My Best Friend is a Trump Supporter

[Bluepinky]

55. Your brother sounds a little bit like my brother.

My family is divided by politics as well. I am in my 50s, and my mother (in her 80s) has forbidden any discussion about politics during holiday meals, family gatherings or vacations. The last discussion I had with my brother about politics was during George W's term in office, and he screamed in my face " It's people like you that are destroying the country".
I know he voted for Trump; the only feedback I've gotten is from several weeks ago, he was thrilled about how well the stock market was doing.

Our extended family has been spending one week together every summer for many years, we rent one or two houses by the beach. We went this past summer but I'm thinking about not going again. It's too many people (20 plus), hectic and my brother kind of controls everything. He doesn't really talk to me and is actually not a very nice person. I always end up feeling depressed during the week.

I like to have thoughtful discussions with people about issues of importance, and that is just not possible with my brother (or his wife, who actually voted for Bernie in the primary, then wrote in Bernie's name on the Presidential ballot as a protest vote). She has become more progressive over the years but isn't there yet; and since she's married to my brother, she's exposed to a lot of anti-Clinton rhetoric.

Luckily, my husband and daughter share my progressive values; my son is apolitical at this point.

I don't know about the upcoming holidays, will wait to see what happens. I enjoy seeing my nieces and nephews.