We have little doubt there were some testy exchanges at Thanksgiving tables all across America this year.

There’s so much to debate, so much to be angry about. Impeachment. Michigan’s failure to compromise on the state budget. Syria. Iraq. Afghanistan. Gun violence. The Democratic primary.

All of those are important issues that have real impacts on all of our lives. They deserve — nay, require — passionate debate.

But they do not require hatred, or personal anger, or disgust.

They should bring families together, not tear them apart.

Especially at Christmastime.

Maybe it isn’t true for the politicians in Lansing and Washington actually pulling the levers, but it’s important to remember that each of us regular folk believe the way we do politically because we think our way is the way that will make our lives better and the lives of our children better.

Hopefully, we’ve arrived at that conclusion through informed, thoughtful introspection.

But, even if not, we are passionate because we care about how much money is in our wallet to support our families, whether our children and grandchildren are sent off to war, whether we believe our nation is serving God’s will.

We encourage all of our readers to keep that in mind when they sit down to Christmas dinner across from that cantankerous uncle or inexperienced nephew. If we remember the hearts of the people with whom we disagree, instead of whatever ideological label they’ve put upon themselves, maybe we can remember to be civil.

And then, let’s treat every day like Christmas.

(THE ALPENA NEWS)