Posted on 11/24/2014 4:03:13 PM PST by Kaslin
It's bound to happen at Thanksgiving tables across America: A progressive liberal Democrat discovers he's sitting next to a conservative Republican.
There's no need for mashed potatoes to fly.
Harry Stein, an author, columnist and contributing editor to the political magazine City Journal, offers advice on how to navigate the situation.
Stein, an erstwhile '60's radical who evolved into a conservative, faced a similar dilemma at a dinner party a few years ago.
When the guest next to him discovered his conservative/libertarian thinking, the fellow said loudly, "I can't believe I'm sitting next to a Republican!"
"It was," says Stein, "as if I was wearing not only a white hood, but a Nazi armband."
So accustomed had Stein become to such broadsides -- common experiences for conservatives living in progressive bastions -- he wrote a humorous book on the subject: "I Can't Believe I'm Sitting Next to a Republican: A Survival Guide for Conservatives Marooned Among the Angry, Smug, and Terminally Self-Righteous."
So what to do when bipolar political philosophies are seated next to each other at the Thanksgiving table?
Make a concerted effort to get beyond "straw man" stereotypes.
"In theory, liberalism is predicated on openness to varied perspectives, but talk to lots of liberals and what you'll hear is that all conservatives are greedy, hardhearted knuckle draggers," says Stein. "To them, 'conservative' is another way of saying 'warmongering,' 'racist,' 'homophobic,' not to mention 'aching to wipe out every last polar bear for the sake of Big Oil.'"
Who wouldn't loathe a fellow with beliefs like that?
The truth is conservatives, just as liberals, come in all shapes and sizes; many are as nuanced, complex and thoughtful as anybody else.
The truth is progressives and conservatives agree with each other more than they are aware.
"Discovering the common ground can only occur when discussions proceed in a logical and factual manner," says Stein. "If you want to argue a point and demonstrate the truthfulness of your position, be sure to have your facts straight."
Stein gave one example pertaining to the health care debate.
"Some progressives believe that conservatives are simply dupes of the insurance industry stampeded by phony propaganda, and, yes, that we are racists," he says. "The fact is, it's a lot easier to name-call than deal with our arguments, starting with the likelihood that not only will a government takeover of health care have devastating effects on the economy, but it will not be good for health care."
Another example: Some progressives believe that conservatives could not care less about the poor.
"What we believe is that conservative polices, such as tax incentives to hire, are a great deal more beneficial to the poor than the polices that came out of the Great Society," says Stein. "Such policies encouraged women to raise children without fathers. Today, in some communities, 70 percent of children are born to single mothers."
Stein used to think it best to avoid such discussions at the Thanksgiving table, but his position has changed over the years.
"We are facing a lot of challenges in our country and we really need to discuss them in a civil and thoughtful manner."
Still, if you're a conservative and fearful of being discovered, Stein says, you may want to plan ahead.
"You might want to sit beside a large liberal behind whom you can duck in case the mashed potatoes fly."
My non-scientific review of social media and studying what my friends and acquaintances post...my Conservative friends display far more good manners and courtesy than my Liberal friends.
Civility will reign at my Thanksgiving table. No Gruber people have been invited.
We’re pretty fortunate as our whole family is quite conservative. I honestly don’t even think I’d invite a friend or family member if I knew they were liberal. I’ve just gotten to the point that I really don’t associate with liberals anymore. Why be around people that are helping to destroy this great country? I’d rather distance myself from them.
CGato
Life is too short to spend time with someone you dislike.
/johnny
Some of our past Thanksgivings were rather exciting prior to our liberal relatives moving south.
When I lived in Minnesota, I was invited for Thanksgiving by some liberals, and we did keep it civil. I must clarify however that these were old school Hubert Humphrey liberals, and they were pro-2A as well (as was Old Hubert).
That said, I had an aunt I treasured, an old-line, fire-breathing liberal who was actually up to the contest. We used to savor telling one another we were idiots because neither of us really believed it. What has gone from political discourse these days is that sense of mutual respect. It isn't pleasant without it.
lucky you… my hubby,sis and I will be surrounded by 13 foaming at the mouth Liberal adults. and 14 kids who have been raised the same, my son is the only Conservative. It is like a Contest to see who can provoke us. I hate it!
Because my siblings are scattered around the country and have large families we had our first of this years two Thanksgivings in East Kentucky last weekend. We nominated Senator Cruz for President, unanimously. Thursday, in Mississippi, we’ll have our second Thanksgiving and elect him.
Gruber, that creep with the yammering, nattering, Asperger voice.
Every situation I’ve ever been in where liberals and conservatives were mingled, the liberals proclaim their beliefs loudly and confidently, because what they think is that all halfway-decent people think. Conservatives are expected not to bring up “politics.”
It will be interesting, I have a few distant mexican inlaws of questionable origin scheduled to come over.
See if they show.
Humphrey seems to be the last honest democrat I can recall. Saw him at a campaign stop in '68 at the Astrodome in Houston when i was 14. Actually went to see Frank Sinatra, Nancy Sinatra and Trini Lopez. ;o)
I was sitting next to a Republican. It was if I was sitting next to a KKK Nazi...
Both Democrat groups! Ha ha ha ha ha aaaaa!
This is why the rules of not talking about politics or religion have to be enforced.
Your attitude is downright rude,
your jokes appall me, they’re so crude,
why don’t you just drop dead and not recover?
You’re the mirror to my mood,
‘cause you hate me and I hate you,
at least we’ve come to understand each other.
-—”Hatred” The Kinks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHF4Lpdr-iY
Q. Why do Liberals lock their Doors?
A. To protect themselves from other Liberals.
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