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Friday, November 13, 2026Nov 13

Cook: How much do we love other people in America?

Anti-Trump protesters demonstrate outside a meeting between Donald Trump and minority Republicans at Trump Tower, Thursday Aug. 25, 2016, in New York. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
Anti-Trump protesters demonstrate outside a meeting between Donald Trump and minority Republicans at Trump Tower, Thursday Aug. 25, 2016, in New York. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
photo David Cook

View other columns by David Cook

The most influential contribution we can make to American society isn’t strong policy or bulletproof arguments or impeachment procedures.

It’s grace.

Grace is the opposite of condemnation and contempt. Grace is beauty in a time of ugliness. Grace is more favor than what is called for.

When everyone else demonizes and mocks, grace doesn’t. Grace refuses coarse language. Grace is elegance, but not in a snooty, white-gloved kind of way.

Grace sees past the surface and into the heart. And what’s in the heart?