Thanksgiving may be over, but the holiday season has only just begun. Apart from the dreadful weather, this is the best time of year, but it can also be the most stressful. One aspect of the holidays that makes it so stressful is family, particularly dealing with the conflicting political views between the older and younger generations. The topic of politics will most likely come up when you get together with a large group of people, but it’s especially inevitable this year due to the recent election. The eternal question is whether or not we should engage in and encourage these political discussions at the dinner table.
Many people would say that the holidays should be a time of peace and love, and we should respect our elders, not argue with them, so we should avoid politics at all costs. While I agree that the holidays shouldn’t be filled with conflict, I don’t think that these important political discussions should simply be swept under the rug.
Everyone who knows me knows that I have very liberal opinions and I don’t waver in my beliefs. I’m also not afraid to stand up for what I believe in, regardless of who I might be disagreeing with and challenging. Last year, Black Lives Matter protesters gathered at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, causing some controversy. When this happened, I cheered on the protesters and expressed my support. This resulted in me getting into an argument with my uncle who believed that Black Lives Matter was racist and should be All Lives Matter *cue eye roll*. Ultimately, this argument ended in my dad stepping in and telling us to relax, but I would’ve continued arguing until my uncle backed down.
Why did I insist on arguing with my uncle who I only see once a year? Because these discussions are important and maybe if I share my beliefs and the reasons behind them, I can shift someone’s personal opinions. I’m not afraid to be outspoken about my political views and beliefs because I see these issues as a matter of basic human rights and equality.
Many members of the older generations brush off the younger generations’ opinions because they think that we’re naive, uninformed, and forming our opinions from inaccurate sources. I’m confident in my beliefs and how educated I am in certain topics, so I hope that by sharing my beliefs and showing how well informed I am, my older family members might actually listen to me and take me seriously. This could be a step towards changing their opinions or at least making them more open-minded.
The holidays should be a happy, peaceful time with your family, but some things are more important than maintaining perfect harmony. If a few minutes of conflict could result in your family members reconsidering their rigidly held beliefs, then it’s worth it. Even if they remain fixed on their conservative beliefs, at least you can hold your head high knowing that you stood up for what you believed in and that you tried to initiate some change. So, use this holiday season as an opportunity to educate your family members instead of sitting quietly and obediently.
