In Union There Is Strength
I have watched this week’s unfolding events, angry and appalled. The words “Equal Justice Under Law” are carved in the pediment of the United States Supreme Court. This is precisely what protesters are rightly demanding. It is a wholesome and unifying demand—one that all of us should be able to get behind. We must not be distracted by a small number of lawbreakers. The protests are defined by tens of thousands of people of conscience who are insisting that we live up to our values—our values as people and our values as a nation.
When I joined the military, some 50 years ago, I swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution. Never did I dream that troops taking that same oath would be ordered under any circumstance to violate the Constitutional rights of their fellow citizens—much less to provide a bizarre photo op for the elected commander-in-chief, with military leadership standing alongside. We must reject any thinking of our cities as a “battlespace” that our uniformed military is called upon to “dominate.” At home, we should use our military only when requested to do so, on very rare
occasions, by state governors.
Militarizing our response, as we witnessed in Washington, D.C., sets up a conflict—a false conflict—between the military and civilian society. It erodes the moral ground that ensures a trusted bond between men and women in uniform and the society they are sworn to protect, and of which they themselves area part. Keeping public order rests with civilian state and local leaders who best understand their communities and are answerable to them.
James Madison wrote in Federalist 14 that “America united with a handful of troops, or without a single soldier, exhibits a more forbidding posture to foreign ambition than America disunited, with a hundred thousand veterans ready for combat.” We do not need to militarize our response to protests. We need to unite around a common purpose. And it starts by guaranteeing that all of us are equal before the law.Instructions given by the military departments to our troops before the Normandy invasion reminded soldiers that “The Nazi slogan for destroying us...was ‘Divide and Conquer.’ Our American answer is ‘In Union there is Strength.’” We must summon that unity to surmount this crisis—confident that we are better than our politics.
Donald Trump is the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people—does not even pretend to try. Instead he tries to divide us. We are witnessing the consequences of three years of this deliberate effort. We are witnessing the consequences of three years without mature leadership. We can unite without him, drawing on the strengths inherent in our civil society. This will not be easy, as the past few days have shown, but we owe it to our fellow citizens; to past generations that bled to defend our promise; and to our children.
We can come through this trying time stronger, and with a renewed sense of purpose and respect for one another. The pandemic has shown us that it is not only our troops who are willing to offer the ultimate sacrifice for the safety of the community. Americans in hospitals, grocery stores, post offices, and elsewhere have put their lives on the line in order to serve their fellow citizens and their country. We know that we are better than the abuse of executive authority that we witnessed in Lafayette Square. We must reject and hold accountable those in office who would make a mockery of our Constitution. At the same time, we must remember Lincoln’s “better angels,” and listen to them, as we work to unite. Only by adopting a new path—which means, in truth, returning to the original path of our founding ideals—will we again be a country admired and respected at home and abroad.
James Mattis, Former Secretary of Defense
I have watched this week’s unfolding events, angry and appalled. The words “Equal Justice Under Law” are carved in the pediment of the United States Supreme Court. This is precisely what protesters are rightly demanding. It is a wholesome and unifying demand—one that all of us should be able to get behind. We must not be distracted by a small number of lawbreakers. The protests are defined by tens of thousands of people of conscience who are insisting that we live up to our values—our values as people and our values as a nation.
When I joined the military, some 50 years ago, I swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution. Never did I dream that troops taking that same oath would be ordered under any circumstance to violate the Constitutional rights of their fellow citizens—much less to provide a bizarre photo op for the elected commander-in-chief, with military leadership standing alongside. We must reject any thinking of our cities as a “battlespace” that our uniformed military is called upon to “dominate.” At home, we should use our military only when requested to do so, on very rare
occasions, by state governors.
Militarizing our response, as we witnessed in Washington, D.C., sets up a conflict—a false conflict—between the military and civilian society. It erodes the moral ground that ensures a trusted bond between men and women in uniform and the society they are sworn to protect, and of which they themselves area part. Keeping public order rests with civilian state and local leaders who best understand their communities and are answerable to them.
James Madison wrote in Federalist 14 that “America united with a handful of troops, or without a single soldier, exhibits a more forbidding posture to foreign ambition than America disunited, with a hundred thousand veterans ready for combat.” We do not need to militarize our response to protests. We need to unite around a common purpose. And it starts by guaranteeing that all of us are equal before the law.Instructions given by the military departments to our troops before the Normandy invasion reminded soldiers that “The Nazi slogan for destroying us...was ‘Divide and Conquer.’ Our American answer is ‘In Union there is Strength.’” We must summon that unity to surmount this crisis—confident that we are better than our politics.
Donald Trump is the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people—does not even pretend to try. Instead he tries to divide us. We are witnessing the consequences of three years of this deliberate effort. We are witnessing the consequences of three years without mature leadership. We can unite without him, drawing on the strengths inherent in our civil society. This will not be easy, as the past few days have shown, but we owe it to our fellow citizens; to past generations that bled to defend our promise; and to our children.
