Handling friends with very different views?

[Anonymous]

my son's best friend and his family , whom we are close to, are trump supporters. I'm finding it hard to handle lately as a pretty liberal D. I'm married to a middle of the road R. I usually can just let it go but this ejection I can't really handle when we are together and they talk about their pro trump views. Advice?

[Anonymous]

Election!

[Anonymous]

Ask them to talk about something else. 'Hey, let's not talk politics today. What are you guys doing this weekend?'

[Anonymous]

Trump is good at talking in a way that gets people all excited. But he sucks on execution and follow through.

I am Jewish. Trump wants to label every Muslim in this country, every Mexican (who he assumes is here illegally). My relatives had to wear a star. We know how this story ends. I would not be able to allow people who believe this is a good thing, in my house. The child, sure, but the adults who should know better? No.

[Anonymous]

If they are dominating the conversation with their views it is rude regardless of who they are or who they support.

[Anonymous]

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Trump is good at talking in a way that gets people all excited. But he sucks on execution and follow through.

I am Jewish. Trump wants to label every Muslim in this country, every Mexican (who he assumes is here illegally). My relatives had to wear a star. We know how this story ends. I would not be able to allow people who believe this is a good thing, in my house. The child, sure, but the adults who should know better? No.

I hear ya. I feel similarly

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ask them to talk about something else. 'Hey, let's not talk politics today. What are you guys doing this weekend?'

I do this all of the time with regard to politics and have for years. It really isn't that hard unless you are looking for an excuse to ditch everyone from your life with whom you disagree politically.

[Anonymous]

Our close-knit group has different political persuasions. When we get together socially we do not discuss politics ever. Say it gently but directly.

[Anonymous]

Why do you have to "handle" your friends? Respect the difference in opinions and move on.

[Anonymous]

It's tough. I'm a pretty far left Progressive. I have friends and family across the political spectrum-I don't have a problem talking to Jill Stein supporters, Gary Johnson supporters, Clinton supporters, super conservative Catholic friends who have a strong moral objection to abortion, veterans, police officers, and other people who are working from a really different worldview from mine. I can have some sort of substantive conversation with all of those people even if we strongly disagree. But Trump represents nothing coherent beyond megalomania with a side of fascism. Personally, I'm just avoiding the few Trump supporters I know until after the election, because for me Trump is just not morally or ideologically defensible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ask them to talk about something else. 'Hey, let's not talk politics today. What are you guys doing this weekend?'

I do this all of the time with regard to politics and have for years. It really isn't that hard unless you are looking for an excuse to ditch everyone from your life with whom you disagree politically.

I envy people like you who have friends and family who listen when you say this! I've had to forcefully and awkwardly change the subject and leave the room to escape the Right Wing insult brigade.

[Anonymous]

I think it's more about how you view them now that you know how pro-Trump they are. It's like you see a whole different side of them that you didn't know existed, and you don't like what you see.

I don't know the answer. If you still want to remain friends, like PPs stated, just say politely "I don't think we should talk about politics", and move on.

[Anonymous]

In my 50s, but I grew up with the understanding that you don't talk politics and religion in pretty much most situations. Invariably leads to general ickiness between friends. You're not going to change each others minds so why go there?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In my 50s, but I grew up with the understanding that you don't talk politics and religion in pretty much most situations. Invariably leads to general ickiness between friends. You're not going to change each others minds so why go there?

Agree just hard sometimes