"As a
country, we've just emerged from a noisy, passionate, and sometimes
divisive campaign season," Obama said in his weekly address. "After all,
elections are often where we emphasize what sets us apart. We face off
in a contest of 'us' versus 'them.' We focus on the candidate we support
instead of some of the ideals we share ... But a few short weeks later,
Thanksgiving reminds us that no matter our differences, we are still
one people, part of something bigger than ourselves."
For
his part, President-elect Donald Trump, in his holiday message released
yesterday, called for national unity as well and he vowed to bring the
country together in common purpose.
But
the wounds from the election are still fresh and liberal leaders are
seeking recounts of the vote in three states -- Michigan, Pennsylvania
and Wisconsin -- and some Democratic members of the Electoral College
also have launched a last-ditch attempt to block Trump.
Protests
have peppered the nation since the election amid reports hate crimes
have spiked. A gathering of white nationalists and self-described
"alt-right" leaders celebrating Trump's victory last weekend turned
violent as protesters clashed with them and some supporters gave the
Nazi salute.
Obama hinted at the racial strife in his message Thursday.
"Never
doubt, that is what makes us American -- not where we come from, what
we look like, or what faith we practice, but the ideals to which we
pledge our allegiance. It's about our capacity to live up to the creed
as old as our founding: "E Pluribus Unum" - that out of many, we are
one," he said.
