List of Thanksgiving
Reflections on our recent political behavior
Now that the election is over and the transition of power is underway, here is an In No Particular Order list of reflections on Thanksgiving Eve:
25 million more Americans voted in 2020 than in 2016. Well done, Team USA. We give thanks for such an amazing turn out. Approximately 100 million voted early.
The largest electorate in history dispatched an incumbent president while simultaneously telling his opponents we are not that fond of you either.
Neither political party found the fortitude to call out their own when their leaders create allegations without evidence. Hunter Biden’s laptop is not Russian disinformation and the election was not rigged by hacked computers. Worse the parties are not even curious about facts and are simply corrupt at the core.
As Captain Von Trapp said in the Sound of Music scene when the family is discovered by the Gauleiter of Austria, Herr Zeller, trying to quietly escape their homeland following the Anschluss:
"Well, apparently, we are both suffering from a deplorable lack of curiosity."
We need to be reminded from time to time that our political leaders are not leaders. They are, in fact, by definition representatives. They merely represent us. Or as Cassius said to Brutus in William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar:
They fault dear Brutus lies not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings.”
Well, Thank GOD for the Underlings and this explanation about the above line from Shakespeare in Enotes:
Cassius, a nobleman, is speaking with his friend, Brutus, and trying to persuade him that, in the best interests of the public, Julius Caesar must be stopped from becoming monarch of Rome. Brutus is aware of Caesar's intentions, and is torn between his love of his friend Caesar and his duty to the republic. Cassius continues by reminding Brutus that Caesar is just a man, not a god, and that they are equal men to Caesar. They were all born equally free, and so why would they suddenly have to bow to another man? On another level this phrase has been interpreted to mean that fate is not what drives men to their decisions and actions, but rather the human condition.
Want to change the human condition or at least our political condition in a deeply divided country? Watch this video for the lesson of “Be Curious, not judgmental.” The brilliant Apple+ show Ted Lasso brings the point home.
When 50 million people decide to travel over Thanksgiving, be curious not judgmental. #HumanCondition
The Dow Jones on Election Day 2016 was at 18,332. Yesterday, it cracked 30,000. 2021 is going to be a rocket ride.
Our massive political realignment will culminate in the 2024 Presidential election. 2020 was just an opening act and no, democracy did not die. It sprung to new life. Celebrate that regardless of whether or not your votes picked the winner. Marvel at what the Framers created.
The United States is ranked 18th Happiest Country in the World. Did you know that being grateful improves happiness? Click here for an article about that. Maybe our ranking would improve if we had Thanksgiving once a month. Now, that’s a piece of legislation that would be very popular! Every month a four day weekend that kicks off with giving thanks? I’m in.
We still have a long way to go but remember that “more perfect union” is a journey not a destination. We need to remind ourselves and others around us just to keep going and stay on the path. America has always been great because it’s an idea and damn good one at that. The United States of…America. #GoodIdea
The human body has a right side and a left side. So, too, does our politics. Our electorate struck a necessary balance - again - this year. Good. We can keep walking forward.
We also learned that the competitive free enterprise system has produced multiple vaccines in record time to get us through this pandemic in order to return to normal life. Thank you to all who played a role in that!
We’re exhausted, but ever hopeful. That’s why I’m starting 2021 on December 1st of this year. No sense putting off what needs to happen now.
To that end…
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Cheers and Happy Thanksgiving to all!
Chris