Diversity and unity

David Brooks recently wrote that the U.S. is undergoing major demographic changes, and we need to think of what binds us together as a nation.  Here’s what he said:

Here’s the central challenge of our age  Over the next few decades, America will become a majority-minority country.  It is hard to think of other major nations, down through history, that have managed such a transition and still held together.  

It seems that the Democratic Party is going to lead us through this transition.  The Republicans have decided to pretend it’s not happening.  Trump had a chance to build a pan-ethnic nationalist coalition but went with white identity politics instead.  Republicans have rendered themselves irrelevant to the great generational challenge before us.  

Brooks went on to say that if the Democrats are going to lead this transition, they need to do more than celebrate diversity.  They also need something that draws us together, that creates unity.  Right now we are an uneasy coalition of all kinds of groups, but we could splinter if we allow ourselves to be defined by our tribal identities.  We need something more, something to draw us together as one nation.  Self-interest or group identity won’t be enough.  

Perhaps economic well-being together with a livable environment for all of us might be that unifying force.  That’s the best I could come up with.