E Pluribus Unum

Rob Sanders recently asked in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, “When will the many become one?” He was referring to the Latin words on U.S. money, “E pluribus unum” – “out of many, one.” And also the election. Though a few states may fall one way or the other, the political map of the United States has blue Democrat states on the east and west coasts with a swash of red Republican states down the middle. We are a country divided. How do we unite it once more and work together?

I’m reminded of the original thirteen states. They had their share of disagreement. We see part of this in the Constitution. The reason we have two houses of Congress is because of a disagreement. The small states didn’t want the large states to have too much power and the large states wanted power that was representative of the size of their population. The result is the Senate in which the small states have just as much power as the large states and the House of Representatives which is representative of population size.

And I’m reminded of the Civil War. That was a nasty business with brother fighting against brother. But we came through it. The union held and is stronger for it today.

If our past is any indication, even with those thing that divide us, there is still hope for our future. The question is, how do we move forward united? That is a question that I intend to give some thought.

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