After this weekend's horrific events in Charlottesville, Virginia, one thing is clear: Our country is in dire need of unity.
Following the violence and chaos that broke out this weekend, we must make a conscious effort to reunite the disparate ideologies of the American people.
Our freedom as Americans has always brought us together and unified us toward common goals.
Leaders from both parties must emerge and seek unity. In doing so, these leaders can communicate our core values and defend freedom at home and abroad.
That being said, I strongly condemn the violence and intimidation displayed in Charlottesville this past weekend.
I find the actions in Charlottesville abhorrent. Growing up as a young Jewish American, I was taught the horrors my people faced in the Holocaust. I came to understand that Nazism of any shape, manner, or form should never be tolerated.
I feel the exact same way about racism. Having grown up watching the historic passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, I was proud of the steps our country took to promote equality and freedom for all.
Our country must again promote this equality though unity.
In doing so, I agree with President Trump that we must hold the left accountable as well, specifically those who marched without a permit and did take part in the violence this weekend. We need both sides to come together, rather than just condemning one side versus the other.
But the President only made this more difficult yesterday, appearing to compare neo-Nazis and white supremacists with leftist protestors.
President Trump has been weakened because of his inability to unify the country, and Tuesday's press conference is a perfect example.
To be sure, I do believe the president can govern, but press conferences like Tuesday's only make this task harder. Clearly, the president should have handled the press conference differently.
But, regardless of how much I disagree with much of what he said, he is still my president and is still the commander-in-chief of our armed forces.
As Americans, we share common ideals and goals. We share a commitment to liberty, equality, and freedom of speech.
John F. Kennedy understood this concept perfectly. In his inaugural address, the president accurately explained our liberty and freedoms stem straight from "the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God."
These words still ring true today.
Our country currently faces numerous serious threats abroad. We face a potential crisis in Asia with North Korea, multiple threatening fronts in the Middle East, particularly Iran, and Russians in Europe attempting to destabilize the region and western democracies.
If we are not united as a country, we will be at a serious disadvantage confronting these issues.
The president must deliver an Oval Office address that clearly shows the direction of the country. He must highlight our values and goals as a nation.
The president must speak to One Nation, Under God, in a manner he has not yet done. He must attempt to unify people who may completely disagree with him with those who share his viewpoints and ideologies.
Unity is our country's only viable option moving forward. To be able to combat the issues we face both at home and abroad, we will need a united people with a commitment to American values.
Douglas E. Schoen is a Democratic pollster, strategist, and best-selling author. His latest book is "Putin's Master Plan: To Destroy Europe, Divide NATO, and Restore Russian Power and Global Influence." For more from him at Newsmax, Click Here Now.
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