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Despite the political divisions we are enduring, there have always been times when we unite to fight off threats or to celebrate natural or scientific wonders. The coming together of humans to watch and marvel at the recent total eclipse of the sun on April 8 is indicative of moments in our human lives when we as people are of a single mind.

In the run-up to World War Two, there was political divisiveness as to what the American response should be to Germany’s aggression, but once our shores were attacked on December 7, 1941, the nation came together as one.  Men volunteered for service in the armed forces, women went to work in factories in jobs left vacant by departed citizen-soldiers, and everyone sacrificed to support the war effort through rationing, buying bonds, etc.

The same sort of response drove the country following the attacks of 9/11. 

While wartime unity is a natural reaction to threats to survival, there are other more positive examples.  New Year’s Eve brings out in all of us a celebration of one more trip around the sun and the singing of Auld Lang Syne, when we drink from the cup of kindness.

There used to be a special unity brought on by The Olympic Games, although recently those have been tainted by political and social movements, but the world’s athletes do come together in the Opening March, which is enough to send a chill down your spine. 

The initial moon landings and space exploration of the 1960’s, although fueled by competition with the Russians, also swelled in us a sense of pride felt around the globe.  Once it became routine, however, the process became somewhat mundane.  Recent missions have re-kindled the unity to a certain extent.

And then there are the solar and lunar eclipses. In 2017, we all ran out and bought the special glasses and sat in groups with strangers in the parks to witness this natural phenomena. We were together in sharing our wonder of a natural, scientific moment in time.  A few weeks ago, the unity of humans was again on display wherever the totality could be witnessed.  Hopefully, this will occur again in 2026, although it probably will not be viewable in North America.

My point is this: while we argue a lot about a lot of things, there are still moments in our lives when we as humans, brothers and sisters, can come together again in peace and tranquility to celebrate natural wonders or to secure our continued peace, and that’s the way it oughta be.

Alan Clark is a retired US Army Colonel, former Chief Technology Officer, Past District Governor of Rotary International, radio host and general manager, and holds a Doctorate in Education from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. His editorials have been published by Lakeway Publishers, Inc., and he is the author of several books and monographs. He was the recipient of awards for his editorials by the UT/Tennessee Press Association in 2019, 2021, and 2022.