Millions of Americans are gathering today with assorted family and friends — each with their own unique, and potentially problematic, political opinions.
Which means it’s also time for the slew of articles telling people that it’s okay to skip Thanksgiving dinner if you think someone at the table might strongly disagree with your politics — or providing tips on how to steer conversations away from current affairs to lighter topics. The message and general consensus seem to be that we should only talk about politics with people who will support what we already believe.
Most Americans agreed on this approach last year — three-quarters said in a survey that Thanksgiving was not the time nor place to discuss politics with family. More recent polling from State Policy Network, where I am a fellow, shows it’s not just at family gatherings that people are shying away from politics. Over half of voters say they have stopped talking about politics and policy with family and friends generally because it is too divisive.
While Americans don’t seem to like the baggage that comes with getting political information from their friends and family, they also have problems with other sources of information. For example, while 46 percent of voters say they have gotten news from social media in the last three months, just 15 percent have a high degree of trust in it. There is a similar pattern for broadcast news.
But I will definitely.I will not disrupt and ruin a nice and peaceful dinner by lecturing everyone at the table for 1 hour so i can feel good about myself.
I understand and I respect that. I get that Thanksgiving is important to people. But as someone who cares a lot about animals, it’s really hard to see people all eating a turkey as a tradition. I hold my tongue and don’t speak out against it, symbolic day and all, but I feel sadness inside and sometimes it’s hard to prevent that coming out in how I carry myself on the occasion.
I mean, setting a good example to everyone on the table without forcing myself on everyone is fine. I’m vegetarian and dont eat meat. My family respects that and makes me an alternative.