The Debate That Wasn’t
Christmas Day at my grandma’s was supposed to be a rematch between me and my conservative Republican extended family–specifically my uncle Vic. Well, Vic didn’t show up until well after I’d left my grandmother’s, so I proclaimed victory by default.
He and I have one thing in common–we’re political junkies.
The first and last time I talked politics with my uncle Vic was two years ago–the week before x-mas–when I made an unexpected visit to the heartland on the unhappy occasion of my uncle Val’s death. Probably because we were all willing to talk about anything but, the topic turned to politics and the then-recent 2004 elections.
It’s kind of funny looking back, because I can’t remember specifics, but I remember what my uncles and grandfather said to me about Iraq: “Just you wait.”
I’m a little bit disappointed that I didn’t get to learn whether I need to keep waiting.
Is anyone else out there the only liberal in a family of conservatives?
Count me in as the Black sheep in a conservative family! I know how it is, my uncle and cousins in Maryland are die hard Bush fans, nothing he does is wrong to them.
Unfortunately, not everyone sees the light, and logic, of what’s going on.
We are third generation lefties.
Our “black sheep” is my cousin who is in favor of the death penalty.
Come to think of it, he is probably pleased that Saddam Hussein will be hanged in 30 days.
All Republicans at my Christmas dinner, as far as I could tell. Silly me, I brought up the weather as a safe topic, and my cousin said, “Well, it HAS been a very warm winter – there’s no snow on the commercial slope by our property (on a mountain in New England)…Of course, not that I’d believe anything Al Gore has to say…”
oh-KAY, just tiptoe away from that one… as your uncle said, “Just you wait about…global warming.”
Her husband was telling me about a friend of his who has taken on the local New England croney culture of “having a friend who can take care of it,” whether the friend is on a town committee or a cop or whatever. The friend has made a point of blowing the croneyism out of the water, to disastrous results. His wife practically checks under the car before she gets in it.
What was interestting was tht although they’re quite conservative, the key here was his trying to decide whether to get involved. The nods and winks allowed an ill advised gas station or something to be permitted to be built along a major scenic and tourist-important lake. It could well damage it environmentally, and he is sick about that.
I encouraged him to get involved, even if it was to go to town meetings and convey the impression that people are actually providing some sunshine here.
I think he was a little shocked to find himself considering some activism — since his image of being an activist is so negative.