Striving to meet motto

When America became independent, we gave common people the vote (at least white male landowners). Over the years, we’ve expanded voting rights to include those who were formerly excluded, and many other nations now give their citizens voting rights. But America was formed with the motto E Pluribus Unum, and that makes all the difference.

From the beginning, we have been a nation of diverse cultures and religions. Older nations, on the other hand, have had for centuries a single culture and religion, and that makes it harder for them to welcome or assimilate people of different cultures and faiths.

We are still not a perfect union, for we must fully accept and assimilate blacks and Hispanic peoples. History shows us it often takes many years to accept those who are different, but it also shows us that it will happen. When it does, America will finally become what our founding fathers dreamed of: One Nation made up of many different peoples.

Ruth Calkins

Newport, Wash.