The holidays are great. We are surrounded by close friends and family. There is a feeling of love and warmth in the air. There is an abundance of food and people we only see during the holidays. Everyone is talking over each other in an attempt to catch up and there is the low hum of Christmas music playing in the background. Our stomachs and hearts are both full...for a little while anyway.
There is an exchange of food, presents, and stories while we sit around a table decorated for whatever holiday we're celebrating. People are laughing, some kids are crying, but overall everyone is happy...then someone brings up politics.
Politics are always a touchy subject around the holidays, but they have become even more so in the aftermath of the election. Every family has their own approach to politics, but maybe yours looks a little like mine:
1. Someone casually mentions something of political nature.
Usually, this person is my brother. Usually, he leaves right after mentioning anything to avoid what follows.
2. We ignore the subject.
After he mentions it, we usually go on talking about whatever we were talking about before. Everyone kind of acts like he did not speak.
3. Someone else brings it up.
Then someone else mentions politics, or more likely, the most recent election. Things begin to take a turn for the worse.
4. It is not dropped this time.
The discussion begins.
5. No one seems to have the same political opinion.
There is a lot of yelling because people do not seem to see eye to eye on anything political.
6. There is that one person who brings up SNL, or some other political parody.
A few laughs. Most people are mad now.
7. People are yelling now.
Someone's voice always rises unnecessarily high. The other person takes offense to this.
8. Some muttering.
Words are mumbled...more like grumbled. No one seems happy. The innocent bystanders are quiet.
9. Someone says something definitive.
It feels final. The end of the conversation is near.
10. Sly subject change.
Another person, again usually brother, changes the subject to something completely different. There is still some tension hanging in the air.
The holidays are great. There is family, food, alcohol, and presents. We all remember our reason for being and everything. Then someone mentions politics, and especially in light of the recent election, all hell breaks loose. How is it that people who can agree on everything else, have opposite opinions on everything referring to our country's governing body?
