The Thanksgiving holiday, traditionally a time for family gatherings and shared meals, offers little respite from the deep political divisions that characterise modern America. Despite the unifying nature of the occasion, the country remains sharply polarised, with even tragic events sparking rancorous debates rather than moments of commonality.
Recent calamities, such as the California wildfires and the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, have been instantly politicised. The wildfires have ignited arguments over forestry policy and climate change, while the massacre at the Tree of Life synagogue has highlighted a 57% spike in anti-Semitic incidents, according to the Anti-Defamation League. President Donald Trump's visit to Pittsburgh, a customary gesture of condolence, instead drew protests from a Jewish social justice group due to his embrace of nationalism and past comments about Charlottesville.
Even acts of remembrance have become contentious. During the recent trip to France for the 100th anniversary of the World War One armistice, Trump's decision not to visit an American war cemetery due to weather concerns was seized upon by critics as a dereliction of duty. His choice of words—saying he planned to 'celebrate' the end of the war—was seen as discordant, and he picked a fight with French President Emmanuel Macron upon arrival.
Political scientist James Q Wilson once noted that politics now encompasses nearly everything, a dictum that rings true today. Politics intrudes into war cemeteries, football stadiums, and even the National Cathedral, where a memorial service for the late Senator John McCain deliberately excluded Trump, as McCain had requested a bipartisan gathering without the president.
Division is not new to America, but the current era is marked by an ingrained polarity that makes compromise difficult. Unlike the civil rights era, when Democrats and Republicans joined forces to pass landmark legislation, today's political climate is characterised by acrimony and a lack of common ground.
