July 4: A Day of Unity

July 4, 2024

Happy Independence Day!

This seminal moment in our history gives us something to celebrate each year. In these fraught times, perhaps it’s a bit ironic that a celebration of “independence” serves to bring us together rather than split us apart.

And believe this or not, it does draw us together. Two-thirds of Americans strongly agree in poll after poll with the second core principle of Our Common Purpose that Even With Our Flaws, We Have Much to Cherish.

When asked in one of the Our Common Purpose polls to evaluate whether we are united or divided by each of a list of national institutions, values, services and events, our patriotic holidays of July 4th and Memorial Day finished right at the top. They rank with Thanksgiving and the broad aspiration of liberty as our most unifying traditions.

This assessment applies virtually equally among men and women, across educational levels and regions of the country.

True, the harmony isn’t entirely perfect. Consistent with what others have determined, the OCP poll shows Republicans have a slightly higher propensity toward patriotism. The difference though is relatively small. On the poll’s 201-point scale going up to +100 for united, 0 for neutral, and down to -100 for divided, our patriotic holidays scored an average of +63 among Republicans and +47 among Democrats.

Of more concern is that young voters aged 18-to-34 are less enthused about July 4th than are seniors.

But on the whole, today provides an opportunity to put aside our differences to enjoy a moment of unity. Whether evoked by the fife-and-drum corps marching down our Main Streets, the sparkle of fireworks or hot dogs on the grill, or maybe by images of the courageous declaration of independence printed on parchment, today should remind of us of how the Founding Fathers stood together in the face of a formidable foe.

They concluded their revolutionary document with this vow:

“And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our Sacred Honor.”

July 4th, Memorial Day, Thanksgiving are just three days out of the year but we — regardless of persuasion, regardless of age — could use a good dose of that stick-togetherness now.