Unity
Unity words, important in all political persuasion, stress the idea that the individual is not alone, but is (or should be) part of a larger whole.

Unity words often appear in the names of many groups, such as the United States of America, United Nations, Union of South Africa, Soviet Union, United Kingdom, United Auto Workers.

Unity slogans are probably the most widespread of all political rallying cries: As we go arm-in-arm, hand-in-hand, shoulder-to-shoulder, forward together, we will rally 'round the flag.

"United we stand, divided we fall"
"All for one, one for all"
"One nation, under God, indivisible"
"Solidarity forever"
"Workers of the World, Unite"
"Ein Volk, Ein Reich, Ein Fuhrer" (One people, one nation, one leader. - 1930's)
"Ein Kampf, Ein Sieg" (One struggle, one victory. - 1940's)
"Bring us together" (GOP, 1972)
"Party and People are One" (USSR)
"People United to Save Humanity" (PUSH; 1980's)

Unity appeals intensify the similarities and downplay the differences of the individual members of the group.

Every individual person belongs to countless groups, or categories, simultaneously. A person, for example, can be a female, black, college student, American, Texan, Democrat, Catholic, musician, stamp collector, and so on, infinitely. When any of these particular groups seeks to bond that individual, the group emphasizes the similarities the person has with others within that group.

Sometimes these similarities are obvious and permanent, such as race or sex; sometimes they are unseen and temporary, such as groups of like-minded people sharing the same artistic tastes, political opinions, or recreational interests.

It is in the interest of the group (not necessarily of the individual) for groups to seek to intensify the degree of involvement and commitment of the members. In each of these different groups to which we belong, the degree of support may vary from active involvement ("bearing witness") to passive acceptance, tolerance, compliance ("bearing with it").

Partisanship in politics is often very emotionally intense. Some people do go to extremes, in any party, in any cause. We have dyed-in-the-wool conservatives, knee-jerk liberals, hide-bound Republicans, Yellow Dog Democrats ("I'd vote for a yellow dog if he wuz a Democrat"), and all kinds of descriptive phrases relating to fiercely loyal partisans.

Groups often seek an increased degree of involvement in the group by telling individuals that they, as individuals, are important: "We need you . . . we want you . . . we're depending on you ... your aid . . . your help . . . your support."

Often the appeal to such altruism is very explicit, but is accompanied by an implicit, unspoken appeal to self-interest, that the individual will also gain a benefit from joining. Such a double reward of "doing well by doing good" is often seen clearly in military recruiting ads: in addition to the altruistic service to country, the recruit is also promised personal benefits (adventure, excitement, travel, improvement, earning a skill): "Join the Navy and see the world"; "Be all that you can be . . . in the Army. "

Bonding can be done easier and more efficiently in dictatorships and closed totalitarian systems which can control the information flow, manipulate the media, and eliminate dissenters. "Spontaneous" demonstrations, for example, are easy to manufacture; so also, the rote repetition of propaganda a la Orwell's "Two Minute Hate" in 1984.

In contrast, in free and open societies which tolerate dissent, it's much harder to get unity from such diversity, a condition which may indeed have temporary disadvantages in quickly bonding a nation for concerted action. But such short-term problems are well offset by the long-term benefits of free speech in an open society.

Words which intensify Unity

alliance, ally
associate, association
belong, belonging
brother, brotherhood
coalition
colleague
combine
common, commonwealth
commune, community
companion, companionship
comrade, comradeship
confederate, confederation
co-op, cooperate, cooperation
federation
fraternity
friend, friendship
harmony
incorporate
integrate
interdependence
league
mutual
oneness
organize, organization
partner, partnership
share
sister, sisterhood
solidarity
sorority
team, teamwork
together
union, unification
unite, united

First person plural pronouns -we, our, us -(instead of I, me, mine) are important, shifting focus off the individual. Other plurals (such as, Voters for ... Citizens for ... People for ... ) suggest not only unity, but also strength in numbers, often attempting an illusion of wide support.

"Attack words" intensify the opposite, undesirable qualities: disorganized, different, divergent, disaffiliated, alienated, eccentric, loner.

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