These may be troubling times, but there always is reason for hope.
America, you need a day off. Everyone take a deep breath. Roll those shoulders. Kick back and relax a little. Ideologically, politically and emotionally, it's been a tough couple of months. What better way to celebrate Thanksgiving than to take a few minutes to accentuate the positive rather than dwelling on the negative.
The nation needs a time-out. Last weekend's disturbances at a college football game and a professional basketball game leave little doubt that the mood in America has gotten a bit testy of late.
The traditional post-election dip in letters to the Journal-World's Public Forum has been hardly noticeable this year. Some people are still railing about the election while others have turned to other topics -- smoking, football officiating -- but people are riled up. They're standing on principle; it's us against them.
But, really, it isn't. We're all in this world together. We live in the same state, the same city or on the same block. You may disagree with your next door neighbor, but he or she is still a pretty nice person, right? There are more things that unite us than divide us, wouldn't you say?
As we move into the holiday season, it seems like a good time to turn down the heat and the volume on our differences and our arguments. It also is a natural time to look to the future rather than to the past and to try to find reasons for hope rather than despair.
Each day is a gift, an opportunity to reach out to others in concern and understanding. It's an opportunity to listen and learn, to consider someone else's point of view and perhaps reconsider your own.
This month's presidential election presented clear differences in candidates and encouraged clear differences among voters. One of the great blessings of this country is to have and be able to express those differences. One of the great successes of the 2004 election is how it energized and engaged the voting public. Both sides couldn't win, but both sides certainly were heard.
Not all Americans will have today off -- some will have to work to keep the nation moving -- but hopefully everyone will have some opportunity today to gather with family or friends who make them smile and give them reason to hope. Life is not perfect, but there is much for which to be thankful.
Happy Thanksgiving.
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