We can come through this trying time stronger, and with a renewed sense of purpose and respect for one another. The pandemic has shown us that it is not only our troops who are willing to offer the ultimate sacrifice for the safety of the community. Americans in hospitals, grocery stores, post offices, and elsewhere have put their lives on the line in order to serve their fellow citizens and their country. We know that we are better than the abuse of executive authority that we witnessed in Lafayette Square. We must reject and hold accountable those in office who would make a mockery of our Constitution. At the same time, we must remember Lincoln’s “better angels,” and listen to them, as we work to unite. Only by adopting a new path—which means, in truth, returning to the original path of our founding ideals—will we again be a country admired and respected at home and abroad.
James Mattis, Former Secretary of Defense
Discussing Race
Children and adolescents
This link includes books for white parents to raise anti-racist children, podcasts, articles and instagram content. This also includes articles to read with your child.
A list of resources for addressing racism with young children.
Opening up the dialogue for white families discussing racism.
PBS KIDS ideas on teaching your child about black history month.
Anti-Racism for Kids 101.
A video that explains systematic racism in a digestible way.
33 books with Black superheros.
A list of resources for addressing racism with young children.
Opening up the dialogue for white families discussing racism.
PBS KIDS ideas on teaching your child about black history month.
Anti-Racism for Kids 101.
A video that explains systematic racism in a digestible way.
33 books with Black superheros.
Adults
The New York Times anti-racist reading list.
Multicultural Resources
New Jersey Office of Minority and Multicultural Health
This NJ Department of Health office works to reduce and ultimately eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities by fostering equal access to programs that promote, support and enable all populations in NJ to achieve optimal health, dignity and independence.
609-292-6962
Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum
This national organization works to influence policy and strengthen community organizations to achieve health equality for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.
202-466-7772
FOCUS Hispanic Seniors Program
FOCUS offers specialized programs for Hispanic seniors in the community.
Newark, NJ
973-624-2528
Friends of Grace Seniors
FGS provides information, counseling and case management for Korean seniors.
Englewood, NJ
201-541-1200
Morris County Organization for Hispanic Affairs
MCOHA offers a Senior Citizen Program (Corazones Contentos) that includes opportunities for socialization, health education, case management and transportation.
Morristown, NJ
973-644-4884
Dover, NJ
973-366-4770
Hispanic Information Center of Passaic – Catholic Family and Community Services
This Catholic Charities division offers Passaic County seniors with social service information, case management, counseling, translation and interpreters.
Passaic, NJ
973-779-7022
Jewish Family Service of Central New Jersey
Jewish Family Service offers counseling, case management and information about community resources for Holocaust survivors in Morris, Essex and Hudson counties.
Elizabeth, NJ
908-352-8375
Jewish Vocational Service – Émigré Resettlement, Citizenship & Immigrant Services
More than 25 nationalities are served in this multi-national, multi-ethnic program that provides a variety of services including information and referral to community resources, English as a Second Language (ESL) tutoring, citizenship preparation, health literacy assistance and translation services for those in Bergen, Essex and Morris counties.
East Orange, NJ 07017
973-674-6330
Whippany, NJ 07981
973-929-3197
Literacy Volunteers of New Jersey
LVNJ connects volunteers with those who would like assistance with speaking, reading or writing English. ESL classes and tutoring for all ages offered throughout New Jersey.
Metuchen, NJ
1-800-848-0048
National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association
Promotes mental health awareness and well-being of the Asian American and Pacific islander communities.
303-298-7910
This NJ Department of Health office works to reduce and ultimately eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities by fostering equal access to programs that promote, support and enable all populations in NJ to achieve optimal health, dignity and independence.
609-292-6962
Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum
This national organization works to influence policy and strengthen community organizations to achieve health equality for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.
202-466-7772
FOCUS Hispanic Seniors Program
FOCUS offers specialized programs for Hispanic seniors in the community.
Newark, NJ
973-624-2528
Friends of Grace Seniors
FGS provides information, counseling and case management for Korean seniors.
Englewood, NJ
201-541-1200
Morris County Organization for Hispanic Affairs
MCOHA offers a Senior Citizen Program (Corazones Contentos) that includes opportunities for socialization, health education, case management and transportation.
Morristown, NJ
973-644-4884
Dover, NJ
973-366-4770
Hispanic Information Center of Passaic – Catholic Family and Community Services
This Catholic Charities division offers Passaic County seniors with social service information, case management, counseling, translation and interpreters.
Passaic, NJ
973-779-7022
Jewish Family Service of Central New Jersey
Jewish Family Service offers counseling, case management and information about community resources for Holocaust survivors in Morris, Essex and Hudson counties.
Elizabeth, NJ
908-352-8375
Jewish Vocational Service – Émigré Resettlement, Citizenship & Immigrant Services
More than 25 nationalities are served in this multi-national, multi-ethnic program that provides a variety of services including information and referral to community resources, English as a Second Language (ESL) tutoring, citizenship preparation, health literacy assistance and translation services for those in Bergen, Essex and Morris counties.
East Orange, NJ 07017
973-674-6330
Whippany, NJ 07981
973-929-3197
Literacy Volunteers of New Jersey
LVNJ connects volunteers with those who would like assistance with speaking, reading or writing English. ESL classes and tutoring for all ages offered throughout New Jersey.
Metuchen, NJ
1-800-848-0048
National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association
Promotes mental health awareness and well-being of the Asian American and Pacific islander communities.
303-298-7910