With an estimated 85 percent of Americans celebrating Thanksgiving with a turkey dinner this week, we thought we should find other things Americans agree on.
Talking turkey
It’s not easy to find things we all agree on. For that matter, it’s not easy to find things that more than 50 percent of people agree on. For instance, Gallup did a poll on Americans’ favorite Thanksgiving food in 2004, and turkey, the top answer, had 49 percent of the vote.
Care for dessert?
When it comes to picking a pie, there’s even less consensus. The 2017 Delta Dental Thanksgiving pie survey shows Americans prefer pumpkin pie, followed by pecan and apple.
Keeping the peace
Should you talk politics? Probably not.
Sharon Schweitzer, an international etiquette expert and founder of Protocol & Etiquette Worldwide, offered this advice to ABC news on how to keep the peace when it comes to Thanksgiving and politics. “It’s inevitable that disagreements will arise, but when they do, handle them with grace, dignity and respect,” Schweitzer said.
“Inquire with the intent of seeking information and understanding. For example: ‘That’s an interesting way to look at it and you bring up some valid points. Can you share more on the background of how you came to that perspective?’”
“Never raise your voice, show anger, abruptly walk away or make it personal,” Schweitzer said.
Americans in agreement
The following topics are not recommended for Thanksgiving conversation, but they are some difficult issues that 51 percent or more of Americans agree on.
Gun restrictions: Partisans agree on several gun restrictions, according to a Pew Research Center survey in 2017. Here are three topics that more than 50 percent of Republicans and Democrats favor somewhat or strongly:
Views on immigrants: Pew Research Center question: Do you agree immigrants today strengthen our country because of their hard work and talents?
Views on our democracy: The Business Insider series Undividing America used Pew Research Center surveys and found most Americans agree on the following when asked, “Is it important to maintain a strong democracy in the U.S.?”
First thanks
The first documented celebration of Thanksgiving in North America was in St. Augustine, Florida, in 1565.
The first Thanksgiving by the Pilgrims came In November 1621 after their first successful corn harvest. Gov. William Bradford invited a group of the colony’s Native American allies to celebrate. The main course might have been venison.
Abraham Lincoln declared a national day of Thanksgiving in 1863.
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© 2018 The Orange County Register (Santa Ana, Calif.)
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