It is 2025 and the United States is the most powerful country in the Western world. If you want to call it an empire, it is the most powerful empire in the world. Our presidential election seems to determine the fate of the world.
We – all of us who vote, hold the planet's destiny in our hands. We live in the most interesting stories on the planet. We care very much. We follow all developments. We are strict, certain, and all we can think of is politics.
Is it really important to “win” one of these fights? We won't win anything if we beat our family mercilessly over our heads with facts and logic.
I can understand. It may be rude to say that, but it's not that important in terms of world history. That's what America is.
If people all over the world seem to have strong opinions about what is happening in the US, why shouldn't we?
We should. But what do we do about our families?
When you're a family “racist”
Some of us have families who vote in the same way. Many aren't. Brothers who call you racist. Sisters you think you misogynize. Parents say, “I don't understand you anymore.” This is all just because you voted for Trump.
Of course, in the face of this, we go double down. Why don't we? We are humans and they are attacking us. It makes us worse. He accuses him of being as sleazy as cartoons, as he votes for something he would have been voted only 15 years ago. Often we seem to be just people who remember how normal our past lives were.
And if it's random people on the street, this isn't that important. But when it's your own family, it will torment you. All we have to do is dig into the heels. Not only are you trying to protect yourself, you know that they need to understand what you understand.
They are smart. They grew up with you. They raised you. Why don't they get it?
Facts and logic for rescue?
“If I push back enough, say the right thing and hit them on the ground with real facts, I can make them understand.”
That's what we say to ourselves. And that's the same thing they say to themselves. But they haven't changed, and we have not changed. So we're fighting about the latest culture war at family dinner. We scream at each other about foreign policy during our holidays. We comment on tax policy just to tear each other.
It's all so meaningless. A tense relationship and a ruined evening is everything that comes from it. that's it. There's nothing else you really get. They won't change, and you won't change either.
I know all these feelings and situations well. I was stuck with them. There's no more.
Trump loves Trump
In 2025, my brother and his spouse will vote just like my wife and me. Our parents don't, but that's fine. They have a lot of numbers for our kids and they are basically old fashioned conservative Democrats anyway.
And of course, they are my parents and I love them, so that really doesn't matter. And they are good people. Very good person.
I was caught up in the same argument as my family. But one day I just stopped.
I realized that politics really doesn't matter when it comes to families. Yes, morality is important. It's always important. There's something that went too far. Something that violates our deep morals. Things that go against nature, and even those things, we may need to take a very uncomfortable attitude.
But they are rare. Most political differences are not actually about these deep moral issues. We can do most things with our family. You can choose not to be angry.
A meaningless argument
Most of the things that start the discussion are not even actions that everyone will take part in anyway. They are often abstract opinions on esoteric issues. topic. Hot take. That's what we're all angry about. It's meaningless.
Is it really important to “win” one of these fights? We won't win anything if we beat our family mercilessly over our heads with facts and logic. If everyone sleeps hating each other, it's not a victory. If you don't talk any more, it won't succeed because you don't vote the same way.
Is it a defeatist? perhaps. But it's family. Are you canvasting family reunions? Will the three votes that I think might turn my grandma's funeral really make or break the medium term? Is it really worth it?
Narrator: “He actually didn't overturn the midterm votes being decided at my grandmother's funeral, but it pissed off the rest of the family.”
Yes, politics is important. Yes, we live in the most interesting stories on the planet. Yes, world history is made in our elections. It's all true, but sometimes it's even more important. Sometimes politics is not important.
Especially when it comes to family.
