E pluribus unum. Most of us don't speak or read Latin, so it wouldn't make sense to write this essay in Latin. Considering the vast majority in this country (the United States), it only makes sense to communicate in English since that's the language most of us understand. A common language brings us together. Even when someone doesn't speak English, when they learn it, they become unified with the rest of us in one sense.
Team sports are very popular here. In truly effective teams, the players act together. They seek a common goal, pooling their talents to complement each other in achieving their collective best. When the team wins, each player receives a trophy, medal, or ring or they all share the victory with a team trophy. They are one.
Being one does not mean that each team member is identical. A winning football team would never succeed if they all went out for passes on every play. They need someone to pass, others to block, and others to create diversion. Each player is different in his talent, but when members pool their individual talent in a unified effort, a team becomes effective.
I am frustrated by the misdirected emphasis in current culture on diversity. While diversity lends unquantifiable strength to society, teams, organizations, families, and even marriages, its importance must not overshadow the higher value of UNITY. Lack of unity results in selfish anarchy. The "me generation" and the "looking out for #1" philosophy shifted the emphasis so myopically to diversity that our culture has become plagued by such ills as hyperlitigation, fatherless children, violence, divorce, and racism. Over-emphasis of diversity separates us as a people. Diversity will persist independently of any attainment of unity. Unity, on the other hand, does not occur naturally. Unity must be actively maintained. Unity must be pursued.
America achieved great unity during WWII as citizens worked toward the common goal of preserving our freedom. Individual people united by fighting in defense of our country, by working in aircraft factories, by rationing gasoline and rubber, by keeping each others' spirits high. People of all ages, talents, races, and religions joined in one unified effort.
Of course there were ignorant and malevolent individuals that vilified others because of their differences. Those people still exist today as they always will. But if we stop singling people out because of their economic status or their religion or their color, and increase our praise of achievement, selfless service and general integrity, we will, as unified people of character, far outnumber the small, self-serving me-people. A great man once had a dream. He dreamed not that his children would be treated better than others. He dreamed of a world where his children would be judged by their character, and on no other basis!
Character and integrity bring us together as one. Character and integrity not only overcome differences, but they make diversity work for the good of each individual, and therefore, the unified whole.
E pluribus unum. Out of many, one. We adopted the slogan on our currency long ago. Let's now adopt it in our hearts. We are not in danger of losing our "many-ness." Our emphasis and attention must turn again to being ONE!
