From the very beginning of our Nation’s History, our Founding Fathers had the vision of a diverse Nation that would live in relative PEACE and HARMONY. They chose the Latin Motto: E PLURBUS UN, meaning, “OUT OF MANY, ONE.” Presently, I can easily see the PLURABUS, but I have trouble finding the UNUM.

Throughout our Nation’s History, we had occasions that divided our Nation. Prior to the Civil War, our Nation was divided between the North and the South over the issue of Slavery. The South seceded from the North and formed the Confederacy of American States. After the Civil War, our Nation was reunited. Our Nation then became Racially Divided with the introduction of the Jim Crow Laws, also known as “Separate But Equal” laws that prohibited Black citizens from enjoying certain Rights that were afforded to White citizens. The Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s closed the gap between the Rights of Black citizens and the Rights of White citizens.

Even during the Great Depression, citizens banded together to weather the storm of Economic insecurity. During World War II, people worked together and supported each other despite the governmental imposed rationing of goods. Neighbors would trade coupons between themselves and neighborhoods would have community Victory Gardens to supplement their food supplies. The citizens of our Nation had a Common Purpose in this war; to protect our Nation’s security.

The PLURABUS was evident in the multi-ethnicity, multi-generational and multi-socio-economic strata that was the United States of America. The UNUM was evident with the cooperation between these diverse groups of people for a Common Cause of Survival.

The Nation suffered the worst terrorist attack on our soil on September 11, 2001. Shortly after the shock of this tragedy wore off, our Nation began to come together for the Common Cause of rebuilding our lives. Even the Democrats and Republicans, the Liberals and the Conservatives came together to lead the Nation back from the Brink. Members of Congress, both the Democrats and the Republicans, Liberals and Conservatives stood on the steps of the Capitol and sang, “God Bless, America.” There was UNUM in this Nation. Unfortunately, the sentiment faded with the reality of American Politics.

The Republicans lost both the House and Senate in 2006, after some twelve years of control. Then, two years later, the first Black President of the United States was elected.
In 2008, the Nation suffered the greatest Economic Downturn since the Great Depression. The Housing bubble burst. Those who had Adjustable Rate Mortgages saw their bill skyrocket. Major banks and corporations were either bailed out by the Government or went out of business. There was a general panic among the citizens of our Nation.


A new grassroots movement was formed called the “Tea Party Movement,” which took its name from the protest of the Colonists against England prior to the War for Independence. This Movement was comprised of people who where angry at the way our form of government was functioning. This was most evident during the Summer Recess of Congress in 2009, when Members of Congress returned to their districts and had Town Hall Meeting to discuss the issues relative to proposed legislations that were in the process of becoming law. Most were focused on the Health Care Reform that was the hallmark of President Obama’s agenda. These Town Hall Meetings were marked with violent shouting and fighting, which caused fear among Congress people as well as Senators on both sides of the political aisle.

With the advent of the Tea Party Movement on the Right and such groups as MOVEON. ORG on the Left, our Nation has become more politically polarized than any other time in history. This polarization has lead to the refusal by both sides to Negotiate and come to a consensus when it comes to Public Policy. Such refusal will stall the much-needed legislations necessary to bring our Nation back from the brink of the Economic Downturn of 2008-2009.

We have seen the PLURABUS and yet we have not come out of it to get to the UNUM that is the crux of our Nation’s Motto. When will all parties come together in UNITY to work TOGETHER for our Nation’s COMMON CAUSE? When will the question to our Representatives change from, “WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR ME ALONE?” to “WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR ALL OF US?” When will we again see NEIGHBOR HELPING NEIGHBOR, instead of hording everything for ONESELF? When will we once again see UNUM, that is, UNITY in these UNITED STATES OF AMERICA?

yesh.. too true mike .. but there's a structured in problem ..

the teabaggers and some others have founded their very political parties on the "unum" and the idea that THEY want no part of pluribus ...

they hold themselves to be of a higher social strata than what they see as the immoral unwashed pluribi ..and wouldn;t be caught dead walking on the same side of the road .. much less joining the same club ..

the unum do not want to participate .. and further .. they don't want you to participate either ..

we have somehow come to be inhabited by a small vocal minority who are adamant they won't share anything with anyone ..

it's shameful .. but since they aren't introspective they are wholly unaware of the pettiness and pessimism they project ..