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One thing Sally and I try to never, ever do, is make disparaging remarks about someone, or something, that we know the person with whom we are talking admires, or likes.

We believe this to be basic civility. Human decency.

Conversely, there are those who feel no such need to be respectful of the feelings and views of another. Many, even, deliberately do this knowing well the other’s differing views, philosophy. They even do this often when no such subject is being discussed. They do it on purpose. Why so?

And blame? Good Lord, how they can blame their object of ridicule and scorn for all the real and perceived problems. They blame those they detest for just about everything but bad weather. Of course, they don’t, however, believe in man-caused climate change. You know, global warming. Oh, no.

Jack Kilpatrick, noted writer and TV commentator of not so very long ago, who hewed mostly to a traditional, rational conservative philosophy, once said that to preserve our democratic form of government sometimes “you just have to hold your nose.”

That is, unless something someone says or writes is libelous, or meets the criteria for fomenting violence or treason, the First Amendment grants the right to such expression, odious and as abhorrent as it may seem to rational people. That, friends, is the guarantee of democracy.

Not all, especially on one side of today’s political divide, seem to appreciate or believe in this established-in-law concept.

For a while now, especially these last few years, there are those of us who do not want to engage in unpleasant political discourse who simply strive to avoid any such gatherings where this may arise.

I know that I have come to exist in a quasi-hermit-like or reclusive way. I am, by nature (or was) more outgoing, gregarious, than the way I now live might seem. Add in the pandemic years, and I have kind of dropped out, so to speak. Of course, we know the pandemic was/is mostly a hoax, don’t we? Lord have mercy.

How on earth did the beacon of hope, the bright light of freedom recognized as such by so many nations around the world, come to this? How?

Still, in my twilight years I simply can’t let myself give up on the promise of America, of our never-ending journey toward that more perfect union.

Because, you see, “This is my country, land of my birth. This is my country, grandest on earth…”

Oh, yes. Those are more than just words to a patriotic hymn.

May it always be so. APROPOS – ” … America, America, God shed his grace on thee. And crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea.”