Poe Writes in Response to Dear Amy

Here's the original letter (not written by me):

DEAR AMY: I have been enjoying a group of friends for the past 10 years. During the past year I have had a real problem over their pontificating about their political point of view. I am the only person in the group with a different political view. The past four times I've seen them, I've come home feeling very upset about their bashing of the new president.I did not act like that when the previous administration was in office. We have had some angry, awkward moments and it makes me want to stay home and avoid the whole thing. I have tried to tell them I feel bullied, but they always say we all should be able to express our opinions and I shouldn't take it personally. What would you suggest that I do?
--Linda

DEAR LINDA: I recently heard Glenn Beck refer to the president as a socialist and call filmmaker Michael Moore a "fatty-fatty fatso."
Is this the sort of civilized intellectual discourse our foremothers and - fathers had in mind when building this great nation? Probably not.
But while you may have been sheltered from this sort of passion during the Bush years, I remember many heated, shocking and extremely disrespectful bashing sessions coming from the left - both through the media and privately.
Yelling is the unfortunate reaction of people trying to mitigate their powerlessness.
We live in fascinating times, and you might benefit from understanding the passion of the other side. Don't let your friends bait or bully you, and don't feel you must defend practices or policies they find indefensible.
If you don't want to participate, you can do your best to change the subject, but if you can't and still want to spend time in their presence, listen passively or (my trick) offer to wash the dishes.

(My letter, which I sent Ask Amy day before yesterday):
Dear Amy:
I certainly related to LINDA’s problem with friends pontificating about their political point of view*. When my friends start spouting off, I like to ask the following questions:

*What life experiences led you to your political point of view?
*In what areas do you and I agree?
*Is there anything ___________ (whoever they’re pontificating against) said or done that you approve of?
*Has anyone ever told you that you converted them to your point of view?
*Have you ever changed your mind due to something someone said?

Most folks have never thought about these things and it invariably leads to fascinating conversation and a lot of bridge building.


We'll see if she prints it.

*Actually mostly my husband's relatives