In his inaugural address, President Biden called for unity, saying, “For without unity, there is no peace, only bitterness and fury.”

Our nation’s motto, e pluribus unum (out of many, one), is itself a plea for unity, as is the name of our country. But what exactly is this virtue we hold so dear? A nationwide chuckle at the Zoom cat? Agreeing on policies? Or just keeping your mouth shut when your neighbors put up their “All Aboard the Trump Train” flag or “No Human is Illegal” sign? Certainly, unity is a truth upon which our nation sits. President Abraham Lincoln knew this. In his inaugural address, Lincoln rejected the effort by seven states to secede from the Union, stating, “The Union of these states is perpetual. Perpetuity is implied, if not expressed, in the fundamental law of all national governments.” We know from our founding documents that Lincoln was right. Our unity predates the Constitution, which was established to create a “more perfect” union.