for a short time..."

"Whatever." Joe interrupts. "The point is that you know not all Americans believe in your God and 'God Bless America' was just a power grab. You thought 'no atheists in foxholes' lets push that point."

"And you were thinking 'We've almost got God out of the schools and the government so lets just rub their noses in it in this time of evil.' Every godless slogan is nothing more than an attempt for man to stand on his own and it is doomed to fail. The devil is laughing at you. Laughing!"

Unfortunately, this exchange is typical of the sharp divisions being felt across the nation in regards to the slogans.

In the days following the disaster businesses where forced to choose which slogans to display. Those with enough display space would display both but found that simply including 'God Bless America' lost them atheist and agnostic business. It seems that once you say 'God Bless America' you color 'United We Stand' with the brush of religion.

For many businesses the decision came down to demographics. Given that the overwhelming majority of Americans profess a belief in some god or another they felt the safest bet was to appease the God- Blessers hoping that Free-Thinkers would be broad minded enough to let it slide.

In order to try and solve the problem a number of Madison Avenue think-tanks are working hard to come up with an alternate slogan in hopes that it will appeal to both camps. So far the results of focus groups have not been overwhelming for any slogan they have come up with. Among those rejected by the God-Blessers are: 'We Rock', 'Let's Kick Some Ass', and 'Diversity and Might'.

Among those rejected by the Uniters: 'God Loves Us More Than Them', 'America Is Right', and 'The American Way or the Highway'.


--Philip Matanka