145 - Thanksgiving Advice (As if You Asked For It)

[captain_slinky]

My family, for the most part, knows not to talk about Religion or Politics at Thanksgiving. If either subject DOES come up in the same room as me, i feel it is my duty to deliberately and abruptly change the subject IMMEDIATELY, or else leave the room. As a result, I still love all my siblings

Comments

[aurora77]

I'm lucky enough that my in-laws and my husband and I all share almost exactly the same thoughts about the current state of politics, and we are in general agreement about the important points around religion. It makes for relatively relaxing gatherings. All the family who feels differently resides out-of-state and rarely visits. When they do, the rules are fully in force.

I do have one exception. If someone does make racist/bigoted comments, I will mildly correct them and ask that they think about it. I don't call them racist or homophobes or islamophobes. But I will say that their words or actions perpetuate societal racism/bigotry/whatever. I only focus on the words or actions. Once you make it about the person themselves, the conversation shuts down.

I just can't give people a pass on that. A lot of people think that silence is agreement, so I just feel like I have to go there if it comes up.