My nephew is turning into a wingnut.

[Ladyhawk]

I thought it might be safer to post this in the lounge. In GD, it got derailed by tangential topics and a flame war. I don't really trust the lounge all that much, either, but whatever.

Over the last several years, I finally decided I was not in a position to challenge my right-wing family members. I have chronic illnesses and it's just too stressful. I am wondering if I should make an exception for my 18-year-old nephew who is buying into the hate-machine currently wielded by the far right. Obviously, he's young and stupid. I was young and stupid once, too. :)

Everyone in the family is fine with his bigotry and stupidity except me (and perhaps a few distant cousins he never speaks to).

Talking about this with him could be REALLY bad for my health. Still, while he was growing up I hoped he would find the strength to question the "values" of our family and arrive at a different place. The prospects don't look very good.

I'm just seeing if anyone has any decent ideas. I've learned the hard way that following advice on the Internets can get you into trouble, but I can evaluate various opinions for myself.

1. Would you try to intervene?
2. If so, how?

Also, I'm not exactly a political or economical wizard. I arrived at my own conclusions only after Bush became president. My interests lie elsewhere, so I'm not the best debater when it comes to politics. I can hold my own defending my atheism, but to me it's more important that my nephew learn to feel empathy for people who are different from him (gays, arabs, African Americans, etc.) first.

[XemaSab]

1. Is he going to go away to college?

:shrug:

[ReliantJ]

2. and turn liberal =)

[Ladyhawk]

4. Probably not. He didn't plan to go to college and now he's directionless.

I went to college and I've felt directionless my whole life, so I really can't bitch about that.

I've encouraged him to go to college, but his mother isn't going to pay for it and I doubt his father will, either. Until the last year or so he never made any noises about going to college and now it's too late, money-wise. No one can afford to pay his way.

If I could, I would. I can't even take care of myself.

[XemaSab]

6. He can't go to JC for a few years and then transfer?

:shrug:

[Ladyhawk]

7. He's taking some classes at JC.

I have a feeling he'll take courses in fire science and then become a firefighter. At least, that's the direction he's headed. It won't exactly expand his horizons.

[Ladyhawk]

8. Jesus, I need to keep a blog on the trials of loving right-wingers.

Another near-spat with mother tonight...jeezus pleezus.

[Midlodemocrat]

3. Swear to God, I thought this said

my nephew is turning into a vampire.

I think I have Twilight on the Brain, thanks to BabyM.

[Ladyhawk]

5. Better a vampire than a wingnut. :)

At least being a vampire doesn't mean you've bought into the right-wing hysteria machine.

[keroro gunsou]

10. midlo-obahan

take the twilight books and burn them. give mini-midlo a copy of the watchmen graphic novel or some of the older marvel GNs like x-men: god loves, man kills. trust me you'll thank me later... or not...

or worse, send me some blank dvds and i'll personally guarantee a changed mini-midlo >:) and no it won't be pron... worst case scenario, mini-midlo will learn a foreign language via osmosis.... :D

[ghostsofgiants]

9. Brutal.

Get him to read A People's History of the United States and The Shock Doctrine. Both very solid books that should progressivize any reasonable person.

[Ladyhawk]

12. How about I offer to read any 3 books he recommends with him

and he read any three books I recommend.

Then we go after the facts behind the books. If I were up to it physically, this would be a good approach. Unfortunately, I just had the very beginnings of a political spat with my mother and I can feel anxiety symptoms. This isn't a good time for me, health-wise.

[jobycom]

11. Don't intervene, he won't listen. Just provide a good example.

Challenge his views by being the opposite of what he expects. Maybe he'll question what he's heard when it doesn't match what he sees. Other than that, he'll have to figure it out on his own.

[Ladyhawk]

13. I've been doing this to my mother. It's driving her nuts.

I have been agreeing with the people she hates. According to right-wing gospel, she should hate me, too. Unfortunately, her world view can't accept my world view OR hate me. For a right-winger it's an either/or situation and it's driving her bugshit. I know, because she programmed me the same way and it gives me headaches when I'm accepting how complicated life really is. REAL headaches. BIG ones. My brain still insists, "DOES NOT COMPUTE."

I was just going to write an OP entitled, "Mom, you have to hate me, too," but on DU it might be a waste of time and energy.