“It really doesn’t feel like the Fourth of July to me this year,” said Ward, who has found herself on opposite sides with friends, family and co-workers. “It’s like, everyone is so busy trying to justify their side that they’re not listening to the other people anymore.
“And that’s a shame.”
Not everyone feels that same way. Molly Winblad of Tipp City said she feels “more patriotic than ever,” and Miamisburg’s Courtney Christie said her school community has stayed united through the polarizing presidential election and its aftermath.
But many people throughout the region acknowledged being troubled by the nation’s mood, even as belief in the flag and what it stands for remains strong.
Kristen Greason, 28, of Dayton talked about the need for the nation to come together.
Credit: GRANT PEPPER
Credit: GRANT PEPPER
“I think we’re more separate now than we have been in the past, but I think people are more desperate now to be united than they have been before, because we’re all aware of that sense of separation,” Greason said.
Here are some of the other responses:
Credit: JOE GURNIG
Credit: JOE GURNIG
Monica Alexander, 20, from Cincinnati
“We’re pretty divided with communication. Everyone has a different view and it seems that everyone is kind of scattered.”
Credit: GRANT PEPPER
Credit: GRANT PEPPER
Billy Boucuvalas, 14, Oakwood
“I do believe that there is a bias going on, where the poor feel like the rich are lucky but the rich feel like the poor are lazy, and I think that’s one of the things that’s dividing two different classes of people. I still believe that we are united, but I do feel like there are some feelings between the classes. That’s one of the things that was dividing people — the election — but I feel like we’ve united since then.”
Credit: GRANT PEPPER
Credit: GRANT PEPPER
Richard Burnett, 65, Kettering
“It seems like the [political] parties just don’t want to agree on anything. Most people are concerned, but some really don’t know what’s going on — either they don’t read the news or whatever. Are we divided? I would definitely think so.”
![Miamisburg teacher Courtney Christie, 24, said her students and co-workers stayed unified throughout the past year. “In America, I feel like sometimes we go through bad times, and sometimes [we go through] good times,” she said.](https://www.daytondailynews.com/resizer/v2/SJXFRFEKQ6JLNTOXAJDJ4HCLN4.jpg?auth=361f81c56c304e6b1c17a2ee0940c74f2ec66bf4f4644e1d21f698c5ea7f0925&width=2000&smart=true)
Courtney Christie, 24, Miamisburg
“In America, I feel like sometimes we go through bad times, and sometimes [we go through] good times. But in the end, I feel like we’re all Americans, so nothing’s really changed yet.”
Credit: GRANT PEPPER
Credit: GRANT PEPPER
Cody Clark, 26, Dayton
“I’m definitely willing to believe that we’re more divided as a country now than we have been in a long time. Everybody is either for or against the president, and it’s just putting people at ends with each other — socially, racially, and just straight out politically. It has affected me, just seeing people that I know and love go at ends with each other.”
Credit: GRANT PEPPER
Credit: GRANT PEPPER
Justin Green, 36, Beavercreek
“I think in some ways we are united. I definitely see different groups starting to come together, dealing with different issues within the culture of our nation. But also, with that I think you see the disunity because some of the other groups are starting to pull away from each other instead of finding that unity. When we’re dealing with issues that tend to pull people apart, I think that people start to look to organizations and to different areas where they can find that unity. So, I think [the church] is more important now, but as a pastor, I feel that it’s always been that important.”
Credit: GRANT PEPPER
Credit: GRANT PEPPER
Frank Hart, 46, Dayton
“It is divided, but it’s been divided. You come into the ghetto, and then you go somewhere like Kettering, Centerville, Oakwood, and you see the houses… you can tell it’s divided. And it’s not divided on one thing, it’s divided on a lot of things. We’re divided between poor and wealthy. We’re divided on education, money and business. But we’ve been divided for a long time. It goes all the way back.”
Morgan Robinson, 19, Centerville
“Our country is really separated, very polarized, and we’re all aware of it, but we’re not making any kind of a difference about it. We’re all stuck in our own train of thought, our own opinion, and we’re not listening to the other side. So we’re kind of stuck right now, because we’re so stubborn and won’t listen to anyone else.”
Credit: GRANT PEPPER
Credit: GRANT PEPPER
Anita Sink, 53, Covington
“I do feel like we’re more divided on every issue, whether it be moral, economic.”
Mon Williams, 17, Dayton
“We’re divided a lot. If we worked together, we’d get a lot accomplished. But people aren’t trying to help each other, and we’re divided. People don’t want to come together as one.”
Credit: JOE GURNIG
Credit: JOE GURNIG
Molly Winblad, 55, Tipp City
“There is some separation, but the nation needs to come together for the good of the people.”