If you still read print newspapers as I do, you would do well
to skip the editorials in The Star-Ledger
and the Courier News today. The latter was marginally better than the
former, but still too off-key for my taste on this, the day of America’s
celebration of Thanksgiving.
Since when did America’s ability to give thanks and praise
for its hard-won abundance become hostage to the results of a national
presidential election?
This morning, both editorial writers missed the mark by
a superabundant margin!
Samples: The Star-Ledger writes that “We still believe much of the American creed,
but that doesn’t mean it won’t get spiky around the dinner table today.” The
writer bemoans that “Some of us just
spent 18 months living in a perpetual state of xenophobic paranoia”
Is there a good psychiatrist in the vicinity or, alternatively,
a good spiritual director?
The Courier News frets
that “Conversations over the family
dinner table are likely to take on some different tones this year,” and that “Where
families enjoy spirited debate, discussions will grow more passionate.”
How about growing more passionate for the love of those
around the table instead? Is that a
banned topic – too smarmy?
It doesn’t matter how you voted. Today, don’t permit your conversations to be
dependent upon the results of the last election. Instead, consider what poet Wendy Cope has to
say about differences of opinion:
He tells her that the earth is flat –
He know the facts,
and that is that.
In altercations fierce and long, she tries her best to
prove him wrong. But he has learned to
argue well. He calls her arguments
unsound, and often asks her not to yell. She cannot win. He stands his ground.
The planet goes on being round.
Source
of Poem: An excerpt by author
Joan Chittister in her weekly e-newsletter, Vision
and Viewpoint
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