THB #437: Before Thankful: Episode 26

I am thankful for so much.

Unfortunately, I have been unable to start writing the annual Thankful column these last couple of days because I have been sad. And fearful. And sad & fearful is not my thing.

Thanksgiving, for we Americans, is about coming together and counting our blessings. It’s also about gathering family - biological or chosen - and reconnecting with what can be surprisingly diverse opinions and beliefs amongst people with whom we have life-long histories. In the name of love and civility, we all do our best to navigate the challenging moments.

But we are in a moment, which has been made explosive by the Hamas/Israel conflict, in which people are choosing absolutism. It’s not new. The Century of Trump - really less than 8 years - supercharged absolutism on the right and on the left.

I cannot say that I am not an absolutist on Donald Trump… and he keeps supporting my feelings with continuing abusive behavior and no sign of any true belief in anything other than himself an…