Racsist, xenophobic, homophobic, capitalistic

[Mendocino]

sibling and family are visiting. My parents are old and in poor health, it may be the last time they ever see them. So I want to make it a pleasant time for all. However I have nearly reached my boiling point. They whine about affirmative action, they whine about gay agendas, they wouldn't want a Mosque next to their gated community (as if), Obama is a socialist, damn do-gooding treehuggers, on and on and on!

They know my views, but they are deliberately confrontational. I already told my brother to pipe down, but it goes on. I'm ready to tell my SIL to STFU. I appeal to keeping the family peace, they tell me if there is friction, it's my fault. ARRRGHH

takes deep breath

They fly home Sunday...is it Sunday yet?

[sakabatou]

1. You have 2 more days of hell

Good luck.

[Mendocino]

10. Thanks, in a little over 24 hours

we get our life back.

[TheKentuckian]

2. I'm sorry you're going through it, Sunday is coming

[Mendocino]

11. They live in the SF bay area,

(I'm in Ohio) and hardly ever visit. I see them about every two or three years, but that is a good thing

[fascisthunter]

3. try leaving the house for a stroll somewhere if you can

walking and thinking always relax me. Hope your weekend go better.

[Mendocino]

13. I 've gone out each night waliking the dog

for an hour or so. The dog gets tired, I find a place to set for awhile, just to avoid them.

[fascisthunter]

34. it helps a little

it's not a fix all but know it's there during those tough situations. Hang in there.

[soleft]

4. According to Buddha they are your best teachers

teaching you infinite wisdom, compassion and tolerance.

I go to the same school.

[Mendocino]

14. Then I've found perfect zen,

by tomorrow..Nirvana.

[geardaddy]

5. Ignore them.

Refuse to talk to them about anything.

[Mendocino]

16. They're so obtuse, they just keep blabbering.

if not to me, to my wife or to our son.

[AlinPA]

6. I told my bil to go fuck himself and haven't been to his place in 3 years.

He is a an asshole right winger.

[Mendocino]

17. You can't imagine how much i want to,

but I don't want Mom and Dad to be hurt.

[Stevenmarc]

7. Personally I would

take them to a lovely restaurant without the parents, order your hearts desire, wait till you have at least finished your entree, then lay into the fuckers get up walk out and leave them the bill.

Oh yeah make sure you take separate cars for a clean getaway

[Mendocino]

18. We did all go out last night,

I was tempted.

[Whoa_Nelly]

8. Start saying, "Uh-hu..yeah sire..you are right."

Do this every time, don't waver from the broken record response you choose in just agreeing with them, add nothing to the discussion, and guaranteed, they will stop...even if they try to get you riled by asking you why you are agreeing...answer: Yeah, I am. They WANT the drama...defuse'em, don't give them what they want..and then give a sweet and unforgettable parting shot as the door hits'em in ass when they leave.

:evilgrin: Some days it's good to be so diabolical.

[Mendocino]

19. Might give it a try,

appealing to their hunanity sure doesn't work.

[sixmile]

9. You can't fix stupid

Just tell them you do not believe what they believe and leave it alone. They sound like ignorant bores.

[Mendocino]

20. For all their education.

two BAs, two masters degrees and a law degree between them, they certainly haven't gained wisdom. I graduated with a BA from a state school and they never let me forget it.

[Initech]

12. Oh man my dad's side of the family is like that.

It sucks... there's not a whole lot you can do to fix stupid.

[Mendocino]

21. The sister is only person in my immediate family and among my in laws

in-laws that is even moderate. Sometimes My wife, Son and I feel like a blue oasis in a huge dry red desert.

[Initech]

33. I live in Orange County, California. You want to talk ultra conservative...

I saw a teabagger nut outside the post office who had a poster comparing Obama to hitler.

[seabeyond]

15. that is tomorrow, you can do it. my brother calls me and then make political jabs continuously

i tell him.... i dont want to talk politics. i dont want to talk politics. i dont want to talk politics. i dont want to talk politics. i dont want to talk politics. i dont want to talk politics. i dont want to talk politics. i dont want to talk politics.

yet he continues. then i yell... his foxs news watching talking points and he has the audacity to tell me how unfair i am, and why yell

cause

i dont want to talk politics. i dont want to talk politics. i dont want to talk politics. i dont want to talk politics.

hubby tells me to hang up on him. i just can't. tis rude.

