My schools were quite diverse - those who serve their country

Hear, O seekers of unity, the words of Marcia Gay Harden: “My schools were quite diverse—those who serve their country come from every race and religion—and so the military schools I attended were a wonderful melting pot.” In this remembrance lies a truth as old as nations and as fresh as the rising dawn: that those who gather in service to something greater than themselves discover bonds that transcend color, creed, or origin. Harden testifies that within the halls of her schools, diversity was not division but harmony, for the call of duty united many into one.

The origin of this saying flows from Harden’s upbringing in a military family, moving from place to place, encountering classmates and comrades drawn from every walk of life. Military schools, shaped by discipline and service, are filled not with one kind of people but with many, each bringing their own race, religion, and story. In such places, Harden discovered what America has long proclaimed—that strength lies not in sameness but in the blending of differences, in the forging of unity through diversity.

The ancients understood this truth in their own way. The Roman Empire, vast and sprawling, drew its legions from across continents—Gauls, Syrians, Africans, Greeks—all sworn to the eagle standard. They differed in language and culture, but in the discipline of the legion they became one body, one force. Likewise, Harden recalls that in her schools, though differences were plain to see, they were bound together by the shared values of service, discipline, and sacrifice.

History gives us luminous examples of this truth. During World War II, the United States assembled armies and navies drawn from every background—Native Americans who sent messages in code, African Americans who fought bravely in segregated units, Japanese Americans who volunteered even as their families were interned. Each bore scars of injustice, yet together they helped to preserve freedom. Here, as in Harden’s “melting pot,” we see that true service unites what prejudice divides.

The meaning of Harden’s words is profound: diversity is not weakness, but strength. In the crucible of challenge, it is the blending of perspectives, talents, and traditions that makes a community resilient. The military schools she describes are a microcosm of what the world can be—places where differences are not erased but honored, and where those differences, fused by loyalty and purpose, form an unbreakable bond.

The lesson for us, O listeners, is urgent: seek the melting pot in your own life. Do not retreat into enclaves of sameness, for that path leads only to fear and suspicion. Instead, walk into spaces where you will meet those unlike yourself, and learn from them. Remember that service—to family, to community, to nation—is strongest when it draws upon the gifts of all people, not just a chosen few. The highest loyalty is not to identity alone, but to the greater good we create together.

Practical actions stand before you: Befriend those from different backgrounds and listen to their stories. Honor the contributions of every race and religion in the shared work of your nation. When you encounter division, remind yourself that history’s greatest achievements have always come when many voices, once separate, joined as one. And in your own circles, strive to build communities that reflect the richness of diversity and the unity of shared purpose.

Thus, remember the words of Marcia Gay Harden: “Those who serve their country come from every race and religion.” Let them be a banner for your life. Celebrate diversity not as chaos but as harmony, not as threat but as strength. For when we see one another not as strangers, but as comrades upon the same journey, we live out the ancient truth: that unity in diversity is the surest foundation of enduring strength.