Opinion | Show love to your family members this Thanksgiving, not partisanship

Family should always take precedence over politics

With Thanksgiving fast approaching, a question on many American’s minds is something like, “How am I supposed to remain civil with my crazy MAGA uncle?” or “How do I avoid cussing out my Trump-deranged mother-in-law?”

These are valid questions. You can’t control what people say, and you definitely can’t control what they believe. And there may not be a clean, easy answer.

But I can tell you what the answer is not.

You shouldn’t exclude family members from the holiday just because of their political views, unless there’s a serious safety or well-being issue. Shutting people out only deepens the divide, eliminates any chance for better understanding, and can even push both them and you further into your own extremes.

I know — that’s a big ask.

“Why should I invite my crazy MAGA uncle when he calls everyone retards and shouts ‘Make America Great Again!’ whenever the idea of feeding hungry people comes up?”

I get it. No one said coexisting with people who seem diametrically opposed to your worldview would be easy.

But it is a sign of maturity when you extend an olive branch to someone you may see as too far gone — a lost cause, even. And remember: this isn’t some stranger you bumped into on a random Thursday morning while debating which overpriced pumpkin latte to waste your money on.

This is family.

They are something — someone — to be grateful for.

Despite their staunch opposition to your perspective, this might be the one thing they’ve been looking forward to all year: the family getting together to celebrate what there is to be thankful for. To celebrate each other’s presence, your lives, and whatever blessings you share.

That’s the space where healing and unity become possible again.

So instead of pre-emptively politicizing what’s supposed to be a time of celebration and togetherness, let it simply be what it’s meant to be.

---