As we gather together today with family, friends and in-laws — reaching across the table to grab a warm Parker House roll, scooping out a spoonful of mashed potatoes and then dumping the turkey gravy in the center pool, adding a slice of Ocean Spray and modest bit of Mom’s cranberry relish, carrots, peas, creamed onions, then carving slices of white and dark and finally stuffing the last corner of the special-occasion plate with rice stuffing — may we suggest a conversational strategy that best suits this American holiday? That is:

Give it a rest, already.