CHICAGO – On November 28, Romania commemorated the 100th Anniversary of the Grand Union by holding a rare joint meeting of the Parliament that included speeches by President Klaus Iohannis, Senate speaker Calin Popescu Tariceanu, Chamber of Deputies speaker Liviu Dragnea, prime minister Viorica Dancila and princess Margareta. In Chicago and across the globe Romanian officials held events in advance of the December 1 anniversary.
This week also marks the first anniversary of ABC News Transilvania, a news site dedicated to providing factual information to help Romanians across the world monitor and analyze the country’s politics and cultural activities.
I believe that with more information from the news media such as ABC News Transilvania, it is easier for people of all cultural, ethnic and racial backgrounds to understand each other. People who don’t follow, read absorb the news can be more easily misled about the truth or “fake news.” President Iohannis said it well during the November 28 joint session when he urged Romanians to “rise up to the dignity of the centennial! Don’t dishonor it.”
Iohannis was referring anti-corruption protests that erupted in 2017 but the message is important to Americans and Romanians. A record amount of divisiveness and discord occurred during the American mid-term elections that were held on November 6. President Trump and Republicans accused Democrats of helping criminal illegal immigrants enter the United States. Democrats threw insults at Republicans for supporting President Trump.
The Middle East is also extremely divisive. Many similar cultures are fighting neighbors that have similar food and cultural traditions. In America, there is a major division between Caucasians and minorities such as African Americans and Latinos. Also, America has seen a rise in hate crimes against Jews, including a terrible shooting at a Jewish synagogue in Pittsburgh.
In Romania, there are still complex issues between ethnic Hungarians and Romanians. Other minority groups such as the Roma still face discrimination and scorn across European nations.
I am also extremely concerned about the recent uptick in nationalism that has occurred throughout the globe. It’s a “me first” mentality that says, “I will take what is mine and everyone else must fight for the rest.” This nationalism is pushing politicians to work against their neighbors, instead of in cooperation.
America became a country because our founders wanted a land free of religious discrimination. In a democracy, each person should have the same level of political power with the ability to rise up and be a success.
Events such as the 100th anniversary of the Grand Union only create a day or two of political parties turning down the volume of political rhetoric. However, it’s a lesson for all of us that different people can coexist and prosper. The Great Union shows that different cultures can join together to become a stronger country.
Former U.S. President Barack Obama was elected President on a theme of unification. As his longtime aide, I knew firsthand that Obama hoped for a color-blind America. He often quoted civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. who said: „The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.”
Today is a good day to honor morality and diversity and speak out against nationalism and divisiveness.
Article by Dan Shomon, for ABC News Transilvania
