We Are Stronger Together

Divide and conquer. A strategy employed in warfare. The idea is that if you want to invade a country, if you want to defeat them; divide them first, make them fight against each other, and it will be easier.

When a society is divided, when people fail to collaborate towards shared objectives, the collective strength diminishes. Such division makes the group vulnerable, an easy target.

Take the United States, for instance, a nation polarized to the extreme. I thought Mexican politics and news cycles were a clown show until I came here. It’s ridiculous, something I didn’t expect when moving from a third-world country to a first-world country.

The narrative is always ‘us vs them.’ Every issue, every event, every ideology is filtered through the lens of partisan politics. The nuances of life are overlooked in favor of rigid dichotomies. Yet, beneath the surface, there's a shared humanity, a common yearning for prosperity and well-being.

“Every person has their burden,” Leo Tolstoy wrote. “One cannot live without the support of other people; therefore we have to support each other with consolation, advice, and mutual warnings.”

Indeed, our true strength lies in being united. And not only at the macro level with a country or the world, but also together with your spouse, with your family, with your neighbors, in your sports team, your office, your community, your friendships.

Yes. We are all different and unique. Each one of us is walking a different path, but we will all eventually get to the same place. “We are walking each other home,” Ram Dass used to say. 

So we must transcend individual limitations and work with each other. Get along. Play as a team. Everyone rowing in the same direction.

Harmony isn't achieved by individual prowess alone; it stems from camaraderie and collaboration. Like playing in a team sport. Each with different tasks, each with different strengths and weaknesses. And yet, each member contributes their part and complements one another to achieve victory.

In civilized society, unity isn't just a lofty ideal; it's a pragmatic necessity. Despite your differences with others, in opinions or backgrounds, you must recognize your shared universal essence. That divine spark within you that makes you part of the same race, the human race.

Do the right thing. Work for the common good. Smile at others. Try to understand their perspectives. Not just tolerate them but accept them. And be kind. Play the game as a team. Together, we are stronger.