The golden etiquette rule states you should never discuss money, religion or politics over a meal because these topics often cause arguments amongst family and friends. But not discussing topics does not make the problems or differences go away. Instead, people should learn to discuss unpleasant but often interesting politics in a civil manner. You don’t always have to agree with people, even people you love, but you should be able to discuss topics without arguing. Family and friends should try to understand each other even if they agree to disagree.
The current political environment has divided many families with different political views. And many families won’t talk about politics when they gather to eat family dinners. But this can make for uncomfortable and tense time together. Instead of openly discussing their feelings and beliefs, family members bottle them up. But each member knows how the other feels because of political Facebook shares, news stories, memes, and statuses. Families will argue and debate on social media, but not say anything about politics in-person.
Families should be able to be upfront with one another. Family members might save money with different methods or have different spending habits; others might have different religious beliefs or political affiliations, but if you love and care about someone then those things shouldn’t divide you. Being able to talk about uncomfortable and controversial topics means that two people have open and honest communication and a strong enough relationship that differences in beliefs won’t divide them.
My own family has suffered from division because of different political beliefs. Some people don’t talk to each other anymore or acknowledge one another in public places. All this was caused because two people argued about politics on social media, but the agreement did not end on Facebook, instead it carried over into everyday life, dividing family members.
Money, religion, and politics should be discussed at your next holiday dinner because they’re important topics. They should be discussed in a civil manner and people should feel like they can express themselves without judgment or backlash.