I’m grateful for all I’ve learned since starting to read this newsletter. Thank you Robert and Jill! I’m grateful for knowing there are millions of people who believe in democracy, like I do. I find such comfort knowing I’m in beautiful company. The video was lovely. ♥️
One year while I was living in New England on the day after Thanksgiving my brother and I went to Plymouth Rock and had a picnic of left-over turkey sandwiches. While we think of Thanksgiving as this very friendly sharing between the Native Americans and the Pilgrims, the first immigrants to America looking for religious freedom. But, more accurately the Pilgrims were invaders who imposed their will on the Native Americans and stole their land. Someday I hope Thanksgiving will in reality become an inclusive celebration of friendship and community where we respect our differences and our common humanity. Thank you Robert, Managing Editor and commenters who have become a community of support for our common dream of a society where everyone has respect, opportunity and well being. I am grateful for the friendship of each of you. We, the People, all of us in thanksgiving this time.
Oh my Word! I am from Provincetown, MA! I have friends who are Wompanoags - I am with you regarding the history of Thanksgiving. My mother in law (not from the Cape) would become incensed when I would remind the family of the history that you mention in your post above. She loved Thanksgiving! I wish she were around so that I might share with her your lovely thoughts about the hope that Thanksgiving will become a true celebration of the sharing of humanity. I love that!!!
I raise a glass (of apple cider) to Robert for fostering the growth of this community. I am thankful that so many people can come together and respectfully discuss the different facets of all that has been coming ‘at us’ since 2016.
Heather Cox Richardson (American Studies Professor at Boston College) set the record straight on Thanksgiving back in 2019. I am not sure why we did not, as a country, embrace the real Thanksgiving narrative years ago. And we still have not - but we can and should. https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/november-28-2019.
Wow. I am floored! Thank you for sharing that information. I’m going to have to do some paradigm shifting.
What Cathy Learoyd was hoping for: “… Thanksgiving will become an inclusive celebration of friendship and community where we respect our differences and our common humanity” has had precedence since Abe Lincoln’s time!
I am grateful to have had your informative and calming interpretation of the news of the prior day, with which I begin each day. It helps me skip a lot of the hype and focus on the important information and news. It affirms that there are so many wonderful people out there doing their part to preserve and improve our democratic system, making it work for all. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family!
THANK *YOU* SIR. We honor you for your careful thoughtful research, work for us, building community, excellent thinking and writing and best of all positive outlook and perspective that calm us all down.
Totally appreciate that besides all this you keep providing different ways for us to connect to each other and ways to take action to align with our values that we all have in common! Yes I believe you we the people can save our democracy because there are more of us and WITH YOUR HELP we are Guided by the FORCE= LOVE!
Thank you for the hours and hours and hours you spend to write this wonderful newsletter!!! What a wonderful tribute for Jessica Craven to send her readers to your newsletter! You have inspired many and we are very grateful. We all recognize that it takes so much time to be as informed as you are. Your optimism is what your daughters wanted in your original letters...and what the 50,000 + current readers want and appreciate! Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving!
I am adding gratitude to the bounty already bestowed on you. You are our cheerleader, push us to do our best, and a little farther even, tell the facts as they are and take the high road day after day. Thank you. I'm not sure our fragile democracy would be as sturdy as it is right now without your encouragement. Really. Have a nurturing Thanksgiving holiday.
I had a friend who was this to me “I wish I had my own personal cheerleader…someone who would tell me in the morning… “you’ve got this, you’re gonna rock it.” (From FB years ago). His voice still resonates. Your encouragement and positivity do as well, with every post.
Among the many things to be thankful for is your steady and clear voice helping us make sense of what's going on, and "looking for the helpers". I wish all the best for you and your family.
Thanks for opening the comments section to all, Robert, and for your excellent analysis this week and every week. I’m grateful for your work and this great community of democracy-lovers.
Have a great Thanksgiving to all, wherever you may be. ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🇺🇸
I love how you say our young nation. I think the young folks that read your message need to understand better. Thank you for your daily. It’s uplifting to a 65 year old somewhat progressive democrat
I am thankful that all of my family and friends are alive and well. I am rhankful that I am alive and well enough. I am sad that so many others are not. We have much to be thankful for, and I try to give thanks for my good fortune every day. But my heart aches for the families who have lost their precious loved ones, not just in the last two days but in the last so many many years. Giving thanks seems cold comfort sometimes, but it is what we have to give. And that in itself will have to do.
It's always colder on the bridge, but the folks standing there this evening, holding battery operated candles didn't show any signs of discomfort. There were high school students on the other side of where I stood, wearing pride flags and singing Cohen's "Halleluia". Another group was using the rainbow flag and a flashlight with a sort of interesting light show. As usual, with nighttime vigils, people strained to see their neighbors, some traversing both sides, saying hello.
