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Article: Unity in Diversity - The Constitution presupposes a civil order based on moral consensus.(Critical Essay)
- Article from:
- The World and I
- Article date:
- February 1, 2003
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 News World Communications, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Francis Canavan, S.J., is professor of political science at Fordham University.
E pluribus unum--out of many, one--is the motto of the United States, and it describes our country well. We are a unity in diversity, a nation composed now of fifty states with a bewildering variety of regional, occupational, ethnic, and religious groups. That we have remained one despite our diversity and that, with the vast exception of the Civil War, we have managed it without resort to military force is an amazing accomplishment.
The accomplishment, however, raises some questions that have concerned us throughout our history: How much unity do we need? How much diversity ...