Thanksgiving dinner conversations about politics can be tense, but we’re not near civil war

Major news organizations have paid a lot of attention lately to America’s fraying social fabric. … But though the familiar phrase “We’ve never been more divided” feels accurate, it is, in fact, false. Further, history teaches that today’s divisions — deep, painful and serious — are not worse than those America has endured in the past. And we have plenty of examples other than the worst-case-scenario of the Civil War to prove it. …

None of these examples should make us feel better about our vitriol in 2019, but they can help us breathe a little easier. And then, they should inspire us to roll up our sleeves. CONT.

Bill Rivers, NBC News