Daily Herald opinion: The power of connection: Our country may feel divided, but shared events bring us together for important moments in time

Unity. Camaraderie. Kinship.

All three help us feel a sense of community.

All three help us feel like we belong.

And when life feels divisive and we’re craving connection, certain dates on the calendar can lend a hand.

You know the ones. Holiday celebrations, sporting events, award shows and even elections bring together families, suburban neighborhoods and the nation as a whole.

They’re the events we expect like clockwork, the ones that get us talking about the same thing at the same time and, at least for a little while, put us on the same page.

These recurring events serve as rare points of national overlap. When we disagree about so much, we can still pause to watch, celebrate or debate the same moments together.

Last month, the Super Bowl brought households, bars and living rooms together for a spectacle that is as much about the halftime show and commercials as the game itself. Not everyone roots for the same team, and opinions about the halftime performance can vary widely. But for one evening, much of the country watches the same broadcast, reacting in real time.

Also last month, the world gathered for the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. We tuned in nightly to feel the camaraderie while cheering on Team USA, just another reminder of how shared viewing experiences bring us together.

And this week, March Madness began, turning office pools and family group chats into arenas of friendly competition. Brackets are filled out, underdogs are cheered and buzzer-beaters become instant topics of conversation.

Other gatherings are cultural rather than competitive. This past Sunday, the Oscars invited us to debate films and performances, turning the movies we love into a lively discussion. The host, Conan O’Brien, added a serious touch to his monologue, saying the Oscars are a celebration of “global artistry, collaboration, patience, resilience, and optimism” with 31 countries represented.

St. Patrick’s Day celebrations across the suburbs yesterday and last weekend brought parades, green-clad crowds and a sense of festivity to many of us eager for spring.

Yesterday’s primary election reminded us how civic rituals represent a collective exercise in democracy. All over Illinois, residents participated in the same process of choosing leaders and shaping the nation’s direction.

And this Fourth of July, we will mark our country’s 250th birthday. Communities near and far will gather for parades, commemorations and reflection.

What unites these events is not universal agreement. Far from it. Fans argue about referees, viewers debate whether the right film won Best Picture and voters supporting competing candidates. But the act of engaging with the same event at the same time creates a kind of rare collective attention.

We hope these moments offer a valuable reminder that we still know how to come together and connect around experiences belonging to all of us.