"There's more that unites us than divides us..." Really?

We've all heard politicians spout some variation of the theme "there's more that unites us than divides us." While variations of this sentiment have been around throughout history John F. Kennedy is said to have popularized the modern phrasing while giving a speech in 1961addressing the Canadian Parliament in Ottawa: "What unites us is far greater than what divides us." Back then he was emphasizing the bonds between the U.S. and Canada and given today's political climate we all know how that relationship has worked out.

Fast forward to 2004 and a young Barack Obama was giving the Democratic National Convention Keynote Address in support of the candidacy of John Kerry/John Edwards who would lose in November to the George W. Bush/Dick Cheney ticket. In his Keynote Address Mr. Obama declared that there is not a "liberal America and a conservative America - there's the United States of America." Four years later he would echo this notion in his President-Elect Victory Speech when he reminded us that "we have never been just a collection of individuals or a collection of red states and blue states. We are, and always will be, the United States of America." Much more recently, in 2023 he clung to the same ideal: "Our country is changing, but I still believe there is more that unites us than divides us." 

Bringing us up to date that newest and greatest of all tools - AI - informs me that our current President, Mr. Trump, rarely uses the sentiment of being more united than divided using the concept sparingly before pivoting to partisan rhetoric. AI's insight comes as probably no surprise compared to what your own ears tell you as you listen to him speak. 

What do Americans believe? In June of this year NBC News polled 3,000 Americans and found that overall 60% believe there is more that unites than divides but that splits along party lines with only 18% of Republicans feeling that way.

I, for one, am getting increasingly tired at the attempts to convince me of this unity message but then I caught myself wondering - does it really matter? And it came to me that it all hinges around the word 'more'. Given that Americans today can't seem to agree on much of anything it seems that the question should focus in on "Is there anything that unites us?" Not 'more' or 'less', but anything. I believe that there are indeed things that unite us as Americans - whether there are more or less of them is hardly the point. As we celebrate OUR country's 250 anniversary we must believe that America is not a zero-sum game where one someone's gains are directly offset by another's losses. That there are indeed 'win-win' options for Americans if only our elected leaders, and we ourselves, seek them out. Contrary to what many are telling us, for every winner there does not have to be a loser. The alternative is that we all lose. More or less.