Unity

 United We Stand

For united we stand     

Divided we fall

And if our backs should ever be against the wall          

We'll be together, together, you and I

There is a clamor for unity today.  It is important to understand that there is much that unites us.

Francis Scott Key, the author of the Star Spangled Banner was a slave owner.  His view of slavery can be seen in the often unsung third verse of the song, which contains the words,

No refuge could save the hireling and slave    
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave.

Woody Guthrie, the author of "This Land is Your Land”, while never a member of the Communist Party, was admitted to be a fellow traveler.  His views can be seen in the often ignored fourth verse of that song.

As I went walking I saw a sign there,
And on the sign it said "No Trespassing."      
But on the other side it didn't say nothing.    
That side was made for you and me.

However those are not the verses that are traditionally sung.  We sing verses that proclaim their love of America, “the Land of the Free” and the "Land (that) was made for you and me”.   That love comes through despite wildly divergent politics.  Let’s remember that the love of America unites us much more than politics divide us.