In just a couple of days, we will celebrate our 395th year of Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is all about coming together as a family to give thanks. But this Thanksgiving may be a tough one for all of us because of the recent election. This year the election was a disputable one, to say the least, and people on all sides feel very passionately. So how do you get through this dinner without it transforming into a clashing brawl.
1. Avoid the topic
Many people actually look forward to talking politics with their relatives. It could be because they like to listen to your opinion to sound smart or maybe they just like a good debate; we may never know. But what you should know is that whether you’re on the same side or on the opposing side, a discussion about the election can cause some dispute. So it’s better, you simply avoid the topic as a whole. Try to talk about something new with your family: sports, music, school etc . Besides, I think we can all agree that we have heard enough about this election.
2. Pivot
“Avoiding the topic” has a 45% chance of working, because even if you don’t bring up the topic, other people most likely will. In that case, the best thing you can do is pivot. Especially on Thanksgiving, when it comes to pivoting, food is your best friend. According to Eric Herman, a communications wiz and managing director, if someone says something that makes you uncomfortable, don’t directly respond but instead pivot and compliment the chef. So your response may be “Well I don’t know about that, but this mac n'cheese sure is making me feel great again”, or “That’s a good question, man these mashed potatoes are good! Would you like some?”
3. Be prepared to create a conversational detour
Try redirecting the conversation into something everyone can agree on. What’s the best movie they’ve watched recently? Any good songs? What are they thankful for? And once you’re there, be prepared to build on that new topic. Essentially, you can learn something about your relatives or friends that you never knew before.
4. Refrain from Trump jokes
To some, this may be the hardest one. Avoiding the election topic involves refraining from making jokes about Donald Trump. This includes doing your best imitation of him and the way he says“china” or his plan to build a “wall”. So if you hear the word “wall” “china” etc, keep the joke to yourself and in your head. There is nothing worse than a stern look with no laughter after you try to make a joke.
5. Know when to stop
Don’t get me wrong, if you have an opinion that you think is important to be heard and understood, then, by all means, voice your opinion, and express your point of view. Even I have been there, sometimes it’s hard to not voice your opinion. So if you can restrain your emotions, join in on the debating. The most important thing to remember is that you should stay calm keep your cool and monitor everyone’s emotions. If the mood is becoming less light-hearted, know that it is time to stop talking about politics.
Some have decided to simply not attend their Thanksgiving dinner with their family, solely because of the fear they have of a post-election family dinner. But Thanksgiving is the most important holiday of the year to give thanks for who and what we have, and to miss it for a silly reason like this would be foolish. So try to keep that in mind, and find some joy in being with your loved ones this holiday season-- even if they did vote differently.
