“Divided by Ballots: How Political Choices Are Shattering Family Bonds”
What’s happening during the holiday season now is similar to what the US went through in the past
For those of you with a good memory, you can probably remember what the atmosphere was like 8 years (aka two US presidential elections) ago. All of this probably feels like déjà vu. You’ve been here before. Many of the tensions and reactions you’re seeing on social media and the internet likely feel very familiar because they’re echoing a similar sentiment to all those years ago.
No matter your personal political beliefs and who you voted for, you probably also remember people dreading going to family dinners and even considering skipping celebrating the holidays together.
It’s possible that you’re one of those people who’ve decided to take a break from meeting up with your family this year to keep the peace and avoid arguments over the election. Or you might be someone who has decided to bite the bullet and go to dinner, regardless of those differences.
Those choices—whether to skip the holidays or still go—are very personal and there’s no single right answer. Everything depends on your values, beliefs, and family dynamics.
Some families understand that everyone will see things like politics, religion, etc. differently, but that despite all of this, it’s possible to put those things aside and be civil for the sake of a nice meal together.
It’s also not a terrible idea to spend some time around people who have different opinions than you to be a more open-minded, well-rounded individual. Actively listening to someone and honestly trying to understand their perspective might reduce the polarization in the country. Of course, this takes into account that both parties put in the effort to be respectful of each other’s views at the table.
