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Keeping it civil for Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to you all. Did you remember to take the turkey out of the freezer and give it a few days to defrost? You did? Good for you. Save the fligel for me.

Way back in the middle of the last century, when I attended Junior High School 149, we learned about the Civil War (There’s nothing Civil about a war) and how brothers often fought against each other as they took opposing sides in the hostilities. Although it is without rifles and explosives, members of families sit on opposing sides in politics. Today, on this holiday, many of them break bread with each other. I have to wonder how the Bennett brothers sit together at the same table.Former Brooklynite, Attorney Bob Bennett, is best known for his representation of President Clinton in the Lewinsky scandal. His kid brother, Bill Bennett, a staunch Conservative, is the former U.S. Secretary of Education under President Reagan, and Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy appointed by President Bush.

We dare not omit the evil looking commentator, attorney, actor, college professor, prominent liberal pundit, James Carville, who was the lead strategist in the successful Clinton presidential campaign. And the well-known right-wing expert, the bright and sharp, Mary Matalin. We not only have to wonder about James and Mary exchanging comments at the dinner table on Thanksgiving, we have to be deeply concerned about the two of them at every table on every day of the year. Mary Matalin IS Mrs. James Carville.How do they do it?

How do family members who are viciously on opposite sides of the political aisle manage to get along at the Thanksgiving dinner table? I have a strong feeling that the matriarch of the family, probably no bigger than four feet nine inches tall, looks them all in the eye while she shouts, “Today there will be turkey and football. NO POLITICS! Play nice”

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In spite of these troubling times, you and I, STANGERSHBEIN@BELLSOUTH.NET, have much to be thankful for.My prayer for all is for health, wealth and time to spend it and for a safe, speedy and successful return of our men and women in uniform all over the planet.God bless this great nation.