Thanksgiving Drama after the Election
@DeborahDiane (40851)
Laguna Woods, California
November 18, 2016 11:46pm CST
As most of you know, the recent presidential election has divided our country, as well as millions of families.
Over the past few days, I have heard several stories about families who dread seeing each other for Thanksgiving because of lingering tension over the election.
I know one couple who will only be seeing one of their three adult children, not because their children live too far away to come, but because the children are upset over the outcome of the election and they are angry with their parents who voted for Trump.
My husband and I are fortunate. Everyone in our family, from my 70 year old husband to our teenage grandkids, supported the same candidate. Although we are also disappointed by the outcome of the election, at least we are able to comfort and support each other. We look forward to being able to spend Thanksgiving with two of our daughters and their families. As we do on most holidays, we will all gather around the computer and Skype with the daughters who will not be able to join us because they live on the other side of the country.
At least we all supported the same candidate and there is no animosity within our family.
I'm so sad to see how this election has torn families apart.
Are you looking forward to a joyful holiday with your family?
14 people like this
13 responses
@DeborahDiane (40851)
• Laguna Woods, California
20 Nov 16
@LadyDuck - that is a very smart way to handle politics in your family. I have seen some very upset families here in the U.S., and that makes me sad.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (502886)
• Italy
20 Nov 16
@DeborahDiane I have seen very few families in Italy discussing politics. Even among friends it's not a major topic. There is something our parents always repeat since we are kids, with friends never discuss religion and politic, I suppose this became "genetic".
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40851)
• Laguna Woods, California
21 Nov 16
@LadyDuck - It is a good policy to never discuss politics and religion. Fortunately, virtually everyone in our family, like the majority of people in the US, voted for Clinton, so we can share our sorrow with each other.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40851)
• Laguna Woods, California
20 Nov 16
@JudyEv - Yes, it makes me very sad, too. I really do hope that families will feel more loving towards one another by Christmas. It would help if President-elect Trump would make some conciliatory statements, giving hope to immigrants, people who are worried about losing their insurance, gay people, and minorities.
3 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
20 Nov 16
@DeborahDiane And if he would not appoint racists as advisers and as Attorney General like Jeff Sessions.
3 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40851)
• Laguna Woods, California
21 Nov 16
@JamesHxstatic - Yes, I would love to see him appoint people who were more diverse, in philosophy, age, race and gender. He is surrounding himself only with white men in their 60s and 70s who think exactly the same way he does.
3 people like this
@moffittjc (128856)
• Gainesville, Florida
20 Nov 16
My extended family was split evenly down the middle...half for Hillary, half for Trump. But as far as I can tell, nobody has any animosity towards each other as a result. I'm sure the subject of politics will come up at some point over Thanksgiving dinner, but hopefully it won't digress into anything too negative!
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40851)
• Laguna Woods, California
21 Nov 16
@moffittjc - I hope everyone keeps things loving and happy at your Thanksgiving celebration, too. I am lucky that virtually everyone in our family supported Clinton, so we can all drown our sorrows together. Even our minister shared in church this morning that he, too, was very disappointed by the election results. We are surrounded by people who feel the same way we do, and that is very comforting.
2 people like this
@jillybean1222 (6406)
•
21 Nov 16
My family is very divided about politics, but we normally avoid discussion about it. (my dad and husband had a big argument about 10 years ago due to political differences). One time, it was funny, we were playing a game at Thanksgiving (apples to apples) and you had to compare a card in your hand to the card that was drawn. Anyway, the card was something like Dishonest or Evil or something negative... It was funny because one person happened to put "Republican' and another happened to put "democrat" .... We all got a good laugh about it.
2 people like this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
13 Apr 17
This is literally the first time ever the word "evil" has applied to the POTUS, in my opinion. I have a pretty much even "win/loss" record when it comes to Presidential elections, but I've always accepted, even if sometimes rather grudgingly, the person who won. I've always resisted using the "lesser of two evils" phrase regarding our choices because I honestly never thought any of our major nominees were evil. Maybe misguided on some of the issues, maybe a bit out of touch with the common people, maybe too hawkish for my taste, but "evil"? No, they were just basically decent people who truly believed they were doing the right thing for the American people.
That all changed on January 20, 2017 and I'm heartsick over it and I've lost my usual optimistic nature.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40851)
• Laguna Woods, California
21 Nov 16
@jillybean - I'm glad your family has such a good attitude about politics. That is wonderful!
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40851)
• Laguna Woods, California
14 Apr 17
@anniepa - You are not the only person who feels this way. It has also driven many independents, progressives, liberals and Democrats to become activists and that could cause things to change dramatically during the mid-term elections. Do not give up; get active. Sign up for Countable. Join the Resistance on Facebook. Re-Tweet opinions you agree with. Go to a March ... like the Tax March this Saturday on April 15 or the March for Science on April 22. These efforts are making a difference. They are the reason Trump has had such a hard time getting his policies approved. However, it is important that people keep up the pressure and do not give up.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
20 Nov 16
We will be driving up to Portland for Thanksgiving with my daughter, who will host in her home she bought on her own. She is pretty excited about it. Whole Foods is cooking though, since she is vegetarian and we are not.
2 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
21 Nov 16
@DeborahDiane True and I am impressed that I heard that Orange County went blue for the first time ever!
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40851)
• Laguna Woods, California
21 Nov 16
@JamesHxstatic - More and more I am surrounded by more liberal friends. After living in Texas for 25 years, it is comforting to be surrounded by other people who feel the same way I do. I don't have to keep pretending to be more conservative than I really am! LOL
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40851)
• Laguna Woods, California
21 Nov 16
@JamesHxstatic - Our daughters have gone through vegetarian stages, so I know that can create some unusual combinations during Thanksgiving! We are actually celebrating on Tuesday, because that is when our family will be here. I am lucky that virtually everyone in our family supported Clinton, so we can all drown our sorrows together. Even our minister shared in church this morning that he, too, was very disappointed by the election results. We are surrounded by people who feel the same way we do, and that is very comforting.
