how are things between your republican friends/family

[Anonymous]

When I go to work, my whole office is joyful. We can't stop gloating amongst ourselves. When I go to my relatives, I must hide my joy and turn my head when they start in on the anti-Obama talk. Ugh...I show them respect by not rubbing it in their face, and being one who doesn't like to start up heated arguments in my family, I try to avoid it as much as I can. I let them rant and say nothing back. But now it feels tense when I go over there.

My husband's office is all pro-Obama except for one girl who has been in a mean, rotten mood all week. She was always nice before the whole election, but now, her true racist colors are showing and has a huge chip on her shoulder toward DH and other colleagues. I'm hoping they all lighten up over time and take McCain's advice to come together.

What are your experiences?

[Anonymous]

We have relatives who are bitter and finding it hard to maintain civility over the elections. I tried to remind them that the rest of the family has had to swallow the same bitter pill for the last two elections and we dealt with it but they don't seem to be able to rise above it. Maybe with time...

[Anonymous]

Please don't paint all McCain supporters as racist. Yes, they're upset, just like Democrats were when Kerry and Gore lost. I voted for Obama; my husband voted for McCain. I KNOW he's not racist. If Colin Powell had been running (as a Republican), he'd have voted for him in a heartbeat.

[Anonymous]

OP here, I did not mean to paint them all racist. Just a few in my family and the girl at work have openly admitted they are racist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I go to work, my whole office is joyful. We can't stop gloating amongst ourselves. When I go to my relatives, I must hide my joy and turn my head when they start in on the anti-Obama talk. Ugh...I show them respect by not rubbing it in their face, and being one who doesn't like to start up heated arguments in my family, I try to avoid it as much as I can. I let them rant and say nothing back. But now it feels tense when I go over there.

My husband's office is all pro-Obama except for one girl who has been in a mean, rotten mood all week. She was always nice before the whole election, but now, her true racist colors are showing and has a huge chip on her shoulder toward DH and other colleagues. I'm hoping they all lighten up over time and take McCain's advice to come together.

What are your experiences?

Good God, if someone is a Republican you think they are a racist? Grow up. So are your relatives racist? Because if what you say is true, being a Democrat is just as racist, don't vote the white man in. What's the difference? I don't think either side are all racist, although you may want to take a look in the mirror.

[Anonymous]

Jesus Christ where did I say every Rep is a racist. I know that is not true. I am speaking on my OWN experiences. YES there are racists in my family, that come out and blatantly say it to my face, to my children. SO yes my grandparents are racist, my parents are not. The girl at work said she will never bow down to a black president and that she wants to throw up everytime she sees him. That sounds racist to me. Maybe you are not racist but the many reps around me are...sorry, it's the truth!

You are the one making insinuations and turning my words into generalizations. FYI I am an Independent and I am mixed race...I am purely speaking of MY OWN experiences with reps around me....some are racist and some are not. I am trying to deal with them in a nice manner, but it is hard!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please don't paint all McCain supporters as racist. Yes, they're upset, just like Democrats were when Kerry and Gore lost. I voted for Obama; my husband voted for McCain. I KNOW he's not racist. If Colin Powell had been running (as a Republican), he'd have voted for him in a heartbeat.

Oh my god-you must have married my husband-That exact thing happened with us and that is exactly what he said too! I also thought it was especially cool that he said to me-you take our child into the voting booth with you because you are the one making history tonight.

[Anonymous]

I think you need to get over yourself. You sound really self righteous. It's been 3 days - how much interaction have you really had with all these people? Most moderate Republicans I know have moved on and support the president elect, as John McCain suggested in his concession speech.

[Anonymous]

OK I guess all the racist talk going on at my family's house and my husbands job is all in my head and should not bother me, even though I am trying to find some kind of peace with them. I guess I am a bitch for even acknowledging it or asking how to deal with it. I am wrong to come here and talk about it. So pretend it doesn't exist and all we be fine and dandy. Thanks for all your thoughts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I go to work, my whole office is joyful. We can't stop gloating amongst ourselves. When I go to my relatives, I must hide my joy and turn my head when they start in on the anti-Obama talk. Ugh...I show them respect by not rubbing it in their face, and being one who doesn't like to start up heated arguments in my family, I try to avoid it as much as I can. I let them rant and say nothing back. But now it feels tense when I go over there.

