Growing up on the shores of the Mississippi River in Minnesota, I was taught that everyone was different to some extent or another, but that all people were inherently equal. Because of my teaching, I find it difficult to understand why it is commonly held that in celebrating uniqueness among groups of people, everyone sees it as a necessity to belittle, attack or otherwise speak harshly against other groups.

I realize that people won’t ever “just get along,” but do we need this seemingly endless banter about why one group’s view is better than another’s? Is it not possible to disagree and debate without attacking one’s background, beliefs or sexuality?

Perhaps what humanity needs to do is celebrate those aspects which unite its members while learning to peaceably explore and debate those areas which divide them.

Maybe I’m just too “utopian” or “naive” in my view of the world. Yet, I believe that if the uniting aspects were stressed, the world would not only be a more cohesive place, but also the petty differences that pull us apart today could be overlooked in an attempt “to form a more perfect Union.”

Christopher Vogel

Sophomore

History