My political Christmas
Dear Prudence,
I know I am walking into the lion’s den by asking you this, as you’ve made it abundantly clear you do not agree with Trump’s politics, but I would like to know if there is a good line to have ready to combat the whole, “you must be a racist bigot” if you support Trump line of discussion. I most closely align with libertarian politics, but in our two-party system, if you want your vote to count you have to go red or blue, and on the issues I see as most important, I fall in line with the Republicans. I have a couple of family members in liberal colleges that seem to lump all Trump supporters together as racists and bigots and refuse to listen to counter opinions. Is there a way to say, I’m not a racist because I voted for Trump, and if you won’t give me the respect to try and see my viewpoint, I don’t want to talk about politics with you in a way that will stick?
—Politics
Re: My political Christmas
M's family is opposite what M and I are, and the conversations get strong. It's pretty well behaved but it's not enjoyable to have this come up.
Someone brings it up, say "How about we enjoy *holiday* instead of getting into this? I'd rather not"
I think it depends on the people involved. But total avoidance of political discussions is always a safe course.
I have a good friend who is VERY different from me, politically. We discuss politics with each other, but are respectful of each others' views and usually keep them fairly short discussions. I find it helpful because I can see through the eyes of the "other side". And I always hope I do the same for her. Especially since I'm pretty sure I'm the only outlet she's exposed to for opposite views. Her family is just like her and she surrounds herself with only Fox News, Glenn Beck, and Internet crazies. That is one of her failings. She will believe ANYTHING she reads online...if it is in line with her political views.
Now my family members that don't "believe in" science are a whole different story. With them I drink a ton of wine.
That is one of the best parts about having kids at a family gathering. It works for all kinds of tomfoolery, not just political.
Sorry.
I agree with my family on most things politics and I still generally stay silent and just don't join in.
And then I realized it was from the letter.
On the whole, no. Nor would I expect to. But when I've discussed politics with people of an opposing view, I have both corrected major misconceptions on their end and was able to better understand opposing views on my end.
But it has to be with the right people. People who are at least open to what I am saying, even if they don't agree. I've actually rarely had it even start to devolve into something bad. But if it starts heading in that direction, I'll just end it with a, "Thanks for sharing your views with me. I think we just need to agree to disagree." With a big smile. And then bean dip to something else.
But I'm struggling, b/c I feel like I really should've talked to my father about this election. B/c he's always talking about how people should be judged on their merits and their sexual orientation/gender identification shouldn't matter. But then he votes for the party that actively works against those identities. And being out and with a woman now, I really needed to make him understand how his vote was going to directly affect me, my relationship, and my community. But I also couldn't handle the idea that I might talk to him, he might know, and then still vote the way he does. And so I made the easier decision. Right after the election, I could tell he wanted to talk to me and I just kept bean dipping him until he got the hint that I wasn't willing to talk about it.
I think everyone just needs to decide based on their own personal feelings and their family dynamics. I can have these conversations with my mother (we had a great conversation re: free tuition at college, where I was able to put some skepticism in her mind b/c she's against it).
http://www.scarymommy.com/what-i-need-to-tell-my-father-in-the-wake-of-the-election/
To bad I can't print it and hand it out tomorrow (but I can't)