We all have those relatives that seem to push every ideological button (looking at you, Grandma). You could not love these people more while at the same time disagreeing with them so fundamentally. For me, this is my grandma. She is a beautiful, strong, smart, resilient woman, but also ideologically opposite to me. And this can be extremely frustrating as many of us know. But I actually enjoy talking politics with her. I enjoy talking politics with anyone for that matter. But Thanksgiving? The day might be one of the few that you get to share in harmony with relatives, why sour it with a debate on Trump’s Wall? (Which is actually quite a fitting debate on Thanksgiving) I don’t even mind the loud banter though, again I somewhat enjoy it, but let me tell you, no one else does. The awful, frustrated, often uneducated political “debates” I’ve heard at graduations, Christmas’, and New Year’s Parties alone are enough to send Lincoln rolling in his grave. So, this year, Grandma, I will not end Thanksgiving, the day my mother works so hard to put together, in a screaming match with you. I love you dearly, and therefore wish to remain as grandma and granddaughter, not foe and millennial.
So, for those of us that are looking to remain neutral at the dinner table, here 5 essential tips:
- 1) If someone decides to slip something blatantly political into the conversation: start laughing and move the conversation into a joke. For example:
- “Barbara, did you see the Director of Central Intelligence decided to resign?"
- “Haha, oh Jimmy, you scaly-wag, Director of Central Intelligence? Try Director of My Anus.”
- 2) If someone asks you if your liberal education is a sham: laugh, look down at your hands, then back up into their eyes. The fear this will induce, in both you and in them, will create enough suspense that you should easily be able to slip away.
- 3) If someone says the word “Trump” or “Hillary”, regardless of context, RUN. This will baffle everyone in the room, causing enough dysfunction to allow the environment to change the conversation on its own. This will generally help in any situation where you need to change the conversation as well (i.e. dates, parties, weddings).
- 4) If someone asks you what you think the future of the state is: reply with a smile and a hug, chug whatever your drinking, exhale, and walk away.
- 5) If someone desperately wants to talk to you about politics, or can’t take the hint from all the other methods you’ve tried, simply ask them politely to refrain their urges. Make it clear you are exhausted from the political trauma and simply want to enjoy some puréed cranberry from a can.
Remember that even though your family members may have different political views than you, they love you dearly. You have more common ground with them than you may realize. Use thanksgiving as a time to let them, and yourself, remember why you are family. Happy Thanksgiving.
