Post Thanksgiving

The festivities are over, but the left-overs will go on---for days.
One of the required exercises of the Thanksgiving celebration is to review the events since the last one, and give huzzahs for our good fortune, friends, and survival. In many homes, yesterday evoked few huzzahs--more likely gratitude for that survival, mixed with apprehension about the days to come.
In my ripeness I can recall other difficult times--depressions, recessions,
wars, disease epidemics. Each such period made it difficult for the nation to find
much for which to be thankful. But America survived, and grew better and stronger
to cope with the next setback. And so it will be again, if we can return to the
altruism and unselfish ideals which made us "that shining city on the hill" to
the world.
For that to return we will need to abandon identity as Republican, or Democrat, and become just people sharing a common destiny, with shared ideals and aspirations. That will require an understanding that bettering ones lot does not have to result
in beggaring our neighbor.