It definitely depends! What do you do if you're vastly outnumbered?

As you point out, the media will be all over it for the next 50 weeks...we deserve a Quiet Zone...

Change the odds. Spend the holidays alone. No fighting!

Booze + politics/ religion = ruined pie.

Who cares about political discussion? Thanksgiving is still all about NO GIFTS!

01.20.2013 the end of an error

In the "old" days, there were plazas, squares and downtowns, where people could have conversations about any important things that affect their lives. Now that we've "mall-ified" our lives, and need permits to congregate in our own streets, let's be open to discourse whenever we can get it. However, we need to come to the table with the right attitude, not with the need to win or lose, but with a sincere desire to listen deeply, what makes our relatives tick.

This is my first Thanksgiving alone. I grew up in Chatham and was blessed to live in a home where the classic family dinner was a given each year. My mom and hers cooking for what seemed like days. Football on in the den and being played in the yard. After the big Township-Boro game, of course. But I don't recall politics being discussed at Thanksgiving dinner. I think maybe the social mores and just plain manners were better observed back then. Years later, in my late twenties, my father died suddenly one September evening. My mom, my sister and I lived in fear of that first Thanksgiving without him. He was the anchor and we were adrift. Relatives had us join their table and it made me realize what the holiday is truly all about. Still, no politics discussed at that gathering either - one we enjoyed for several years until we were back on our feet at holiday time. But then I married into a family who's politics happened to be the polar opposite of mine on virtually every issue. Regardless of which in-law hosted, each and every Thanksgiving politics was being discussed almost the moment after grace was said. Knowing I was outnumbered by about 15-1, I worked hard to keep my opinionated mouth shut for as long as could. Didn't last long. I made the mistake of offering my two cents and that tended to set off a spirited and sometimes downright nasty political discourse. This gained me the ire of my wife and the disdain of everyone else. My wife has since left me.

almost done - promise. My wife has left and filed for divorce. So this Thanksgiving I find myself alone with my dog watching football. I know the political conversation will take place without me this year, but will no doubt be somewhat dull as without me there, it will be unanimous agreement on every issue. Pass the cranberry sauce, please! However, despite the fact I was always the odd man out and the fact I know they are unquestionably mocking me in my absence this year, I can offer the following advice to anyone about to embark on the walk to the table while wondering if politics will come up: it surely will. And when it does, make your point briefly and with facts, not ideology. Wait until all others have spoken and then say your piece quietly and without emotion. Or feel free to scream it from the mountaintop. You see politics at Thanksgiving is the essence of the holiday. Carefully crafted political agility is what allowed those pilgrims to break bread with those natives. And on this Thanksgiving, even though I know I'd be rhetorically pummelled for my views, I would give anything to be back at that table, even if only to listen and soak in the blesseing of being surrounded by those you love even if they don't love you. Go ahead - discuss politics or even religion. But do so with kindness and decency instead of rancor and condescension. Because the only thing worse than politics at the holiday table, is the silence of an empty home where your family used to be.

Karin - you are the best!!! Hope you and yours had a wonderful day and I hope Todd took you up on your offer!
Blessings! Monica Sclafani

The hardest thing to remember is all holidays are imperfect. Dinners are more apt to follow those of Clark Griswold than Norman Rockwell scenes. Faced with sitting around a home cooked meal at a table with family, people will say the wrong things, or weird things, some food will be good and some will be not-so-good, kids will cry, and the dog will get under your feet. That being said, if someone says something disagreeable, I will utter a soundbyte opinion that would fit into a Twitter feed. I reserve long, annoying conversations for non-holidays.

At least the kids are all pre-occupied with Facebook and texting and as such, aren't as annoying as previous generations.