We propose that November 6, 2011, exactly a year before the 2012 elections, be declared a National Day of Unity and Respectful Public Discourse. On this day, we encourage Americans of all classes, creeds, colors, political persuasions, and sexual orientations to come together and focus on what unites us as American citizens and not the toxic rhetoric that has created such deep rifts in our society. We're all human beings, people with opinions that are no more or less valid than anyone else's, and we're far more alike than we are different.
Similarly, we encourage Americans in the public sector, the politicians and the pundits, to use this day to reach out across the aisle and begin to sow seeds of unity and goodwill between parties with respectful discourse and debate.