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Post by Atsuko73 on Sept 27, 2004 0:15:57 GMT -5
Okay, so I found out after moving in with my sister that she's pro-bush. That's creepy. However, I'm open, so I just don't discuss it. However, at a bonfire last night, we(jeremy and I) had the pleasure of trying to be nice and respectful while my aunts, uncles, etc. discussed politics. Most of them are republicans, so that was annoying. So has anyone else had the wonderful experience of trying to be nice around family or friends while they discuss politics when you know in your heart they are evil?  Also, do you think something should be said when you are in that situation, or should you let it go? |
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Post by ebonywnd on Sept 27, 2004 6:45:04 GMT -5
YES! Easter...my family was singing Bush's praises and talking about abortion issues. When they started, my mom gave me this look like "don't you dare." So I sighed and kept quiet until they were done. Luckily that part of the family isn't too political, so it was brief.
As to whether I *should* have stayed quiet...there's two ways of seeing it. 1. They should know that there are dissenting opinions out there, even in their very own family ::gasp:: 2. You may get your ass kicked or ostracized by said family.
Dunno, your call. I have to go to class.
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Post by Prothonotary on Sept 27, 2004 7:07:23 GMT -5
I also have the pleasure of being the lone Democrat in my family. I can't really civilly discuss politics with my family because they aren't open enough to understand where I'm comming from. I do sometimes get into a "discussion" with my brother, but it doesn't really go anywhere.
As for bringing up the subject with your family, it guess it would depend on how much you like to debate/argue your point and whether you think they'll actually listen to your side. It probably is good to at least let your family know what your views are. Just be prepared for them to dismiss your ideas.
Heather "family talks were so much easier when I was Christian and Republican" Dover
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Post by profdunebastard on Sept 27, 2004 9:03:24 GMT -5
Whenever I get the don't you dare look, I soooo dare, but that's just me. Most of my family is democrat or liberal leaning, except for like my Grandma, who I despise and love to argue with anyway. I have a staunchly republican friend however, who I really respect and enjoy the company of, and that gets difficult sometimes, especially since he knows more of politics than I do and can debate better. He is pretty much agnostic/atheist, but goes to church to please his very catholic family. So yeah, it is strange. Young Republicans freak me out. It is like they are pod people. Gives me the shivers, it do.
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Post by Seany-D on Sept 27, 2004 9:08:01 GMT -5
I'd be happier about discussing politics these days with my GOP friends if they stuck to traditional GOP views, like small gov't., cutting taxes, and strong defense. This current push for preemptive warfare and evangelical conservatism bothers me. If you ever want to test your meddle, listen to a conservative talk radio station (might I recommend WBAL from Baltimore?). The morning guy bashes Dems like it ain't no thang, and then there's Rush ... but the afternoon guy is a conservative who keeps an open mind ... he faults whichever party is making the boo-boos.
The way I look at it is this: if I want my views to be tolerated, I have to be fair and listen to opposing arguments. I like a bit of liberalism, and a bit of conservatism, in principle, but putting it into action can be a whole new can of worms. However, if you're going to send forth your views, you have to be willing to accept opposition. If my family wants to go off about how Dems or the GOP is great, they should expect arguments from the other side. I expect people to disagree with me. Just because they are family doesn't mean they get a free pass -- it just means that I (likely) won't attack their views, but merely offer an alternative.
Sean "arguing with relatives since 1974" Davis
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Post by ebonywnd on Sept 27, 2004 9:20:11 GMT -5
Ian- my mom has the ability to kill me. Seriously and painfully kill me. I live in fear of my mom.  Also, sometimes you don't want to discuss politics with the family because it lets you know just how misguided they are. It's like finding out the mall santa claus is really just a fat, perverted hobo who drinks too much. |
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Post by TheBuckeyeBitch on Sept 27, 2004 12:43:16 GMT -5
My parents both lean somewhat Democratic, though they do have conservative views about a lot of things (my Catholic mother is anti-abortion, though not militantly so). Most of my family also leans Democratic, with Polish-Italian middle-class Catholics and upper-middle class Jews on each side, so it's not too bad on most counts. That being said, I have gotten into disagreements over political issues with my parents and with my other relatives (mostly on my mother's side, because I see them more often). I don't push too much, but I will put in my two cents if I feel strongly enough to contend the issue. One example was during the months of the greatest amount of Arab and Muslim profiling and harassment under the Patriot Act. My cousins and my aunt all felt that any means to keep people safe were acceptable. I disagreed on the grounds that violating people's rights was not a legitimate way to secure anything. Indeed, what good is a free nation when our freedoms are diminished at the first sign of trouble? One large aspect of my view was that I have several Muslim and/or Arab friends (even Chaldeans, who are Christian, got shit over this) who were affected by the security measures, but my relatives did not know that many people or had many as friends. So, I felt strongly enough about it, and 2 hours later, I think some of them came around in part Susan "hellraiser of the family" Wise |
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Post by ebonywnd on Sept 27, 2004 13:45:58 GMT -5
Did I mention the Bush-Cheney lawn sign my parents mom put up last week?
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Post by Atsuko73 on Sept 27, 2004 14:50:46 GMT -5
"It's like finding out the mall santa claus is really just a fat, perverted hobo who drinks too much. "
It's soooooo true.
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Post by UsherBen on Sept 27, 2004 15:32:57 GMT -5
nicole's family is hardcore pro-bush, but i have thus far kept quiet. i don't thin they have any idea what my views are, and i'd like to keep it that way for the near future.
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Post by PopeGhostlyWeasel on Sept 27, 2004 22:42:52 GMT -5
I have a "saint" that I carry with me to family gatherings to avoid getting sucked into political arguments. It started one Christmas when I got a squeaky dog toy that looked like a little green alien... I named it "Potatoe" and when my Uncle started bashing Gore, instead of getting involved in the argument myself, I let Potatoe do my arguing for me. This quickly ended the argument, as it is rather difficult to argue with Potatoe unless you are fluent in squeaky-dog-toy-language, which my uncle is not. For her great act of virtue in saving me from having to argue politics with my uncle, I have made Potatoe a Saint (hey, I'm a Pope, I can do that). Now Saint Potatoe comes with me to any family gatherings where politics are likely to be discussed, and protects me when the Demons of Stupidity possess my relatives.
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Post by ebonywnd on Sept 28, 2004 8:26:07 GMT -5
Haha, that's awesome.
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Post by FishBait on Sept 29, 2004 13:32:58 GMT -5
Did I mention the Bush-Cheney lawn sign my parents mom put up last week? i wonder what would happen if it spontaneously happened to catch fire, just say the gnomes did it |
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Post by ebonywnd on Sept 29, 2004 13:36:47 GMT -5
I almost convinced myself that my mom wouldn't know it was me if I knocked the sign down and hid it under some bushes, possibly with doggie poo on it. But not quite.
-Laura "not in a bad mood, nosiree" McIntosh
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Also, do you think something should be said when you are in that situation, or should you let it go?
