A Path Toward Unity: Judging Today’s World by Today’s Standards

SERIES: Separating History’s Shadows from Modern Intent

So where do we go from here?

The way forward is not in denying history, 
nor in endlessly weaponizing it. 

Instead, we must:

• Learn from history so we don’t repeat it.

• Stop holding today’s citizens accountable for sins of their ancestors.

• Judge today’s slogans by today’s intent, not yesterday’s context.

For supporters, MAGA and America First mean jobs, safety, opportunity, and sovereignty. For critics, the phrases feel linked to exclusion.

Bridging that gap requires both clarity and honesty:

• Supporters should continue to define what these slogans mean to them—patriotism, fairness, faith.

• Critics should recognize that not everyone using these words has racist intent.

Unity begins when Americans stop assuming the worst about each other. The real challenge isn’t the slogans themselves. It’s whether we can see one another as fellow citizens rather than enemies.

---