Skip to content
  • Subscribe
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Email
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment
  • Features
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Clumns
Suburban Chicagoland

Suburban Chicagoland

Original News, Features & Opinion on local and regional news you won't find anywhere else

  • About
    • About
    • Advertise
    • Our Writers
      • Ray Hanania
      • Bill Lipinski
      • Biography: Aaron Hanania
      • Steve Metsch
      • Steve Neuhaus
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Reach Out
  • Sections
    • Events
    • Opinion
    • News
    • Features
    • Seniors
    • Comic Strip
  • Library
    • “MIdnight Flight” Online Book
      • Midnight Flight Book Overview
      • Midnight Flight Introduction
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 1
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 2
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 3
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 4
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 5
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 6
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 7
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 8
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 9
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 10
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 11
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 12
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 13
    • Villages, Cities & Towns
    • Federal Office Holders
    • County Officials
    • Legislators
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
  • Comment
  • Podcast
    • Ray Hanania on Politics
    • Two Guys on Politics
    • Hanania on Tiktok
  • News Wire
  • Toggle search form
  • State Senator Michael Hastings introduces law to revive long dormant and degraded Tinley Park Mental Health Center into a Sports Park for the community. Photo courtesy of the State Senate President Don Harmon
    Hastings and Cook County Sheriff’s Office work to streamline missing persons investigations Crime
  • Fathers Rights Attorney Jeffery M. Leving
    Leving Matrimonial Law Seminar: Utilizing Artificial Intelligence in Family Law Cases Jeffery Leving
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    The $2 Billion Wealth Transfer: How Cook County’s Property Tax Appeals System Rewards Businesses at the Expense of Homeowners Blogger
  • Fathers Rights Attorney Jeffery M. Leving
    Chicago dad reunited with missing daughters Dads' Rights
  • Orland Park Mayor Jim Dodge
    Orland Park Village Board Appoints George Koczwara as Village Manager Government
  • Author Charlene Wexler
    Newly released novel, ‘We Won’t Go Back’ Published, addresses women’s issues Books & Films
  • Baby names. Photo courtesy of sincerely-media-9s7EOmv2HDA-unsplash
    Olivia and Liam Remain Most Popular Baby Names for 2024 Baby Boomers
  • Fathers Rights Attorney Jeffery M. Leving
    Dad who feared losing son forever, won in court, keeping son in the U.S.  Dads' Rights
  • Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash
    Roseland Ceasefire Warns Chicago’s Homicide Numbers Could Be Victims of  Trump’s Targeted Cuts Chicago
  • (Back) Dep Fire Chief Nick Cinquepalmi, retiring Board President John Brudnak, Trustee Donald “DJ” Jeffers, Board President Beth Damas Kaspar, Trustee Bridget Eileen Tolan, retired Fire Chief Michael Schofield, front, retiring Trustee Jayne Schirmacher.
    ​Orland Fire District elects first-ever woman Board President breaking news
  • Congresswoman Robin Kelly
    Congresswoman Robin Kelly clear leader in race to succeed Senator Dick Durbin Blogger
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    The $2 billion wealth transfer: How Cook County’s property tax appeals system rewards businesses at the expense of homeowners breaking news
  • Lyons Township Board
    Lyons Township Democrats celebrate public support at annual fundraiser Bridgeview
  • OFPD Jr cadet camp June 26 2025
    Registration opens May 9 for Orland Fire Kids Camp and Jr Cadet Programs Events
  • 19-year-old Victor Martinez charged by Cicero police in 2016 murder
    Cicero police arrest suspect in 2016 murder of Julio Servin Crime

Polarization in America is empowering our enemies

Posted on January 20, 2022January 20, 2022 By Ray Hanania No Comments on Polarization in America is empowering our enemies
SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  

Polarization in America is empowering our enemies

As the political divide in America continues to widen, the enemies of America including Russia, Iran and China are consolidating their efforts to confront us. Instead of bringing us together, President Biden is bringing us apart and empowering those who hate us to come together

By Ray Hanania

Ray Hanania

America has been weakened by the continuing and political selfish polarization between those who support President Donald Trump and those who support President Joe Biden.

The viciousness of the fighting is weakening America’s image internationally and nations like Russia and China are being empowered to challenge our leadership of the “Free World.”

In dealing with international negotiations between conflicted countries, like the tensions simmering between Russia and the United States over Russian dictator Vladimir Putin’s threats to invade Ukraine, you need to define the extreme alternative to doing the right thing.

Biden’s biggest mistake is to take the “Threat of War” off the table in confronting Russia. The Threat of War is a powerful deterrent. History has shown that when appeasement replaces the “Big Stick,” tyrants respond with war, as it did when British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain failed to confront Adolph Hitler’s expansion into the Rhineland, the military buildup along the Czech border and the threats to invade Poland.