I received nine hearty hugs, which almost brought me to tears because I don't get hugged very often and, like most of us, need it so much now. Hugs, warm words, encouragement, and silent understanding of why we were standing there...again...on the bridge in solidarity.
Gradually people left, walking slowly, carrying the solemn moments with them. I admit to being absolutely frozen walking to my car, fumbling for keys with frozen fingers. I settled in, started the engine and felt the weight of my neighbors and friends, hoping I would recall the moments when I needed to.
And then driving through town, the length of Damariscotta, with it's many trees, all decorated with white lights, I was reminded of our incredible community, our respective towns, proudly celebrating the season, and enchanting those who drive by. It was a rush of acknowledging the visible care the town takes, how it represents the unity that wants to exist here, if one cares to look.
The bridge, draped with garlands and lights, the people, standing vigil on the bridge because they care deeply and the town, donning greenery and lights tell me I belong here, that this is our world...so worth protecting.
Thanks you for your beautiful words. We live up Route 1 a bit, in Ellsworth. Our town isn’t as picturesque as Damariscotta, but we share your warm feeling of solidarity, because residents here recently voted against far right candidates for our district in the state legislature & for the city council.
And next Sat. there will be the traditional Christmas parade down Main St & holiday events at The Grand Theatre. We have much to be thankful for today.
What a beautiful description of your vigil! I know that bridge well, between Damariscotta and New Castle and it touches and warms me to hear of the community standing there. I am indeed thankful to you, dl, for sharing that and to Robert and Jill and this whole community for these uplifting, important comments.
I’m grateful for all I’ve learned since starting to read this newsletter. Thank you Robert and Jill! I’m grateful for knowing there are millions of people who believe in democracy, like I do. I find such comfort knowing I’m in beautiful company. The video was lovely. ♥️
Amen!
One year while I was living in New England on the day after Thanksgiving my brother and I went to Plymouth Rock and had a picnic of left-over turkey sandwiches. While we think of Thanksgiving as this very friendly sharing between the Native Americans and the Pilgrims, the first immigrants to America looking for religious freedom. But, more accurately the Pilgrims were invaders who imposed their will on the Native Americans and stole their land. Someday I hope Thanksgiving will in reality become an inclusive celebration of friendship and community where we respect our differences and our common humanity. Thank you Robert, Managing Editor and commenters who have become a community of support for our common dream of a society where everyone has respect, opportunity and well being. I am grateful for the friendship of each of you. We, the People, all of us in thanksgiving this time.
Oh my Word! I am from Provincetown, MA! I have friends who are Wompanoags - I am with you regarding the history of Thanksgiving. My mother in law (not from the Cape) would become incensed when I would remind the family of the history that you mention in your post above. She loved Thanksgiving! I wish she were around so that I might share with her your lovely thoughts about the hope that Thanksgiving will become a true celebration of the sharing of humanity. I love that!!!
I raise a glass (of apple cider) to Robert for fostering the growth of this community. I am thankful that so many people can come together and respectfully discuss the different facets of all that has been coming ‘at us’ since 2016.
Heather Cox Richardson (American Studies Professor at Boston College) set the record straight on Thanksgiving back in 2019. I am not sure why we did not, as a country, embrace the real Thanksgiving narrative years ago. And we still have not - but we can and should. https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/november-28-2019.
Wow. I am floored! Thank you for sharing that information. I’m going to have to do some paradigm shifting.
What Cathy Learoyd was hoping for: “… Thanksgiving will become an inclusive celebration of friendship and community where we respect our differences and our common humanity” has had precedence since Abe Lincoln’s time!
Beautifully expressed, Cathy. Hugs to you.
I am grateful to have had your informative and calming interpretation of the news of the prior day, with which I begin each day. It helps me skip a lot of the hype and focus on the important information and news. It affirms that there are so many wonderful people out there doing their part to preserve and improve our democratic system, making it work for all. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family!
THANK *YOU* SIR. We honor you for your careful thoughtful research, work for us, building community, excellent thinking and writing and best of all positive outlook and perspective that calm us all down.
Totally appreciate that besides all this you keep providing different ways for us to connect to each other and ways to take action to align with our values that we all have in common! Yes I believe you we the people can save our democracy because there are more of us and WITH YOUR HELP we are Guided by the FORCE= LOVE!
