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Bark for Life brings out canines, owners to raise money for cancer research

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Beth A. Gilbert: Hillary Clinton has better grasp of nation’s economic situation, solutions

<p>Take a deep breath, America.</p><p>At this point in the 2016 presidential campaign, lots of you &#8211; goaded by wildly false claims (a common occurrence in political races) and egregiously nasty insults (not nice to hear, but not unprecedented in U.S. election history) &#8211; might be on edge.</p><p>Even if you&#8217;re not closely attuned to the matchup between Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton, you probably have overheard dire warnings about what will become of the nation if Candidate A triumphs over Candidate B. Or you caught the recent rumblings, spawned by Trump&#8217;s remarks during Wednesday night&#8217;s debate, about potential unrest in reaction to the Election Day vote count.</p><p>As if the buildup to Nov. 8 wasn&#8217;t tension-raising enough, the country also seems on high alert lately for other reasons. Turbulent weather in the Southeast. The ever-present risk of terror. Russian espionage. Even reported sightings (including some in Luzerne County) of spooky-looking clowns.</p><p>Things have gotten so testy, Ann McFeatters, an opinion columnist for Tribune News Service, recently suggested the partisan factions will require a healing session.</p><p>&#8220;After this election,&#8221; she wrote, &#8220;we need a national timeout, a cooling-off period, a chance to recoup and think about what we all love about this nation.&#8221;</p><p>In that spirit, we created the following short list of things that most (not all) of us can agree we have in common.</p><p>Consider the list a momentary distraction from the political firestorm, or perhaps a pre-election starting point for unification. There&#8217;s no question that, as Americans, we face legitimate and deep reasons to be concerned. But when in our nation&#8217;s history has that not been the case?</p><p>Let&#8217;s keep this year&#8217;s contest, and all things, in perspective.</p><p>&#8226; When the nation is threatened, as on Sept. 11, 2001, we rally to its defense.</p><p>&#8226; When a flood victim requires rescue, we extend a hand.</p><p>&#8226; We remain grateful for our freedoms.</p><p>&#8226; Lumps form in our throats each time taps gets played at a military funeral. And again as the folded American flag gets passed to a survivor.</p><p>&#8226; We become teary-eyed when we witness kids, unprompted, display an uncommon act of kindness.</p><p>&#8226; We &#8220;ooh&#8221; and &#8220;ahh&#8221; at Fourth of July fireworks.</p><p>&#8226; We want our children&#8217;s burdens to be few, their options boundless.</p><p>&#8226; We hope our work makes a difference, and our lives leave a mark.</p><p>&#8226; When we have extra, we gladly give to those without.</p><p>&#8226; Alone in nature &#8211; at ocean&#8217;s edge or beneath a canopy of autumn leaves &#8211; we wonder at the beauty of the universe and marvel at our good fortune.</p><p>&#8226; We realize that together we are stronger. And better.</p><p>We are not so different, not in the ways that count most.</p><style>
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Our Opinion: Keep presidential election frenzy in correct perspective