Food

Food brings people together. When my children were growing up, until they became teenagers, I insisted we eat meals together-dinner-since that is part of what family is. Though this sometimes meant tension, it also meant fun, laughter and getting a glimpse into their lives. And it was the four of us, it was family, and I felt it was as an important lesson as any to have-that family should eat together when they can.

In the NYT (February 19th), it addresses the idea of food bringing the resistance together. It opens, "A casserole can be a potent weapon." The blurb states, "In suburban living rooms and at urban kitchen tables, refugees and their new communities are dining together, and political causes are gaining a foothold." What a novel idea-how best to know someone is through the food served-the cultural food-and with eating comes discussion and a collaboration in a cultural landscape. FOOD is a door; you bond over food, relax over food and it brings together a community. This is not so different from the mother's groups I had when my children were little, where once a week we did a collaborative breakfast; it was a chance to help each other focus on the hurdles of parenthood, while also having a good time. And now there is something new: ICE Raids, the fears of undocumented workers, the warm welcome of communities that say we have lawyers for you, advocates for you, so bring your dishes from the Middle East, your Mexican specialties. Participants bring casseroles, desserts and their children. 

And, above all else, LOVE TRUMPS HATE. Everyone is welcome to break bread!