Thanksgiving and Political Discussion

[Gumbo4x4]

I plan on finding the loophole to educate my family on social justice, and, more appropriately, social injustices that we are witness to today.

Be sure to report back & let us know how that works out for ya

 

[xjillianpaige]

Be sure to report back & let us know how that works out for ya

I'll do that. My family is starting to get used to me doing this, ever since I became a social work student now social worker. Also I've always been an opinionated brat.

 

[MillauFr]

I love political discussions at holidays. I like to slice and dice people that make weak and ineffectual arguments and point out the flaws in their logic.

 

[VandVsmama]

One of DH's older relatives love to debate and in his extended family, there is a lot of diversity of opinion when it comes to politics. 2-3 individuals in particular really love to debate politics whenever we all get together. Their debates can get pretty passionate at times. I tend to bow out of them and leave the room when 1 individual gets to the point where he/she is pointing fingers (literally) and saying stuff like "All ___ are stupid/morons/idiots and you'd have to be mentally disabled to vote that way." However, despite the debating, everybody still loves each other and finds a way to get along and respect each other's differences. We still all have a nice time together.

When the debates get really heated, I just sit back and go into "bug-watching mode" and I watch the fun unfold. It works especially well if you use a David Attenborough narrator voice inside your head and the narrator is saying something like, "Mr/Ms So-and-So is a world reknowned entomologist and he/she is on a ground-breaking expedition in the Amazon rain forest doing field research. Oh look! She's discovered a new species of bug. Let's watch as she makes some notes in her field journal. Oh my! Look! The bug is displaying some rather unusual behavior. It is getting so excited that its head is spinning around 360 degrees! Ladies and gentlemen, we have never witnessed this before on camera. Truly remarkable!"

On occasion, I have to literally bite my tongue in order to not laugh out loud because the whole thing ends up to be pretty funny.

 

[jdb in AZ]

I'll do that. My family is starting to get used to me doing this, ever since I became a social work student now social worker. Also I've always been an opinionated brat.

My niece is working on her masters degree in social work. She started diagnosing her in-laws from 600 miles away, making a lot of assumptions without first-hand knowledge. She called protective services about her mother-in-law, and ended up as "she who must not be named." After that hit the fan, she's been a lot more careful about making waves.

 

[powellrj]

Since we all voted the same way, I look for dinner to be pretty calm.

 

[Pacolovestacos]

Nope, if anything, I look forward to it. Beats the usual conversation, "How's work?" "Oh it's great." "How's work for you?" "Just fine, thanks for asking." *crickets*

 

[mellvswdw1]

I'm finding this thread to be quite humorous. After a VERY long 6 hour drive to my parents, my mom laid down some ground rules for tomorrow. No phones or devices at the table, no talking about my cousin whose causing havic over my grandmothers recent death and his not realizing how much or "little" his 300000 inheritance is, and now he's decided to sue my uncle the executor(I need thread to gripe about money hungry family members), and finally no talking about politics. The crazy thing is we all voted the same way, so that tells me that my darling mother has had enough aLone time with my dad who just retired...lol. Good times, good times.

 

[mom2rtk]

Be sure to report back & let us know how that works out for ya

Let's hope the person she's sitting next to doesn't find a loophole in the "don't dump gravy in your neighbor's lap" rule.

 

[ronandannette]

My dad made a sign that tells our family that if they want to talk politics, they need to do it on a walk with the dog around the block.

I plan on finding the loophole to educate my family on social justice, and, more appropriately, social injustices that we are witness to today.

I must say I found your post hilarious. You are the type of agitator this thread is written about; the one the rest of the family rolls their eyes when referring to and mildly dreads being seated across from. And the fact that you consider this a service to them, well, I just...Thanks for the laugh this morning. Good luck on your mission and Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

 

[BigAlsGal]

It's funny to hear all the people say "We voted the same way". How do you know? Were you in the voting booth with them? They told you? You guys "agree" on the same stuff?