Thank you for the hours and hours and hours you spend to write this wonderful newsletter!!! What a wonderful tribute for Jessica Craven to send her readers to your newsletter! You have inspired many and we are very grateful. We all recognize that it takes so much time to be as informed as you are. Your optimism is what your daughters wanted in your original letters...and what the 50,000 + current readers want and appreciate! Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving!
A veryhappy Thanksgiving to you and the Managing Editor, Robert. One of the nice things to be thankful for this year was getting in touch with you.
likewise, TC. I will follow up between Thanksgiving and Christmas about getting together.
That will be an interesting and meaningful meet-up. Enjoy.
Turns out we're practically neighbors.
Perfect!
Going through 3 family crises at once is heartbreaking… but focused on so many blessings! Thank you & Jill 🙏🏻☮️💖🍁
hi, Barbara. We will keep you in our thoughts. Stay strong!
💓wishing you the very best at this tough time. I was there last year.
Oh no, I’m sorry. Wishing you peace and strength! 1000 positive thoughts coming your way!
I am adding gratitude to the bounty already bestowed on you. You are our cheerleader, push us to do our best, and a little farther even, tell the facts as they are and take the high road day after day. Thank you. I'm not sure our fragile democracy would be as sturdy as it is right now without your encouragement. Really. Have a nurturing Thanksgiving holiday.
I had a friend who was this to me “I wish I had my own personal cheerleader…someone who would tell me in the morning… “you’ve got this, you’re gonna rock it.” (From FB years ago). His voice still resonates. Your encouragement and positivity do as well, with every post.
Happy Thanksgiving and thank you for helping us believe in the promise of our democracy and realize that together we can make a difference
Among the many things to be thankful for is your steady and clear voice helping us make sense of what's going on, and "looking for the helpers". I wish all the best for you and your family.
Thanks for opening the comments section to all, Robert, and for your excellent analysis this week and every week. I’m grateful for your work and this great community of democracy-lovers.
Have a great Thanksgiving to all, wherever you may be. ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🇺🇸
I love how you say our young nation. I think the young folks that read your message need to understand better. Thank you for your daily. It’s uplifting to a 65 year old somewhat progressive democrat
We have every reason to be hopeful thanks to you and Jill. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
Dear Bob (and Jill).
I watched your thanksgiving video message and want you to know...
I see you.
Thank you from the deepest place in me.
We must keep giving until the very last breath we take.
I know you know this and
I know you think the same.
Thank you for being in your way that beacon on the hill, lighting the way.
Sending love to you and your family in this special day.
I am thankful that all of my family and friends are alive and well. I am rhankful that I am alive and well enough. I am sad that so many others are not. We have much to be thankful for, and I try to give thanks for my good fortune every day. But my heart aches for the families who have lost their precious loved ones, not just in the last two days but in the last so many many years. Giving thanks seems cold comfort sometimes, but it is what we have to give. And that in itself will have to do.
It's always colder on the bridge, but the folks standing there this evening, holding battery operated candles didn't show any signs of discomfort. There were high school students on the other side of where I stood, wearing pride flags and singing Cohen's "Halleluia". Another group was using the rainbow flag and a flashlight with a sort of interesting light show. As usual, with nighttime vigils, people strained to see their neighbors, some traversing both sides, saying hello.
I received nine hearty hugs, which almost brought me to tears because I don't get hugged very often and, like most of us, need it so much now. Hugs, warm words, encouragement, and silent understanding of why we were standing there...again...on the bridge in solidarity.
Gradually people left, walking slowly, carrying the solemn moments with them. I admit to being absolutely frozen walking to my car, fumbling for keys with frozen fingers. I settled in, started the engine and felt the weight of my neighbors and friends, hoping I would recall the moments when I needed to.
And then driving through town, the length of Damariscotta, with it's many trees, all decorated with white lights, I was reminded of our incredible community, our respective towns, proudly celebrating the season, and enchanting those who drive by. It was a rush of acknowledging the visible care the town takes, how it represents the unity that wants to exist here, if one cares to look.
The bridge, draped with garlands and lights, the people, standing vigil on the bridge because they care deeply and the town, donning greenery and lights tell me I belong here, that this is our world...so worth protecting.
Thanks you for your beautiful words. We live up Route 1 a bit, in Ellsworth. Our town isn’t as picturesque as Damariscotta, but we share your warm feeling of solidarity, because residents here recently voted against far right candidates for our district in the state legislature & for the city council.
And next Sat. there will be the traditional Christmas parade down Main St & holiday events at The Grand Theatre. We have much to be thankful for today.
What a beautiful description of your vigil! I know that bridge well, between Damariscotta and New Castle and it touches and warms me to hear of the community standing there. I am indeed thankful to you, dl, for sharing that and to Robert and Jill and this whole community for these uplifting, important comments.