By Craig Kaminer

On a recent trip to Philadelphia to attend my daughter-in-law’s graduation from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, I visited the Constitution Center with my wife and son. While I really wanted to see Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed, the lines were too long and the rain too hard. So we settled for a two-hour education at The Constitution Center about what makes the United States the greatest vision of human freedom in the history of the world. The fact that 38 delegates representing just 12 states could come together, despite their differences, and write a treatise so unique that it has stood the test of time, through conflict over slavery, women’s rights, and the right to bear arms, is a sign that almost anything is possible…if we work together.

These issues were not solved overnight, but the Constitution provided the framework and reason by which all Americans have agreed to disagree. It didn’t come easily as we fought a civil war, denied slaves their rights, and women the right to vote only to find that we are still fighting the same battles today despite all Americans agreeing that the Constitution is what makes America great. Yet they got it done when today it seems impossible considering the rhetoric, the hatred, and the failure to see the benefits of compromise.

Ironically, we were reminded of the very reasons for the Constitution on our tour as crowds of people marched in the streets over the issues of overturning Roe v. Wade, an 18-year-old gunman slaughtering 10 innocent victims in Buffalo, N.Y. because of the color of their skin, and headlines about gun violence dominating our nightly news. Have we learned anything in 235 years since our Constitution was signed? Or are we so flawed as human beings that we can’t tolerate more than one point of view, agree to disagree, and focus on the issues we can solve together. To me, it doesn’t matter that someone else doesn’t see the world my way. It simply matters that they are tolerant of my rights to feel differently as long as we both obey the laws we have agreed to and not continually try to change the laws simply so I have to live the way they do. This is why our forefathers and mothers came here. And why we have stayed.

Do we really believe it’s okay to kill someone simply because we can’t discuss issues in a respectful manner? After we fought the Civil War to decide if our country protects the rights of all citizens, are we on the precipice of another civil war because a frighteningly large number of Americans believe that white people are superior to everyone else? And are we ready to deny women the right to control their own reproductive decisions because others see it differently? If you don’t agree, do what you want and what your conscience tells you. We don’t all have to believe in the same things… because that’s why we are Americans and what we agreed to when our forefathers signed the Constitution. If you want to be told how to think and be forced to do what you are told, move to Iran, Russia, or Afghanistan.

As I watched the Wharton MBA graduation, I was so proud to be amidst the accomplishment and diversity. There were 900 graduates from 70 countries, all of whom had a shared vision…to make the world a better place, to enrich their families and their communities, and love their classmates as they love their brothers and sisters. In this sea of brilliance, there was no supremacy, class, or caste. Each graduate knew that he/she/they was there because of the sacrifice of their ancestors, the love of their families, and the support of their professors and classmates. I believe each will change the world without guns or violence, refuse to deny someone’s rights because of their sexuality, nationality, or color of their skin, or hate for the sake of hating.

For this issue, I interviewed Mayor Tishaura Jones (page 30). While I don’t always agree with her, I know she is working hard to solve complex problems. And, she’ll quickly tell you, this job is a lot harder than she thought it would be. But even before this story was written – much less published – I received hate mail from people who I believe will not like the mayor no matter what she does.

I interviewed Bob Clark (page 70) who recently announced that he would donate $6 million to the Saint Louis County Library to create a next generation “House of Wisdom.” Clark is an enormously generous person who leads with his heart and consistently does the right thing. We live in such a confusing and complex time in history, but we have leaders who work hard and are working together to make our city and our world a better place.

Let’s follow in the footsteps of our Constitution, heed the wisdom of our children, and start doing the hard work of working together.