Being in the industry/family/community I'm in there's a lot of differing opinions and I have to maintain a certain amount of ambiguity. There are just certain things I don't feel anyone needs to know and I entertain their notions of the way they think I voted.

If I'm with a blue person then I let them think I voted blue. If I'm with a red person then I let them think I voted red. If I'm with both sides I stay quiet. That's why politics is so tricky because unless you saw them cast the vote someone may be silently opposing you.

More food for thought this Thanksgiving!

 

[BigAlsGal]

I love political discussions at holidays. I like to slice and dice people that make weak and ineffectual arguments and point out the flaws in their logic.

This is my DH. He's good at it.

 

[sunshinehighway]

I'll do that. My family is starting to get used to me doing this, ever since I became a social work student now social worker. Also I've always been an opinionated brat.

I doubt your family enjoys being "educated" by you, especially at Thankgiving dinner.
Why not just respect your father's rule?
There's nothing worse than an insufferable relative who feels the need to lecture people.

 

[mom2rtk]

I must say I found your post hilarious. You are the type of agitator this thread is written about; the one the rest of the family rolls their eyes when referring to and mildly dreads being seated across from. And the fact that you consider this a service to them, well, I just...Thanks for the laugh this morning. Good luck on your mission and Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

Spot on.

 

[mom2rtk]

Also I've always been an opinionated brat.

I'm guessing some family members might have another word for it.

 

[tvguy]

It's funny to hear all the people say "We voted the same way". How do you know? Were you in the voting booth with them? They told you? You guys "agree" on the same stuff?

Yup, the beauty of the secret ballot. The more I have thought about this thread, the more I am beginning to believe the "Political" beliefs at my Thanksgiving table will be exact as it has been for decades. Some voted for the winner, some voted for the loser, some wrote in a candidate.

 

[ronandannette]

Yup, the beauty of the secret ballot. The more I have thought about this thread, the more I am beginning to believe the "Political" beliefs at my Thanksgiving table will be exact as it has been for decades. Some voted for the winner, some voted for the loser, some wrote in a candidate.

Curious about this - somebody upthread also mentioned not always knowing how their spouse votes. How many of us keep our votes secret from our closest significant-others such as husband/wife/children? My DS just recently came of voting age and he doesn't tell me how he voted but DH always does (and vice-versa). Another question would be how many people know or believe their spouse voted differently than they do?

 

[Hikergirl]

It's funny to hear all the people say "We voted the same way". How do you know? Were you in the voting booth with them? They told you? You guys "agree" on the same stuff?

Being in the industry/family/community I'm in there's a lot of differing opinions and I have to maintain a certain amount of ambiguity. There are just certain things I don't feel anyone needs to know and I entertain their notions of the way they think I voted.

If I'm with a blue person then I let them think I voted blue. If I'm with a red person then I let them think I voted red. If I'm with both sides I stay quiet. That's why politics is so tricky because unless you saw them cast the vote someone may be silently opposing you.

More food for thought this Thanksgiving!

I would assume that the people you are spending Thanksgiving with are close family and friends who you have known all your life. I don't think its all that unusual for them to discuss who they are voting or have voted for. Sure some people could be assuming things, but if you know someone well enough you can probably guess with some accuracy where their political beliefs are. I mean, have you never ever discussed politics with anyone in your circle?


To the poster that plans to "educate" your family during their Thanksgiving dinner, No just no.

 

[BigAlsGal]

My dad made a sign that tells our family that if they want to talk politics, they need to do it on a walk with the dog around the block.

I plan on finding the loophole to educate my family on social justice, and, more appropriately, social injustices that we are witness to today.

I doubt you'll need a loophole.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

It's funny to hear all the people say "We voted the same way". How do you know? Were you in the voting booth with them? They told you? You guys "agree" on the same stuff?

Well, this year, "my family" includes my husband and our son. We vote in Alabama. There isn't a booth, curtain or separate room in sight. Everyone votes sitting a long tables in a large room. I sat right between my husband and son, so yes, I was effectively "in the booth with them." Living with my husband for 25+ years and our son for 21+ years, yes, I know how they feel.