Dawn Meisenheimer Lewis, former Kansas City Star Midwest Voices panelist

I admit it, I read Drudge. He has a report today developing from a Russian analyst, Igor Panarin, stating the United States will break up into several different parts, and the slide of the economy is confirming his prediction.

His claim is that the financial problems are only going to get worse, and when Obama doesn't perform the miracles he was elected for, the dissatisfaction of our citizens will cause such a break up.

Maybe I am foolish and live in a dream world, but I do not believe our nation is about to break up into little parts, not just yet. For all the political division between conservatives and liberals, red state and blue state, we are Americans.

Though we may protest policy and ideas we don't like, though we may petition our leaders, though we may argue over issues big and small, I still say almost all Americans are united in our union. Our nation has been through many trials, even a civil war in our history. We preserved the Union.

Igor Panarin's comment reminds me of the many weddings I've attended when people comment, "it won't last." Yes, sometimes it is true, some marriages don't last.

However, there are those whose union is built on such a long history and who have a
strong foundation. Despite all that is thrown at them, the hard times seem to make these couples stronger. I believe our nation is like the couples who make it. We have a strong foundation in our constitution. We have a long history of trials and disagreements.

Despite this, we are still Americans and we still hold our union together. Look at all the people who didn't want Obama to win the presidency. They fought hard, they argued at every corner. The morning after the election was over I read again and again, "Obama will be my president too, and I will be praying for him."

As Americans, we have learned to work with what we have and to move forward to hold our nation together and to make it a better place for our children.

We are a country made up of individuals that recognizes how important our freedom is, and also recognizes it takes a union like the United State of America to keep these freedoms free.

I am sure we will be amazed at how bad this financial crisis can be. I am also sure we will be amazed at the strength and fortitude of the American people. I am not willing to give up, and I am sure most people out there feel the same way. God bless America.