A nation divided

The more I consider the partisan divide between Republicans and Democrats, the more I am reminded of the Civil War era. If one replaces the word "slavery" with words like "same-sex marriage," "abortion" and "immigration," the similarities are striking.

The prejudice against gays and immigrants today is identical to the prejudice against enslaved blacks. And the difference in attitudes between southerners and northerners is equally striking.

Republicans and Democrats are both entrenched in their opinions and biases. There is very little intelligent review of the facts; if the political leaders say something is so, then it must be true.

How will this all play out? Hopefully, the descendants of those who were against slavery will again triumph, and another age of American freedom and democracy will commence.

John Holter, Baltimore