[Mendocino]

24. I know what thats like.

I don't bring anything up but they do. I say "I would rather not talk about it"

But they always do and if then I disagree, I'm the one thats "wrong".

I try to be patient, and patience is a virtue but...I'm nearly at the end of virtue.

[ohheckyeah]

22. I finally told a number of family

members that if they didn't want to hear my side of things they weren't to bring up religion and politics and then say "I don't want to argue", which in effect meant, "I want to spout my shit but you keep your mouth shut." It doesn't work that way and I refuse to be treated that way.

[Mendocino]

26. They are covinced with such a sense of entitlement

that no one or nothing surpasses them.

[ohheckyeah]

28. I know how it is.

My husband and I are the only real liberals in the family, although my 84 year old parents are infinitely more liberal than my siblings and their spouses.

[Capitalocracy]

23. I got a family member like that

my wife's aunt's husband is extremely right-wing. He's intelligent, educated, but has bought into Fox News's logic hook, line, and sinker. And the few times we're in the same place (he's in the U.S. and I'm in Argentina... he's an engineer and went there to work for an oil company and I am stuck here because I don't meet the financial requirements to sponsor my wife as an immigrant) all he wants to do is talk to me about politics. I try to change the subject, I never bring it up, but the first thing he always does is try to convince me that Obama's an evil Communist out to destroy the nation. And the rest of the Argentine family has to sit there not knowing what the heck we're talking about as we argue the nuances of political extremism in the U.S. in Spanglish.

[Mendocino]

25. Sometimes that is what is so scary.

When seemingly intelligent people drink so much Kool-Aid, that they become oblivious.

[Dappleganger]

27. If they are in YOUR home...

you can insist that in order to keep things peaceful, you don't wish anyone to discuss politics or religion. Stress to them that you really want to spend time with them to just enjoy THEM, and you want things to be without a bunch of arguments.

If you're in their home there's not really much you can do.

[Mendocino]

30. Short of actually ordering them out of house,

I don't think anything would work. Right now they out for awhile, even the oblivious can sense tension. So I just need to get through tomorrow. I refuse to be the bad guy here for the sake of my parents. The next time I see them will likely be a funeral.

[Skidmore]

29. Tell them that this visit is for your parents and

that the bottom line is there will be no discussion of politics but a chance to create a memory with them at this time in their lives. And if they cannot abide by that, they are welcome to sow discord elsewhere.

[Kurovski]

31. Ask a lot of personal questions about when they (or you & siblings)

were young. What were weddings like, trips, school concerts, everyday life. what were everyone's favorite dinners back then? Birthday presents? favorite old Friends, living and dead. places you lived, games you played, the shared family crisis that all pulled together to overcome. Jobs, favorite or hated. ask about favorite grammar school teachers and memorable events.

Make a list in your head of topics, keep everyone encouraged to share substantially, veer away politely, covertly, from politics wherever possible.

Let your folks know that you appreciate and want to hear about what you all used to do together, not just attitudes on things.

Did anyone build a tree house, igloo, fort out of cushions or cardboard?

Anything, anything that's not politics, cleave to it. Is any of this possible? :)

Be sure to feel the love you have for your parents, and then express it in whatever way they can accept it.

You will for the rest of your life be glad that you did.

[Gormy Cuss]

37. Spot on, Kurovski

and to the OP: anyone who insists on making political statements should be laughed at,every single time. To react in a way that displays frustration or anger just encourages them.

[Xicano]

32. Most of my family unfortunately are similar.

When one of them starts up I quiet them down by calmly asking them questions which can only make them look stupid if they avoid answering, and even more stupid if they do try answering.

[bluethruandthru]

36. Can you share some of those questions?

I can't talk to my sister anymore. She's a true believer in everything our of Rush or Glenn Beck's mouth. Watches nothing but Faux news and she just can't believe that anyone would watch anything else..since the others are all part of the "librul media". Faux is the only one that's "fair and balanced".

[JerseygirlCT]

35. It's very hard.

My uncle and godfather likes to do this on occasion. I love him very much, but boy... it's so hard to stay civil and just walk away from the conversation!

Wishing you patience and strength!