Unity, unity, unity... — Letters that should have been in the new york times

11.5.21

To the editor:

David Brooks(11.5.21, Democrats must confront their privilege) argues that a vision of 'unity, unity, unity' is needed rather than 'us/them thinking' for Democrats to succeed. Yet Brooks engages in his own polarized thinking by labeling efforts to deal with structural racism and historic oppression as an expression of an elitist attitude. It seems thoroughly inoffensive to offer as evidence the recent Virginia governor's race where the role of parental involvement in education became weaponized by Republicans. But Brooks conveniently leaves out the context: legislative efforts to ban books like Toni Morrison's Beloved from the curriculum because of the distress it may cause.

Unity ('All men are created equal ...') comes up against the reality of slavery; unity comes up against our mistreatment and killing of indigenous people. Unity comes up against the persistent ways in which inequality persists in our society.

There can be no healing and sustained progress without some form of 'truth and reconciliation' as took place in post-Apartheid South Africa. While progressive Democrats may at times be insensitive and intolerant to the views of others, they have never embraced a 'divide and conquer' mentality as a path to victory. Maybe Republicans should heed Brooks advice and seek a true unification that acknowledges our complicated history.

Respectfully

Larry S Sandberg