Is Unity A Thing of the Past?

As you may have read in my Welcome post or on the About page, there is a growing amount of partisanship in society today that is truly bordering on open hostility. Case in point -

Celebrities host counter-event to State of the Union: Trump supporters are 'ugly underbelly'

Do people have the right to have a different opinion? Of course, Freedom of Speech is a right in the U.S. Constitution as is the right to [peaceably] assemble. But this "People's State of the Union" - as I read it being referred to - is not about the people.

It is about advancing a specific agenda of the organizers.

Look at the picture to the left - which is an AP photo I pulled from the article. Actor Mark Ruffalo is literally wearing his opinion on his chest.

But that is not the real issue here. Combine that shirt with the title of the article where Ruffalo specifically referred to Trump supporters as the "ugly underbelly" of American society.

He is clearly drawing a line in the sand where people have to choose a side. If you are with him, you are - true Americans, ideal human beings, etc. (You can find these descriptions from a variety of sources.) But if you are on the other side, then you are the "ugly underbelly." The obvious implication being that you are what is wrong with American society today.

How is this a sign of tolerance and inclusion for all people when you specifically target a group? How is this a show of support of for the Freedom of Speech? How can you reasonably expect a solution when highly divisive rhetoric such as this is the true cause of American society becoming more polarized?

So, is unity a thing of the past? I certainly hope not.