The Case for American Pluralism

The motto of the United States, E pluribus unum (“Out of Many, One”) speaks to a pluralistic democracy with protections for every citizen, and a freedom from the religious tyranny that gripped much of Europe during the time of the country’s founding.  Yet, for many, this promise is being undermined by a small segment of the population insistent on superimposing its own moral values onto the wider population, resulting in a number of recent reversals that unwind decades of civil rights progress.  In this conversation, Ven Tenzin shares how we can help foster understanding and compassion in an increasingly polarized civic climate by recognizing the common humanity in our fellow citizens, while at the same time holding our ground.