FOUNDATION AGAINST INTOLERANCE & RACISM
How to have political disagreements without ruining relationships
Julian Adorney
November 7, 2022

If you’ve lost a friend or a loved one to political disagreements, you’re not alone. A 2021 study by the American Enterprise Institute showed that a full 15% of adults have ended a friendship over politics. Many more Americans have friendships or relationships with loved ones that are on the ropes due to political disagreements. But there is a way to have political disagreements that build your relationships with your loved ones rather than erode them. It’s not always easy in practice, but it is simple in concept: First, state your values, but don’t attack the other person’s values. Second, reframe the discussion as a search for ways to fix societal problems. Let’s say that you’re a conservative, and your mother-in-law is a progressive who supports the application of critical race theory in schools and educational materials. She asks you, “How can you oppose teaching anti-racism in schools? I guess you just don’t care about ending racism.” READ MORE