It is inevitable. There will be the political talk at 99.99% of family gatherings in America this holiday season. There always is...no matter who is in office. But this year, it might be a little more heated than normal. Arguing with friends and family is tricky- it will either stay clean and dissolve quickly because one party or the other is scared to get too deep in an argument...or it will get ugly, really really fast.

Do not be afraid to speak your mind and stand up for what you believe just because your grandfather or uncle do not agree with you. You care about (most) of these people and want to ensure love and respect in your own home or the home of your family members, while still being aware and informative on where you stand as a functioning and integral member of humanity.

First of all, remain kind and calm in your speech and do not flounder if you do not actually know the answer to something or what to say in response to what your opposing conversationalist is saying. Just state, “that does not quite make sense to me, could you articulate what you are saying in different words so that I might understand?”

You are not diminishing your own pride or knowledge by admitting that you do not understand something- and much of our political climate is rightfully not easily understood.

Your adversary will either comply and hopefully the conversation will continue with more understanding, or they will shut it down when they cannot articulate in more, other, or better words, and in either case, you have not lost the debate.

Second, meet them on their own grounds. If your adversary argues for something, for example…the wall or the ban…simply state, “that is not what it means to be Christian. That is not what it means to be (insert institutionalized, westernized, patriarchal religion or ideology here in which your adversary most likely believes and abides by here).”

There is no way for your opponent to argue that “Jesus (or whoever they ‘believe’ in) actually would want us to turn away children, mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers of humanity in need.” Going back to the basic grounds, or fundamentals, of a set of beliefs, is an easy way to shut down one argument on your terms and with points on your side of the debate.

Third, use their ‘patriotism’ against them. The country in which they so desperately wish to ‘protect’ is actually not safer with bans, racism, sexism, etc. Explain that marginalizing any one group of people’s rights as human beings is also a threat to their idea of what a politically sustainable environment is.

If they support the idea that gay marriage should not be legal, they support the idea that humans should have their rights taken away from them. Explain that in that case, if they are in fact human, they then are susceptible to have their rights taken away or overlooked. It’s as simple as that.

Fourth, give them a few quotes from their beloved ruler and see if they can articulate what he means and spin it in a good light. Trying to make sense of half of what Trump says is a wild goose chase, and it could and should send them into a tailspin. Here are a few to get you started (along with my cheeky commentary that you can either leave out of your own face to face argument...or leave it in there…whatever floats your Mayflower this holiday):

“All of the women on 'The Apprentice' flirted with me — consciously or unconsciously. That's to be expected. A sexual dynamic is always present among people unless you are asexual.”

---So, you’re saying…everyone everywhere is sexually attracted to one another and it is hard to forge any sort of platonic relationship with someone because of sex sex sex sex sex.

““Ariana Huffington is unattractive, both inside and out. I fully understand why her former husband left her for a man – he made a good decision.”

---So, it is presidential to attack strong women in the media. And commenting on their physical appearance and their relationships…has he looked in a mirror recently?

“I will build a great wall – and nobody builds walls better than me, believe me – and I’ll build them very inexpensively. I will build a great, great wall on our southern border, and I will make Mexico pay for that wall. Mark my words.”

---Well, that’s nice and Christian-like of you, D.

“When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending the best. They’re not sending you, they’re sending people that have lots of problems and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists… And some, I assume, are good people.”

---No comment needed for this one. Jesus.

“If I were running ‘The View’, I’d fire Rosie O’Donnell. I mean, I’d look at her right in that fat, ugly face of hers, I’d say ‘Rosie, you’re fired.’”

---Again, attacking the physical appearance of someone (male or female) is wrong. I’ll admit, I’m a bit of a hypocrite in that manner…because Donald…you have a fat ugly face too. (Don’t use that in an argument…be more just than I J…do as I say, not as I do…I think DT would agree with this one, you guys! )

““The beauty of me is that I’m very rich.”
---Cool. Share.

“I’ve said if Ivanka weren’t my daughter, perhaps I’d be dating her.”

---What the actual fuq?

“My fingers are long and beautiful, as, it has been well documented, are various other parts of my body”

---Ew, woah, ok… let me go vomit really quick…be right back. How inappropriate. That’s our president, you guys!

“I think the only difference between me and the other candidates is that I’m more honest and my women are more beautiful.”

---MY women? Women belong to you? Hmm.

“The point is, you can never be too greedy.”
---………………..

“My IQ is one of the highest — and you all know it! Please don’t feel so stupid or insecure; it’s not your fault.”
---LOL I don’t even know what to say about that one.

“I have so many fabulous friends who happen to be gay, but I am a traditionalist.”
---Uhhh….whet? People "happen" to be gay? And you're a traditionalist? No shit Sherlock!

“The only card [Hillary Clinton] has is the woman’s card. She’s got nothing else to offer and frankly, if Hillary Clinton were a man, I don’t think she’d get 5 percent of the vote. The only thing she’s got going is the woman’s card, and the beautiful thing is, women don’t like her.”
---So, you’re a man…and you’re speaking from the perspective of women, and you’re also blanketing the fact that no women at all like her? This is an extension of women on women violence which adheres to institutionalized patriarchy. Divide your enemy and conquer.