Family Political Bickering

[a la izquierda]

So, after watching Larry King last night, and being thoroughly entertained by Jesse Ventura (not because I like or support him, but simply because it was amusing watching him), I headed off to bed. I'm happy I watched before I fell asleep, so that I could relax after seeing that traitorous slimeball, Lieberman, on stage. Mind you, down in Mexico I have two choices to keep up with US news on the boob-tube, CNN or CNN international.
But, I wake up this morning and my foul mood returned. It was an email from my sister-in-law, who I love dearly. You see, my husband's family is fairly conservative. My FIL served in the army in Korea, my BIL just retired after 20 years in the Air Force and my other BIL was a Marine. My husband did not serve. War and national security are very touchy subjects with them, a viewpoint I understand to some degree. Over the years, they have become more socially conservative in addition to their fiscal "conservatism", though my FIL had interesting ideas (i.e., no one making under $25000 should pay income taxes because they really can't afford to, etc.). To them, it's all about not being taxed to death. Whatever...
Anyway, they know darn well how I feel. Fortunately, one BIL does not send me emails. Ever. This is a good thing, because my husband showed me once what his brother sent and I nearly hit the roof. My husband is very laid back and was once much more moderate--had John McCain run on the exact platform that he did in 2000, hubby would probably vote for him (except, perhaps for the VP situation). But two family members will periodically send me political emails that get my blood boiling. Example: a picture of a dog peeing on a HRC campaign sign. I said nothing. Another time, a series of smears against Barack and Michelle. Again, nothing out of me. I do not want to fight with my family, particularly my husband's family. Today, however, was the final straw; the email was titled Bush's war and it was a video of clips going back to 1998- of Albright, Bill Clinton and others, making a case against Iraq. The email implied that calling Iraq "Bush's War" was scandalous and a bunch of lies.
I have always been of the opinion that family is first. I do not, ever, send political emails to them. Ever. I will talk politics only when it is brought up first at family discussions, but typically do not "go there". At Christmas, an uncle stated that Bill O'Reilly was the most objective journalist out there. I laughed in his face and said that I claimed the same thing for Keith Olbermann. My SIL tried to defuse the conversation, which did not help.
They never attack me personally...my own family will do that, to which I will respond with a vengeance. But the email this morning was the final straw. I replied politely, "No politics. We are family. You know where I stand and I will not vote for McCain and the PTA mom. I have never sent you these types of emails from my perspective, please respect that; but know that I can." I added, "For the record, it's called Bush's war, in part, because HE INVADED. Talk is one thing, INVADING on a pretext of deliberately falsified information is something else entirely. No more political emails, please. Send all the forwarded poems, chain letters, whatever that you like. But no politics. Thanks, love you."

But it really ruined my day.
Thanks for letting me rant. Okay, time to go to work.:rant:

[islandmkl]

1. my brother, who was left of...oh...trotsky...and was a vehement 'arguer'...

would respond to what he called 'tripe' with the simple admonishment:

"I prefer to continue to think you are informed, intelligent and thoughtful than to have it revealed to me that you are not."

His combative friends cherished the moments they triggered the comment...his adversaries (and he had many in redstate kansas) were always frustrated...

[a la izquierda]

2. That's a good comeback.

The SIL who sent the email is smart, and from NJ. I just got an email back from her, apologizing. She's very sweet, so I knew that one email would be all it took.
Still, my blood is boiling. Irish temper..

I actually just visited Trotsky's home in Mexico City a few weeks ago. Man, that guy lived the talk--what an austere place!!

[TooBigaTent]

3. I have a similar situation with my fundy in-laws. I do not send them emails and do not respond

to the shit they spew, either in emails or in person. This is out of respect and a direct request (?) from my wife.

The problem is, right-wing assholes do not show us the same respect, even when we ask them.

It really is a no-win situation for any human with a minimum of conscience and consideration for others. We can either simply take it (and erupt elsewhere at someone else) or respond and suffer the consequences.

I do not have any advice for other than to do whatever is necessary to maintain YOUR sanity and happiness. For me - it has been to cut myself off from any contact with them. There is some resulting tension with my wife over "you never visit my parents anymore" but that is the easier downside to deal with.

The repukes and their idiot supporters are totally to blame for the coarsening of political discourse in this country. The goddamn shame is that they are winning by using these tactics because we Dems are, at heart, decent human beings and do not go to the extremes that the enemy is willing to.

They have already won the war. The secret to surviving is to do just that - survive as best we can.

Do not expect to have them respect your wishes to maintain a truce. A scorpion must kill. It is their nature.