The Unified States of America

In the late 1990s, a small group of Palestinian, Israeli, and Jordanian activists, all of whom were working with children with intellectual disabilities, came together to try to heal the tensions among their respective nationalities. Their idea? To create a “Peace Games” where athletes with intellectual disabilities from differing religious and political backgrounds would compete together on the same teams as a way of showcasing the belief that cooperation and peace were possible. During the planning for the Games, tensions in the region were high. The threat of terrorism from Palestinian militants was significant and political leaders in Israel were increasingly confrontational.

Nonetheless, the organizers persevered and I joined in the planning. I consulted with a specialist in conflict resolution to ask for recommendations about how to structure the meals and social events that would be part of the Games. My question was simple: “Off the field, what activities can we organize to help the athletes and families address the tensions and violence that are all around them?”

The advice I heard was pointed: “Whatever you do, don’t focus on the points of conflict. All the people attending will be well versed in conflict. Your goal should be to create experiences of common ground. That’s the first and most important step to resolving conflict. Let them focus on what they have in common and build — however slowly — from there.”

As we begin 2017 and anticipate a new President of the United States, a new Congress, and new social, cultural, and political priorities, that advice is exactly what Americans need to hear. Everyone knows about the points of conflict that have come to define our divided nation: immigration, minority rights, environmental protection, public education, taxes, the Supreme Court — the list goes on and on. In some ways, we’re getting close to the ways in which Palestinians and Israelis feel about each other.

What’s been lost in the conflict in our own country is the same as what’s been lost in the Middle East: common ground. And common ground is exactly what’s needed to heal our nation.

This country needs its own “Peace Games,” and the athletes of Special Olympics are the ones to lead them. They’re the unlikely source of the inspiration our nation needs to find its own common ground. They live our shared American ideals: the value of the individual, the importance of hard work, the triumph of grit, the priority of family, the power of volunteerism and the gift of generosity.

Attend any Special Olympics Unified Sports event in America and you will see in plain sight the ingredients for national healing. Athletes with and without intellectual disabilities — who are often strangers to each other — play on the same teams, helping each other, relying on each other, cheering for each other. Just below the surface, there lies an engine of human solidarity: hearts open to the belief that everyone has a gift and that we are all better when we make space for each person’s gift to be welcomed and celebrated. The labels “normal” and “disabled” disappear. Instead, there’s a new common ground label: “teammates.”

So in 2017, Special Olympics athletes around the country are going to be playing their unified games with a new invitation to their fellow citizens: come play, watch, cheer, and discover the unity within your families, your communities and your country too. Build a more unified community and rebuild the “Unified” States of America too.

In 2017, when attending any Special Olympics unified event across the United States, you will see the makings of a more unified nation. There won’t be any discussions of politics but there will be plenty of opportunities for building common ground. Special Olympics athletes and their teammates will demonstrate their skills on and off the field, building friendships, breaking down stereotypes, committing to citizen activism for justice and most importantly, creating a more inclusive and unified nation.

The urgency of finding common ground can’t be overstated. As we look around the world, Palestinians, Israelis, and Jordanians haven’t yet found the key to unifying their peoples. Sadly, the Special Olympics Peace Games that were in the planning phase years ago were derailed by a violent uprising. The athletes of Special Olympics never got their chance to show the way to a common ground. The resulting carnage should be a warning to us all.

This year, show your commitment to your country by joining Special Olympics athletes and their Unified Revolution. Common ground is possible, but it requires a willingness to reach out. Join us at www.playunified.org and be the engine for change to reach a common ground.