My husband's office is all pro-Obama except for one girl who has been in a mean, rotten mood all week. She was always nice before the whole election, but now, her true racist colors are showing and has a huge chip on her shoulder toward DH and other colleagues. I'm hoping they all lighten up over time and take McCain's advice to come together.

What are your experiences?

Well, maybe your self-described "gloating" is annoying to others. An interesting point about racism, many Caucasians voted for an African -American, few A.A. voted for the white candidate. If the statistics had gone the other way, you know we'd be hearing about how racist the white electorate is. The whole issue is depressing, how polarized our nation is. But continue to gloat , if you must, if this is the example you want to set for your children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OK I guess all the racist talk going on at my family's house and my husbands job is all in my head and should not bother me, even though I am trying to find some kind of peace with them. I guess I am a bitch for even acknowledging it or asking how to deal with it. I am wrong to come here and talk about it. So pretend it doesn't exist and all we be fine and dandy. Thanks for all your thoughts.

Calm down. First, those you are reacting to are not the entire group out here. Second, I think part of the problem is that postings are often misinterpreted. For example, I don't think it was clear at the start that you were asking advice on how to deal with a specific group of Republicans around you rather than making an attack on Republicans in general.

In an attempt to avoid confusion about my own intent, let me add that I am not faulting your post, but trying to say that, especially in this online medium, misunderstanding is a constant threat, and both writer and reader should work extra hard to avoid it. When you write, assume someone will misunderstand if it is humanly possible. When you read, try to imagine whether there might be a more benign intent than what you first perceive.

[Anonymous]

I only gloated amongst Obama supporters in my office where there are no kids or republicans to offend, and why not? Aren't we supposed to be happy our candidate won? But when I am in the company of republicans, I am very cordial. A few that I have daily contact with, are not so cordial. In fact they are the opposite of cordial, and quite hatefule. And not all of them are white....I never stated what race they were, as I am mixed. Go ahead and defend my racist relatives, I'm not the one trying to be divisive.

[Anonymous]

OP I'm experiencing the same thing with my sister, only it's been over the phone. I know she's a Rep. and I have remained silent regarding the election. Yesterday she called and was almost hysterical about Obama in the White House, all the Dems in Congress, her taxes, blah, blah, blah. The sky is falling according to her. I tried to put a positive spin on it and expressed hopefullness about the economy, Iraq, etc., to no avail. I can't believe we come from the same family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:An interesting point about racism, many Caucasians voted for an African -American, few A.A. voted for the white candidate. If the statistics had gone the other way, you know we'd be hearing about how racist the white electorate is.

I know this is an obvious point, but I think it's worth remembering: In every past election, the white voters voted 100% for someone of their own race and black voters voted 100% across racial lines. Whatever imbalance existed in this election was nowhere near that blatant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OK I guess all the racist talk going on at my family's house and my husbands job is all in my head and should not bother me, even though I am trying to find some kind of peace with them. I guess I am a bitch for even acknowledging it or asking how to deal with it. I am wrong to come here and talk about it. So pretend it doesn't exist and all we be fine and dandy. Thanks for all your thoughts.

Calm down. First, those you are reacting to are not the entire group out here. Second, I think part of the problem is that postings are often misinterpreted. For example, I don't think it was clear at the start that you were asking advice on how to deal with a specific group of Republicans around you rather than making an attack on Republicans in general.

In an attempt to avoid confusion about my own intent, let me add that I am not faulting your post, but trying to say that, especially in this online medium, misunderstanding is a constant threat, and both writer and reader should work extra hard to avoid it. When you write, assume someone will misunderstand if it is humanly possible. When you read, try to imagine whether there might be a more benign intent than what you first perceive.

you are so right about the online medium misunderstanding. I did not mean to offend ALL republicans. I love my parents and my sister who are Republicans, and I kow they are not racist. But there are also people I know, encounter, must be polite to, that have horrible racist beliefs and have growing antipathy toward Obama supporters. They can talk against him all the time, but if I mention anything bad about McCain, I'm dishonoring my family? I guess my efforts to keep quiet around my family, comes out on this board because I am so frustrated with them.