America once thrived on a spirit of working together for the greater good. When people wanted change, it came from individuals banding together, mostly within the law. The America I grew up in was built on freedom, shared purpose, diversity, compassion, law-abiding, and peace. It was okay to disagree and argue, so long as we ultimately compromised and moved forward.

Today, fear is wielded as a tool of control to exploit our institutions for self-interest. Our challenge appears simple to me: choose unity and a greater purpose, or lose what once made us strong.