Keep politics off the dinner table this Christmas

The Washington Times ^ | 12/25/04 | Joyce Howard Price

[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.

[Lazamataz]

Keep politics off the dinner table this Christmas.

Eff that.

If they are liberal, I'm gonna deck their halls.

[expatguy]

My brother and his wife are liberals. Living in California has rotted their brain.

[Figment]

I'm wearing my "W 04" cap to the Christmas gathering and I dare anyone to say something derisive lol

[RayChuang88]

I wonder has Dr. Evans has been reading up too much about the Post-Election Selection Trauma sufferers in southern Florida.

[Semper Paratus]

My brother and his wife are liberals. Living in California has rotted their brain.

It still mystifies me that people who have very good brains and common sense go off the IQ plantation when spouting the left line.

One example I share a room with another software consultant and our first chat he and I talked about investments and currency flucuations. He really knew what he was talking about and we had a good exchange until we got to the Oil market and Iraq and he suddenly went Michael Moore wacko with absurd conspiracy theories. You know the Afghanistan pipeline, going after Iraq for the oil.

The conversation ended when I asked if this was so why didn't we take Iraq and all their oil in 1991 as well as keep Kuwaits?

[fenway]

Any serious study of the Liberal mindset, would have to include an effect of the constant freezing and thawing of the white matter and yes, also the grey matter. The contention being that geography has some significance.....fenway

[expatguy]

I would like to see a serious study of the liberal mindset. Surely there must have been one done by now.