By Carson Chaplin
After I landed in my hometown for Thanksgiving, the second person I talked to brought up politics. I had just walked into our local grocery store and was immediately handed a pamphlet with the person’s political and religious beliefs. I was expecting to wait until we reached the Thanksgiving table to have these conversations, but I found that as often as I hear that politics are a “no-go” topic, discussing it is unavoidable, especially around the holidays and with your family. With GW students going to school just blocks away from the nation’s capitol building, talking about politics often becomes inherent and just another normal conversation. Bringing this normality home with us over breaks can make already-turbulent conversations worse and cause more tension than normal. With this realization, I have created a guide with four key steps on how to have meaningful conversations when someone inevitably brings up politics during the holiday dinner.
- Have a goal
When discussing your beliefs or something you’re passionate about, think about what you are trying to gain. Going into the conversation with a goal can help to lead the conversation to a more meaningful and beneficial conclusion. If you are trying to change someone’s mind, note that yelling and arguing may help them to further prove their point or completely stop listening to everything that you have to say. Allow everyone to talk and fully finish their argument.
- Have facts prepared
Having facts and information prepared is essential to any opinionated conversation. When trying to articulate your points, show that you have knowledge and understanding about the topic at hand. Facts are oftentimes indisputable and can make your argument much stronger and solid. Being a college student, and most likely younger than the majority of your extended family, preparing facts can prove that you should have a voice in the conversation and that your opinion matters just as much as everyone else’s.
- Respect goes a long way
Political conversations can be so hard to have. With the current climate and polarization in our country, opinions can be seen in black and white, and agreements are harder and harder to come by. When having a stressful conversation, respect can go a long way. When stereotypes and generalizations become a part of politics, it is important to show the person talking that you can listen to other sides and give them enough time and patience to voice their opinions.
- Ask Questions
Asking questions is the number one way to understand what someone’s opinion is. Instead of inferring and guessing what someone would think based on previous notions, asking questions can lead you to a straight answer and can be the key to understanding why someone believes something and the personal experiences surrounding it.
Overall conversations around the holidays can be difficult, but prioritizing respect and kindness can lead to further knowledge and unite people that never would have been previously.
