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Joe941

(2,848 posts)
Sat Dec 22, 2018, 10:14 AM Dec 2018

I'm Not Seeing My Trump-Loving Family On Christmas And I Couldn't Be Happier About It

https://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_5c17d7bce4b030ed3ed001d0?ec_carp=7833643173178993602

This Christmas will be the third one I haven’t spent in my hometown. It’s a small town in southern Kentucky filled with more than its fair share of Donald Trump bumper stickers and Confederate flags. But even before Trump was elected president, it always made me feel claustrophobic.

The end of this holiday season will also cap the second calendar year I’ve gone without speaking to my parents, and by extension, the rest of my family. My holidays are no longer spent at my grandparents’ house with my parents, sister, uncle and random cousins. My parents helping to put Trump in office was the final nail in the coffin of a relationship that had long been rocky.

And despite people’s well-intended (but unnecessary) sympathy, life has never been happier for me.
14 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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I'm Not Seeing My Trump-Loving Family On Christmas And I Couldn't Be Happier About It (Original Post) Joe941 Dec 2018 OP
My New Years Resolution DUgosh Dec 2018 #1
My trump* loving cousin is coming by for dinner on Christmas Eve Siwsan Dec 2018 #2
trump loving cousin pamdb Dec 2018 #3
VERY badly Siwsan Dec 2018 #4
union Hermit-The-Prog Dec 2018 #6
It's a mystery to me, too. Siwsan Dec 2018 #7
My husband works for the RR and there are plenty of Trump supporters despite being a union member helpisontheway Dec 2018 #8
Good luck, Siwsan. roamer65 Dec 2018 #11
Ever show a Trumpista video clips that never made it to Faux Snooze TruckFump Dec 2018 #5
I'm always puzzled when families who can't stand one another still get together on the holidays. Vinca Dec 2018 #9
This part.... irisblue Dec 2018 #10
If any rumper wants to talk politics bring it on...it ends up with them not wanting to talk about it UniteFightBack Dec 2018 #12
I understand being happy about not seeing them Downtown Hound Dec 2018 #13
We're struggling with this. Adrahil Dec 2018 #14

DUgosh

(3,052 posts)
1. My New Years Resolution
Sat Dec 22, 2018, 10:20 AM
Dec 2018

Is to suspend all my relationships with those who continue to be willing Russian assets

Siwsan

(26,176 posts)
2. My trump* loving cousin is coming by for dinner on Christmas Eve
Sat Dec 22, 2018, 10:25 AM
Dec 2018

He's a 75, retired union guy who watches nothing but Fox. There was no way to get around inviting him.

Everyone else who is coming to dinner is a die hard Liberal and Democrat. We are going to ATTEMPT to make it a politics free evening, but I'm not optimistic that will happen. And, the odds are he will be the first to breach.

Siwsan

(26,176 posts)
4. VERY badly
Sat Dec 22, 2018, 10:39 AM
Dec 2018

He also informed his brother that giving women the vote was one of the biggest mistakes this country ever made. And, yea, his brother shared that tidbit with me. His brother and I are much closer - he's the cousin who is closest in age, with me, and we are both veterans, so we have that in common.

I am not sure if downing a couple of Manhattans, before he arrives, will be a smart move, or not.

Hermit-The-Prog

(33,021 posts)
6. union
Sat Dec 22, 2018, 12:57 PM
Dec 2018

I still can't figure out why any union member would vote for a GOPer. It's been clear that they want to destroy unions since the days of rotten Ronnie and the Newt.

Siwsan

(26,176 posts)
7. It's a mystery to me, too.
Sat Dec 22, 2018, 01:01 PM
Dec 2018

And there is never a rational response to a challenge on something he says about trump*. Which is why I hope that conversations stay pretty neutral. I can let someone know I think they are an asshole without saying a word, and sometimes I don't even realize I'm doing it.

helpisontheway

(5,004 posts)
8. My husband works for the RR and there are plenty of Trump supporters despite being a union member
Sat Dec 22, 2018, 01:28 PM
Dec 2018

They say Trump is gonna bring back coal and keep the illegals out. 🙄. They just totally disregard the fact that we will no longer be able to claim union fees or their trip related expenses due to the so called Trump tax cut. Let’s see how much they love him at tax time.

roamer65

(36,739 posts)
11. Good luck, Siwsan.
Sat Dec 22, 2018, 02:03 PM
Dec 2018

Just tell everyone to ignore his political comments and immediately change topic if he makes them. That will deliver the message very well.

TruckFump

(5,812 posts)
5. Ever show a Trumpista video clips that never made it to Faux Snooze
Sat Dec 22, 2018, 10:48 AM
Dec 2018

So many of these assholes SWEAR that they are fake. Like the recent one when Trump tells "Chuck and Nancy" how he will shut down the government. Fake news, fake news -- they scream!

Where the hell did these morons come from? Under rocks? And it's not just those who have not been exposed to multiple real life sources. There are Trumpists out there who actually lived in the real world. WTF?

IMO: None are so blind as those who chose NOT to see.

Vinca

(50,168 posts)
9. I'm always puzzled when families who can't stand one another still get together on the holidays.
Sat Dec 22, 2018, 01:45 PM
Dec 2018

Just because you share some DNA doesn't make you a family. You're doing the right thing. Sanity first.

irisblue

(32,828 posts)
10. This part....
Sat Dec 22, 2018, 01:56 PM
Dec 2018

"But with our family relationships, we’re often guilted into staying no matter how toxic the situation. We’re pressured into trying to make it work with people who are often viscerally at odds with everything we believe in ― because it’s the “right” thing to do.

What’s more, we’re told that if we decide to leave or distance ourselves from our family, it’s “immature.” “Can’t you just talk it out?” we’re asked. Or better yet, we’re told, “Can’t you just not talk about politics?”

But what use is that? Why would I want a relationship that needs to constantly be policed to avoid fighting or the realization that we have nothing in common? Why would I want a relationship limited to surface-level conversations about work and sports in order to steer away from discussing topics that truly make us who we are? I know I can’t change the way they think or feel. They’re not changing my beliefs. How valuable is a relationship where you have to hide or lie about who you really are?"

 

UniteFightBack

(8,231 posts)
12. If any rumper wants to talk politics bring it on...it ends up with them not wanting to talk about it
Sat Dec 22, 2018, 02:13 PM
Dec 2018

anymore because they are divorced from reality. So we are all on a don't bring anything up rule. Fine by me....but they better not say one got damn peep because I will destroy them.

Downtown Hound

(12,618 posts)
13. I understand being happy about not seeing them
Sat Dec 22, 2018, 02:15 PM
Dec 2018

But this is the year where Donald Trump is really starting to be on the ropes, and it's only going to get worse. I'll be daring anybody to bring up the subject with me this year. Because I am going to enjoy watching them squirm their way out of it.

 

Adrahil

(13,340 posts)
14. We're struggling with this.
Sat Dec 22, 2018, 02:55 PM
Dec 2018

We usually go to see my in-laws after Christmas for a few days.

We had a HUGE political blow up with them this summer.

My wife really doesn't want to see them, but feels obligated because they are both quite old. Ugh.

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