This was an excellent, content-packed article, @richq11. I'd like to echo one point in particular:

"we need to look for the good things, the ones that bind us together as Americans."

I agree with you, but would extend this to include allies. As Americans, Canadians, Europeans and the like, we have much more in common than our perception of this current Covid connundrum. This is yet another media-induced division. Juvenile-level tactics, right out of Rules for Radicals. An easy way for people to understand this is to get back to their roots.

• What makes us similar?

We might use the social hierarchy, for example. Here is a short, incomplete list:

• family, community, friendships, spirituality, nation, homeland...