We know where that appeasement led us, but I am not sure many realize we are on a similar path with Russia and China.

If Biden puts the Threat of a War back on the table in dealing with Russia’s threat to invade Ukraine, it might force Russia to back down and have a chain reaction to force China into caution.

Ray Hanania column on Polarization in America Jna. 20, 2022

 

Instead, Biden has threatened more “severe sanctions” against Russia but I don’t think Russia cares. By not threatening war America is basically negotiating against itself.

 

Russian could invade Ukraine and deal with the new sanctions.

Would we end up going to war if Biden threatened war over Ukraine? I don’t believe Putin wants war. But without the Threat of War, he is more likely to face the remaining lesser consequences of invasion. He might even come out looking stronger while the U.S. will continue to look weak.

Russia’s return to Soviet Communist influence is not accidental. Under Putin, Russia is re-establishing its former Soviet structure expanding violence in Kazakhstan, controlling Syria, partnering with Iran and now threatening to invade Ukraine.

What prompted this widespread aggressiveness? Honestly, the polarization and political turmoil that has consumed America, the “Defender of the Free World.”

America is in disarray. It was under disarray before President Trump, during President Trump and now under Biden.

Although Trump was far from a nuanced diplomat who often tended towards pettiness, emotional out bursts and little real achievement, Trump had one thing going for him. He was unpredictable. And unpredictability frightened not only the Russians, but also Communist Chinese.

When America fled Afghanistan with its tail between its neutered legs, that was a clear signal to Russia, China and the rest of the oppressive world that America was weakened.

Although Osama Bin Laden was killed, what’s to stop another terrorist from replacing Bin Laden and walk back into the arms of the welcoming Taliban to plan more terrorist attacks against America?

Even our allies are reacting to America’s growing weakness caused by the political divisions and polarization.

The U.S. wants Germany to stop purchasing Russian oil, but the oil is so critical to Germany and our other European allies that Germany is resisting.

America can’t punish Germany, or our other allies, because it would only weaken our NATO power.

The “Threat of War” is, unfortunately, a necessary evil in international conflict resolution. Without it, all other options become more acceptable to our foes. Putin is already living with US sanctions and he can live with more. He won’t suffer, protected by his massive wealth and support of the wealthy Oligarchs. The Russian people will suffer, and his propaganda will focus blame not on him but on us.

America must end our internal polarization and bring the two sides together. That means Biden and Trump must start turning down the volume and the incitement against each other. The news media has to stop fueling the conflict, too.

If we don’t unify this country and don’t stop extremists on both sides — Republicans and Democrats — from fueling the polarization, we will only empower our enemies to be more aggressive. We can’t allow Russia to invade Ukraine, continue to control Syria, and restore domination over the former Soviet republics.

That’s what Putin is doing, and China may soon do with Taiwan. When that happens, it will be too late.

We need to unite and get tough fast.

Former Congress Bill Lipinski and I discuss much of this in our weekly “Reagan Democrat” podcast, “Two Guys on Politics” which I hope you will check out.

We’re in trouble folks. And we can’t brush it all off and blame Trump or Biden. We should blame ourselves when all this explodes.

( Ray Hanania is an award winning former Chicago City Hall reporter. A political analyst and CEO of Urban Strategies Group, Hanania’s opinion columns on mainstream issues are published in the Southwest News Newspaper Group in the Des Plaines Valley News, Southwest News-Herald, The Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers. His Middle East columns are published in the Arab News. For more information on Ray Hanania visit www.Hanania.com or email him at rghanania@gmail.com.)

This column was published in the Southwest News Newspaper Group Jan. 19, 2022

 

SUBSCRIBE BELOW

Subscribe to Ray's columns

Subscribe to Ray Hanania’s Columns

* indicates required field.

 

Select Email Format


Two Guys on Politics podcast with Former Congressman Bill Lipinski and former Chicago City Hall reporter Ray Hanania www.TwoGuysonPolitics.com

PS … Follow me on Gettr the Uncensored Twitter. Gettr.com/user/rayhanania Fight back against #SocialMediaBigBrother

newswire info
  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Ray Hanania
Ray Hanania
Ray Hanania is an award-winning columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.  

His award winning columns can be found at www.HANANIA.COM Subscribe FREE today

Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.

Email Ray Hanania at rghanania@gmail.com.

