Right now, when we're hearing so much disturbing and hateful

In the words of Michelle Obama, we are reminded of a truth as enduring as the republic itself: “Right now, when we're hearing so much disturbing and hateful rhetoric, it is so important to remember that our diversity has been – and will always be – our greatest source of strength and pride here in the United States.” This is not a fleeting observation, but a call to remember the very foundation upon which the nation was built. For from its earliest days, the United States has been a tapestry woven of many peoples, many languages, and many dreams. Its strength has never lain in uniformity, but in the power that comes when differences unite in common purpose.

Her words are born of a time when the voices of division sought to drown out the harmony of unity. Yet history itself answers such rhetoric with thunderous clarity. Again and again, when America has faced its greatest trials, it was not in exclusion but in inclusion that it found its salvation. To forget this is to cut oneself off from the wellspring of national vitality. To remember it is to stand upon the eternal truth that diversity is strength.

Consider the example of the Second World War. When fascism threatened the globe, America called upon the children of many nations. Soldiers of Irish, Italian, Jewish, African, Latino, Asian, and Native descent fought shoulder to shoulder. Women entered factories, immigrants built weapons, and Black Americans, despite facing segregation, served with honor and valor. The victory was not the work of one people alone, but of a multitude bound together. Out of diversity came resilience, and out of resilience came triumph.

The ancients too knew this wisdom. The Roman Empire, at its height, stretched from the deserts of Africa to the forests of Gaul. Its strength was not merely Roman blood, but the ability to draw soldiers, merchants, and thinkers from every corner of its realm. A man from Syria could serve Rome as loyally as a man from Spain. Their roads, their armies, their philosophy—all were fed by the blending of cultures. When Rome forgot this and sought to divide, its unity crumbled. The same warning whispers through Michelle Obama’s words: the destruction of diversity is the destruction of strength.

Her reminder also carries with it the flame of pride. For diversity is not only strength—it is beauty. To see many tongues and many customs joined in one nation is to behold a living mosaic. It is pride not in sameness, but in the miracle that so many can live together, striving for justice and liberty. This pride is not arrogant, but noble, for it honors the dignity of every soul, no matter their origin.

The lesson for us is clear: when hateful voices rise, we must remember the deeper truth. Do not be seduced by fear of the other. Do not let division blind you. Instead, look to your neighbor and see not threat, but gift. See in their difference the very strength that may one day save you. For the hand you distrust today may be the hand that lifts you tomorrow.

Practically, this means embracing the work of unity in daily life. It means listening with respect to those whose backgrounds differ from your own. It means defending those who are maligned because of their race, faith, or heritage. It means building communities where all are welcome, where no one is silenced, and where every contribution is honored. In doing so, we live out the ancient wisdom that diversity is both shield and sword, both foundation and crown.

So let us remember Michelle Obama’s words: our diversity has always been, and will always be, our greatest source of strength and pride. To deny this truth is to betray the sacrifices of those who built the nation. To embrace it is to carry forward the torch of liberty, ensuring that the United States remains not a fractured land of suspicion, but a shining light of unity for all peoples, for all generations yet to come.