What America should be thankful for in 2016

This Thanksgiving arrives in the wake of an election that featured division over unity, hate over tolerance, lies over the truth and, perhaps most disturbing, a sense of doom and gloom over hope.

With all that in mind, I've put together a list of things I'm thankful for in 2016, and for which I think all American can express gratitude, regardless of race, creed or social status. But being grateful doesn't mean we overlook the injustices of our society or the pain and despair many people feel; rather it should serve as an impetus to preserve all that is good about America and continue to work on the never-ending project of creating a more just, fair and loving union.

So here is my list, and Happy Thanksgiving!:

I'm thankful for all who have worked to create social progress over the years

Yes, racial injustice continues to exist in our country, as does crime, income inequality and other societal evils. But let's never lose sight of how far we've come thanks to the work of activists like Martin Luther King, Jr., Susan B. Anthony and Cesar Chavez, as well as scientists, doctors and other forces of change. One hundred years ago, our constitution still did not grant women the right to vote, let along have any chance of  becoming president. Today, more women vote than men, and a woman won the popular vote for president. That is progress. A half century ago, racial segregation dominated the South and other parts of the nation  and African-Americans were denied basic rights. Today, legalized segregation is a thing of the past and we are about to mark the completion of the second term of the first African-American president in history. That is progress. A quarter century ago, AIDS was a health care epidemic threatening countless lives; today it is largely contained. That is progress. I read just this morning that the average lifespan of children born with Down syndrome has risen from only 25 thirty years ago to 60 or older today. That is progress.

I'm thankful for all who sacrificed their lives in the name of a free society 

Cemeteries here and abroad are filled with the bodies of men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice to rid the scourge of slavery from our continent and the scourge of fascism from Europe, as well as those who fought to contain communism and naked aggression. The world we live in today is a testament to their sacrifices, and the fact it is not perfect, should inspire us to continue to strive for that reality. Every couple months, I have the honor of having lunch with my friend Rico Cinquini, who survived four hellish battles with the Marines in World War II and is among the most kind, gentle, strong souls I have ever met. He continually teaches me to value family and life's blessings, something so many of his fellow Marines were denied on remote Pacific islands where they gave their lives for freedom. 

On the Stanislaus River with my dog Theodore, Nov. 21, 2016

I'm thankful the sounds of a river and the power of nature

I just spent two days with my family in a cabin on the banks of the Stanislaus River in a tiny Sierra town called Strawberry. There isn't much to do this time of year but listen to the sounds of water flowing and birds chirping. Which is exactly what I need from time to time. Over the years, I've become grateful for the natural beauty of our nation, and the power of that beauty to calm our minds, purify our souls and bring us simple joy. I'm grateful that I live in the city of Martinez, where I can see the smoke stacks of an oil refinery from my driveway but escape a few miles away to a mountain once frequented by John Muir. I can hike the same trails he did and ponder his words along the way: Keep close to Nature's heart... and break clear away, once in a while, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.

I'm thankful for the legacy of our great presidents

Amid the uncertainty and controversy of the presidential election, let us not forget that we've had racist presidents in the past, corrupt presidents, incompetent presidents and war-mongering presidents. But their legacies have been fleeting, while that of our great presidents have stood the test of time, because the principles of our democracy are stronger than any one individual. Theodore Roosevelt standing up to the power of corporations and monopolies and protecting our natural resources; Franklin Roosevelt establishing a social safety net and establishing government as a force for good in society; John Kennedy boldly proclaiming that our nation would never been free until all its people were free, helping to set in motion the events that destroyed legalized segregation. And Abraham Lincoln declaring on a Pennsylvania battlefield 153  years ago this month, in a speech that he said would be "little remembered," that "government of the people, by the people and for the people shall not perish from the earth." Those words remain more powerful than any single election, and it is up to all of us to ensure that they stand the test of time, so that future generations can find the same gratitude in this national holiday of ours that we do in 2016.