Follow RayHanania at Twitter
Ray Hanania
Latest posts by Ray Hanania (see all)
  • Hastings and Cook County Sheriff’s Office work to streamline missing persons investigations - May 21, 2025
  • Leving Matrimonial Law Seminar: Utilizing Artificial Intelligence in Family Law Cases - May 20, 2025
  • The $2 Billion Wealth Transfer: How Cook County’s Property Tax Appeals System Rewards Businesses at the Expense of Homeowners - May 16, 2025
  • Tweet

SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  
 
 
 
           
Blogger, Commentary, Federal, National, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania Tags:anger, china, fueling hatred, Iran, NATO, partisan politics, polarization, political dive, political divisions, President Donald Trump, President Joe Biden, Russia

Post navigation

Previous Post: Right from the Middle: The challenges the Free World faces over Ukraine
Next Post: Gov. Pritzker Advances Vision to Rebuild I-80

Related Posts

  • Cicero Senior Director Diana Dominick sspeaks with FEMA officials about the new DRC that opened in the community Tuesday August 29, 2023
    Disaster Recovery Center  opened in Cicero to help  Cicero Residents Impacted by Summer Flooding Cook County
  • Veterans News and Information National
  • Christopher Columbus statue Chicago Grant Park. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
    American traditions like Thanksgiving should not be broken because of latter day spin Blogger
  • Former Congressman Bill Lipinski and Political writer Ray Hanania discuss the aftermath of the terrible debate performance of President Joe Biden.
    Video Podcast: Lipinski, Hanania on Biden-Trump debate disaster Bill Lipinski
  • Ray Hanania and Bill Lipinski live on Facebook ... Two Guys on Politics, discussing President Biden's speech, the Ukraine crisis, the issue of voting rights, filibuster and more
    Podcast reviews President Biden’s speech the Ukraine Crisis and Voting Rights Bill Lipinski
  • View of the Orland Park Mall. Photo courtesy Ray Hanania
    Safety for a church but not for shoppers at the mall Blogger

More Related Articles

Difference between O’Grady and Pekau is night and day Blogger
Sports: Lincoln-Way East Captures 2017 State Football Title Blogger
State hearings and transparency needed on Nicor gas cost hikes Blogger
Analysis: Why Pekau won and McLaughlin lost Editors Pick
Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas Pappas: When it comes to voting on referendums, the few decide for the many Blogger
Plastic bottles in the back of a pickup truck, ready for recycling (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Oftentimes instead of being recycled, they end up in our environment, including in the ocean where they collect and form huge masses of pollutants Taking a stand against pollution Baby Boomers

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Login with your Social ID
Subscribe to Ray Hanania's column graphic

Enter Your Email to Subscribe to Ray Hanania’s Columns

  • OPINION COLUMNS
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    The $2 Billion Wealth Transfer: How Cook County’s Property Tax Appeals System Rewards Businesses at the Expense of Homeowners
    May 16, 2025
  • Congresswoman Robin Kelly
    Congresswoman Robin Kelly clear leader in race to succeed Senator Dick Durbin
    May 6, 2025
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    When it comes to voting on property tax referendums, the few decide for the many
    May 2, 2025
  • Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker
    Illinois has many better options than Pritzker’s choice to succeed Durbin
    April 27, 2025
  • Ray Hanania at 3 years old in Chicago with his mother, sister Linda and neighbor Paulie Hansen. 1956
    72 years around the sun, an experience that continues to grow
    April 19, 2025
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    You May Be Owed Money For Overpaying Property Taxes Up To 20 Years Ago
    April 18, 2025
  • NEWS
  • State Senator Michael Hastings introduces law to revive long dormant and degraded Tinley Park Mental Health Center into a Sports Park for the community. Photo courtesy of the State Senate President Don Harmon
    Hastings and Cook County Sheriff’s Office work to streamline missing persons investigations
    May 21, 2025
  • Fathers Rights Attorney Jeffery M. Leving
    Leving Matrimonial Law Seminar: Utilizing Artificial Intelligence in Family Law Cases
    May 20, 2025
  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png
  • SPORTS
  • Chicago Wovles play the Rockford Ice Hogs, Feb. 23, 2025
    Chicago Wolves Hockey skate Past Rockford Icehogs 4 to 2
    February 23, 2025
  • Chicago Wolves player Andrew Poturalski. Photo courtesy of the Chicago Wolves. https://www.chicagowolves.com
    The Chicago Wolves dispatched the Iowa Wild 4-1 on Saturday night at Allstate Arena.
    February 22, 2025
  • NEWS RELEASES
  • Orland Park Mayor Jim Dodge
    Orland Park Village Board Appoints George Koczwara as Village Manager
    May 12, 2025
  • Author Charlene Wexler
    Newly released novel, ‘We Won’t Go Back’ Published, addresses women’s issues
    May 10, 2025
John Kass Columns

Order the book PoweR PR; Ethnic Activists Guide to Strategic Communications

YOUTUBE VIDEOS

CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE TO RAY HANANIA'S YOUTUBE VIDEOS


Click here to view the video on YouTube or use the widget below.

Follow Ray Hanania at
Twitter
Facebook
TitkTok
BlueSky
RayHanania Columns

Creative Commons License
All works on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Do not edit original work. Give credit to the original source.

Categories

Copyright © 2022 Suburban Chicagoland & Urban Strategies Group

Powered by PressBook Premium theme