2 people like this
@rajeshrockstar (546)
•
19 Nov 16
Yes, i have a holidays on next month. I hope to spend with my family.
2 people like this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
12 Apr 17
It's weird how Thanksgiving as well the that horrid election seem so long ago in a way but like they were just a few days ago in another. I've never known so much to happen, so many scandals and potential crimes and literally acts of treason to happen in such short succession.
Anyway, to answer your question, "retroactively" I guess, we had as good a Thanksgiving as we could, considering, but one thing I had to be thankful for was that my immediate family at least all voted for the same candidate. It sure is sad how families and the country in general has been torn apart. I'm up one minute and down the next...I mean, tonight I heard of the special Congressional election in Kansas in a district that always goes Republican by up to 30 or more points was actually very close. The Republican won but the fact that it was in single digits is almost like a win and gives me hope that the Democrats will not only retake the House in 2018 but take it by a bunch.
If only we live that long, that is, since Agent Orange has bragged about how “we are sending an armada, very powerful. We have submarines, very powerful, far more powerful than the aircraft carrier.” So here we are with two unstable lunatics ready to play with their nuclear toys.
1 person likes this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
13 Apr 17
@DeborahDiane I never before felt seriously threatened by nuclear war but I now feel it's a matter of WHEN and not IF and that the WHEN will be very soon. I can't sleep at night without a pill and I'm in a constant panic attack.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40851)
• Laguna Woods, California
14 Apr 17
@anniepa - Turn your energy into positive action. We can change things, if we do not give up.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40851)
• Laguna Woods, California
13 Apr 17
@anniepa - It is very frightening what is happening. For those of us who live on the West Coast, the idea of a nuclear attack is especially scary. I agree that the situation is very upsetting.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40851)
• Laguna Woods, California
20 Nov 16
@Hatley - People just seem generally edgy right now. I hope things smooth out, I'm afraid there are more difficulties ahead.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40851)
• Laguna Woods, California
20 Nov 16
@jstory07 - That is wonderful that your grandson voted for the first time. It is exciting to feel part of the election process.
@mom210 (9170)
• United States
20 Nov 16
Wow what a shame for those families. I have 3 sons of age to vote and out of the five of us that voted, there were three different candidates voted for. I could never be upset with my kids for voting how they feel they need to. I taught them to think for themselves. It is terrible that we have people saying things like that is not my president. Not all the presidents over the years have been everybody's candidate's but we all have the same President. We are all Americans.
1 person likes this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
14 Apr 17
@DeborahDiane That looks very promising, especially after that special election in Kansas. True, the Democrat lost but it was a seat where the Republican usually wins by thirty points or more and this time it was a seven point race. Nate Silver said if this trend holds the Democrats could gain over a HUNDRED seats next year.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40851)
• Laguna Woods, California
21 Nov 16
@mom210 - I have never seen a situation where someone was elected who was so widely disliked ... even hated ... by the majority of the people who voted. It is actually pretty shocking. I am lucky that virtually everyone in our family supported Clinton, so we can all drown our sorrows together. Even our minister shared in church this morning that he, too, was very disappointed by the election results. We are surrounded by people who feel the same way we do, and that is very comforting.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40851)
• Laguna Woods, California
14 Apr 17
@anniepa - Don't give up. Help us work towards our goal of flipping the House of Representatives next year. We want to do everything we can to slow down his agenda.
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
19 Nov 16
I find it sad that people can not live together and respect each other's differences. We have a lot in common without bringing politics or religion onto the table.
I read about a new bill...suck it up buttercup..,,.sounds like a lot of people need to grow up.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
20 Nov 16
@DeborahDiane You are so right in this opinion.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40851)
• Laguna Woods, California
20 Nov 16
@Morleyhunt - I have discovered that people who are in true fear for their lives and freedom ... immigrants, gay people, people who are worried about losing their health insurance, Muslims, other religious minorities, etc., do not appreciate being told "suck it up buttercup." In fact, that statement only makes things worse. I would never say that to someone because I know there are people who honestly believe this election puts their lives and safety at risk.
2 people like this
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
20 Nov 16
@DeborahDiane are the protesting students and those protesting in the streets that deathly afraid. I think not. The fact that they have the freedom to protest proves just the opposite.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40851)
• Laguna Woods, California
20 Nov 16
@HazySue - You are smart not to talk politics in the family. A lot of people are so afraid they are going to lose their rights that they are very distressed, however.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40851)
• Laguna Woods, California
21 Nov 16
@HazySue - Yes, politics do cause a lot of arguments during family gatherings.
@HazySue (39265)
• Gouverneur, New York
20 Nov 16
@DeborahDiane there are a whole lot less arguments when you don't talk politics.
1 person likes this
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
20 Nov 16
I am sad that this has happened- never before, even when people voted for different candidates, has the division occurred to such and extent. Hope they can mend the bridge and carry on soon!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40851)
• Laguna Woods, California
21 Nov 16
@Marymargll - I can remember presidents going back to Eisenhower, and I have voted for people in both political parties, and I can never remember so much unhappiness over the results of an election. I am lucky that virtually everyone in our family supported Clinton, so we can all drown our sorrows together. Even our minister shared in church this morning that he, too, was very disappointed by the election results. We are surrounded by people who feel the same way we do, and that is very comforting.
1 person likes this
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
23 Nov 16
@DeborahDiane Yes, I'm sure there'll be lots of comments and jokes around the Thanksgiving table this year for sure!
