On March 3, 1991, Rodney King, a 25-year-old African-American man, was brutally beaten by officers of the Los Angeles Police Department after a high speed chase. The incident was caught on camera by a bystander, George Holliday, and the footage was widely broadcast, sparking outrage and highlighting the issues of police misconduct.

The officers involved in the beating were tried and acquitted of using excessive force, despite Rodney King having been hospitalized. In a May 1st, 1992 interview, following the acquittal, Rodney King made this emotional appeal. He said, “Can we all just get along?”.

Indeed, that is the ultimate solution for our lack of unity. Can we all just get along? But ‘getting along’ isn’t easy. It requires taking the time to understand and empathize with your fellow man. It requires us to focus beyond our differences toward our shared goals. Getting along starts with truly listening and trying to understand another’s perspective, even if you don’t agree. Empathy, sympathy and compassion are the requirements for unity in the community.

What does it mean to empathize with someone whose goals may be different from your own?