Posted on 12/24/2004 10:40:38 PM PST by freespirited
Family members who sit down today for Christmas dinner should try to ensure things stay merry by not bringing up the Nov. 2 presidential election. That's the advice of some specialists in family relations, who say family conflicts can be worsened under the stress of the holiday season, particularly after an election as divisive as the one last month. "There are still a lot of raw nerves after the election," says University of Florida psychologist Garrett Evans. Karl Pillemer, a sociologist at Cornell University, agrees. "This election was unusually divisive, since lifestyle issues overlapped with family issues. I haven't seen issues of political morality so intense since the late 1960s," Mr. Pillemer says. To keep relations cordial during the holidays, Mr. Evans recommends that those tempted to crow about the victory of President Bush or bemoan the defeat of Democratic Sen. John Kerry keep their mouths shut if family members have differing political views.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
We have one liberal in my family, and he's the one who always raises the issue. We actually have other things to discuss than politics, but he loves to be the center of attention and has always thrived on drama and forces the other family members to answer for their beliefs. Although to be fair, he behaved himself tonight at my father's family annual Christmas Eve dinner. Thanksgiving was another matter...
My entire family can talk politics and be Merry!..I am grateful we agree!
No raw nerves around our Christmas turkey, we all have big grins!
If Democrats wants to spew their stupidity, it doesn't bother me. I find it is the democrats most likely not to be able to tolerate opposing opinions. I don't let others ruin my holidays.
I find it downright offensive to be in the presence of a liberal and will not associate with people of those opinions - - they are just as much the Enemy (even if they are family)...
Too late, just had a heated discussion with my boss's daughter at his party.
Woooo-hoooo. Four more years, my babies!
Good luck with your new job.
I have a liberal cousin I was very close with (same age, went to the same schools) who would always argue with me about politics. I cut off all ties with her several years ago and it's just as well, but it had nothing to do with politics--she stole money and jewelry from me.
Not me! My liberal brother and his wife and two Berkeley daughters are toast. I plan to be an attack dog. But I will wait until they make the first move. The great fun is, We Won!! So no matter what a liberals argument may be, we can just say, "But does it really matter?? Bush won and you lost. Your party is on the back bench. All of your arguments are just a tiresome waste of conversation.."
My boss was on my side. ;-)
bttt
I promise to bury the hatchet this Christmas.
In a liberal's skull.
For instance, "John Kerry only had one plan in his life; to live off rich women, bless his dear heart."
Or, "John Edwards is the Dick Clark of the Democratic Party, bless his dear heart."
No such luck with me. I went over to my sister's house last night, and everyone but me (about ten people) was an arch-Bush hater. They started in about five minutes after I got through the door. Of course by that time their tongues, as well as their senses, had been considerably loosened by strong drink. I had vowed not to argue during the holidays, so I just went into the other room.
We are to have our holiday gathering the day after New Year's. I've been looking forward to it since election day. No prisoners!
My family is all Democrat, most in Oklahoma. Okla is becoming more and more Republican these days, but not my family and not my hometown. We just don't talk politics when I am home. But even as a small child, growing up in that Democrat family, I felt like I didn't belong. I wondered if I were from another planet or something. I guess there was no way I would have ever become a Liberal - it always seemed so ALIEN to me. While Clintoon was in office they were all lunatic fringe Liberal Democrats. Now they are becoming conservative Democrats. But I still feel like an ALIEN when I go home to visit my family. And the males are much worse and much more liberal than the females.
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