E Pluribus Unum –
from many, one. Latin. Classical language. Ages old. So too the meaning of the
phrase. Adopted by a young America when it reached for the stars in defining
its hope for the future.
From many people of many backgrounds, nationalities, colors
and wealth and poverty, our young nation hoped for unity so we could become one
nation out of the many differences among its people. Form a new model of
freedom and getting along with one another regardless of differences.
That history led to welcoming immigrants from every land. We
welcomed people from many different religions – not denominations, entire
religions. We welcomed a babble of foreign languages, and a true melting pot of
cultures and beliefs.
They came for freedom and opportunity. A chance to be
themselves and expand their horizons as best they could with limited means. The
nation was new. It was fresh. Uncharted lands swept far to the west unexplored
and ready for adventurers willing to risk life and limb to discover new lives
and worlds in which to live.
It was tough. It was rough. It was very diverse.
And yet we all prospered together. Not always with comfort
or acceptance of one another, but melded together we became. Then. Now.
Hopefully forever.
But wait! This is 2018 and a year of seeming diversity
without the acceptance. National policy is set to block immigrants from
entering our land. Old, slow and complicated rules will be observed. Oh sure,
immigrants will be allowed to enter, but slowly and with frustrating setbacks. Kids
are separated from parents and detained in crowded, noisy spaces. Parents don’t
know where the kids are; kids don’t know or understand why their parents are
nowhere visible.
Immigration is seemingly not welcome. Hospitality is absent.
Refugees are not welcomed or embraced with safety. Walls are built, not doors
or portals to better horizons.
Surely our history is a mottled mess of discrimination –
against Italians, Jews, Irish, Germans, and everyone Hispanic or African. Let’s
not get started with African-Americans; they are one with us but often it isn’t
so. These are the failures of our compact with history, our welcome withdrawn
for diversity and the melting pot. Many times we failed our own values of
hospitality. Many times we were our own enemy within our borders.
And we are that still today. Much terrorist activity in America
is by Americans against perceived wrongs – bullying, police state, government
edicts, open lands, air and water pollution rules, trading and commerce
regulations – you name it, someone is against it. Their feelings run deep. They
are outraged and resentful against what? Authority they feel they do not
control; democracy they do not feel a part of? What exactly is their complaint?
Why do they strike out at innocent fellow citizens?
Bombings, mass shootings, demonstrations to protect the
confederate flag and Civil War monuments. These are all a part of our current
history. Church killings, too; families slaughtered by misfit, mentally ill
relatives. Newscasts jar us alert with these happenings. And we wonder why.
Disaffection. Detachment. The one-ness of our national motto
– E Pluribus Unum – from many, one – fails in the minds of those who erupt with
violence and disdain.
That is a central point that informs us of our collective
failure to welcome all and accept diversity; indeed value diversity intensely. Discrimination
follows quite naturally.
Gender discrimination against women persists. Sexual
predation toward women persists. Same Sex orientation is viscerally unaccepted
by many. National origin is questioned as are languages, skin color and so many
other ‘foreign’ traits.
We have become a mockery of our own motto. And somehow we
recognize it and do not stand up for settling peace among us in order to value
each and every one of us.
We are better than this. We have proven that to be true so
many times before. We are challenged to do so again and again. That’s what it
means to seek diversity and value it.
We are so much more when diversity is the spinal cord of our
culture. That’s America to me.
And to you, too?
June 7, 2018
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