(Untitled)

[alexandraleigh]

How do you have a sane political argument with your very Republican parents, who honestly believe that we're in Iraq to free the Iraqi people, and that Abu Ghraib was "intimidation, not torture?"

I really could use some informed opinion on this.

Comments

[lil_one0478]

Good luck? I mean, I guess use it as an opportunity to be able to support your arguments and really learn what's going on--my parents are both liberal and very political (my dad is working on a MN senate campaign right now) so I end up getting a lot of my political information FROM them, particularly my dad, because I know he's smart and well-read and I admire his insights. As a consequence, maybe I don't think/read for myself as much as I should. If I had to argue with my parents, maybe it'd be different? I dunno.

Have a great break!

[alexandraleigh]

I just wish I was better informed, I know a lot of random facts but for some reason they all fly out of my head when I start talking. I also get a lot of my information from internet news sites, so I can't cite them as easily as my mom can (she only reads the Tribune.) It's nice to have parents who you agree with, though. I envy you that.

Hope MN is treating you well!

[katarinya]

AHHHH I had pretty much the same conversation with my parents. I wish I could say something inspirational about boundary-crossing and learning experiences, but the truth is I now stay away from those conversations. I love my parents, and I want to continue to love them and see them as more than their political beliefs. So, for right now at least, I've learned to just not talk about politics in more than a joking way, because it has caused some really heart-wrenching fights and made me forget why I love and admire them. But at least they've taught me to hold my own in debates and accept other points of view.

[alexandraleigh]

Isn't it frustrating? Because I also really like and respect my parents a lot, but some of their views really upset me. I think it's a parent-child argument as old as time though.

[syntaxerciser]

If it makes you feel any better, my extended family has taken to calling me "the family liberal" and one of them even went so far as to make me a book filled with photos of me and people in my family. It's called "Conservative Moments," and the dedication page reads, "Keep me on your desk at college so that whenever you have a liberal thought (be it about the environment, social welfare programs, or the war in Iraq) you can flip through this book and be reminded of your sensible Conservative roots."

[alexandraleigh]

That person sounds like the best person in the entire world. Why don't I have any relatives who are funny in addition to being crazy (instead of just the latter?)

[caseyliz]

oh, i feel your pain. christmas in my family (on my mom's side at least) is just an excuse for a political debate, and it gets VICIOUS. for the most part, i have similar political views with my parents, mostly because they're not heavily swayed either way, and have always been careful to explain the pros and cons of both sides to me, which i'm eternally thankful for. but there are definitely issues that i disagree with them on, and it's always hard to try and discuss it with them. but when has there ever been a political discussion that consisted of:
"well this is what i think."
"and this is what i think."
"and i think you're completely wrong, and should change your opinion to agree with me."
"likewise."
"oh alrighty then, good talk."

NEVER. hence why i hate talking politics. it can only end badly, in my opinion. good luck though!