re: Ship of Fools
The USA is not a homogeneous society, there have been a multiplicity of nationalities and ethnicities, races and religions and languages, here since the first European settlers arrived, and there has been conflict aplenty. That is the source of our strength, our diversity. Even among the predominant populations with common origins, there are strong differences based on geography. Monocultures also quickly segregate themselves on economic lines, too.
Not only are such societies richer and healthier, they are more fun, too. Complexity trumps uniformity every time. And conflict always spurs innovation. Are there risks, sure. But the alternative is stagnation.