Do you believe diversity is perhaps the greatest American strength? Or are you closer than ever in thinking it is our differences that keep us divided?

A new study by the Washington Post and Kaiser Family Foundation suggests that our differing cultural values, separated by rural and urban communities tend to divide us more than unite us as Americans.

A surprising result of the survey is that economics play a smaller role in the distinctions between urban and rural communities than do perceptions about religion, race and immigration.

Immigration anxiety, according to the survey, is significantly higher in rural America than in urban America, and higher in rural communities that have fewer immigrants than communities with more immigrants. While 16 percent of urban dwellers see immigrants as a burden upon the country, 42 percent of rural residents see immigrants as a social burden.

The concerns of rural Americans reflect distrust that more government benefits flow to immigrants than to people in rural communities who are in need. This distrust of government as accompanied by a distrust of immigrants to earnestly try to contribute to the nation.

Likewise, rural Americans, far more than urban citizens, believe Christians are under attack. Nearly 60 percent of rural Americans, and fewer than 50 percent of urban Americans reflect this concern. In political terms, 78 percent of rural Republicans see Christianity under attack, compared to 45 percent of Democrats.

Often heard concerns in rural communities are the acceptance of LGBT rights, and the rejection of school prayer.

Finally, race continues to play a role in how rural and urban Americans view the nation. Changing demographics, the anticipation that white American will become a plurality rather than a majority, and the perception of a federal bias toward minorities in goods and services, causes angst among rural citizens. Urban Americans live more fully in communities with many minorities and tend to have fewer concerns.

While the survey highlights real issues, it also may be reflecting political “tinkering” with voter attitudes.

It is certainly is a valid claim that often living in rural America makes you trust your neighbor. When the next home or farm is a mile away and both families have lived nearby for six generations there is more trust than in a high rise where your neighbor moved in last week.

And there is real truth to the importance of access to guns in rural communities. When the sheriff is an hour away, rural families have to be prepared to defend themselves. And, yes, hunting is a real sport in rural America, not so much in urban America.

But it is politics at play when a non-existent immigration and refugee crisis is created by Fox News, talk radio and rightwing blogs. And it is simply dishonest to claim America is experiencing a “crime wave,” when crimes and arrests are at the lowest levels since 1970.

Why do we not determine to talk about the real needs of communities that are different? Our rural communities need more Docs in a Box, local general practitioners. They need good roads and bridges, good Internet access, jobs and trust in government.

Our cities need gun control laws, jobs, far better transportation modalities and policies that protect and expand housing for middle- and low-income residents.

Our politicians want to divide us to divide up the vote. But we can do better by recognizing our communities do have different needs that can all be addressed, not contested for their difference.

Diversity is what makes America special…it always has. Let us not seek new values but return to our core values. Lady Liberty will always make us the special nation.

 Jim Crawford is a retired educator and political enthusiast living here in the Tri-State.