This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The morning after an election always gets me down. Regardless of my vote or the election results, since my first election I have realized that while a (slim) majority is celebrating, a (large) minority is unhappy. Most people, of both groups, just want what's best for themselves, their families and their nation.
On election night, there were two strong, thoughtful speeches by the presidential candidates: no bitterness or gloating, but a lot of gratitude. Both men acknowledged their families, their supporters and the decency of their opponents. They saw the other guy merely as a political opponent with a different idea, not a threat to the state.
Our Founding Fathers understood this. In 1782, five years before they had finished arguing over the compromises for a unifying constitution, Congress put this Latin phrase on the official Seal of the United States: "E pluribus unum" (out of many, one).
I hope we can internalize the words that our founders, and nearly all candidates (successful and unsuccessful) since, have expressed as they urge unity after the election. That's the remaining, and equally important, part of a citizen's job — after voting, we must clean up the signs and work together.
E pluribus unum!
Alan Reiser
Salt Lake City