Keith D. Williams

A young man wakes before the sun, Another day, another battle to be won.

The Jewish people experienced the Holocaust. Palestinians have endured displacement, occupation, and generations of suffering. Black Americans endured slavery, segregation, and systemic discrimination. What do we have in common? PAIN.

On September 11, America remembers one of the darkest days in our history. We remember the innocent lives lost, the families forever changed, and the first responders and ordinary Americans who demonstrated extraordinary courage. But September 11 should remind us of something else: Even during our darkest moments, America has found reasons to hope. That is why I am concerned about the direction of our political conversation. Too much of American politics has become a competition over who can...