Why I hate visiting my family members sometimes...

[Versailles]

I was enjoying my vacation this last week, visiting my parents and sister and her 16 month old for the first time since last November. Generally, my immediate family is all on the same page politically. Unfortunately, my parents both have brothers (among other family members) who aren't quite on the same page. So while we were having a family reunion my immediate family and my wife went to the beach. I decided to stay behind. My uncle and dad's cousin were cutting up fruit for a salad. Their talk turned political and they were expressing their dislike of everything liberal in general. Rather than speak up, I decided to keep my peace as everyone is entitled to their opinions and they weren't stating outright lies. Then came the first bombshell of the vacation.

My aunt asked is they wanted watermelon in the fruit salad. My uncle, in his infinite "wisdom", replied, "Of course not! This isn't an Obama salad." to much laughter between the three. It was at that point that I left rather than lose my temper and put a pall on the family reunion later. After I had walked off my fury and played with my nephew (who can stay mad after watching Elmo with a 16 month old who screeches with laughter every time Elmo appears!), I convinced myself that it was a one time deal and I was over reacting. Until later that night.

After the big reunion, my immediate family and my uncle's family decided to play cards. During one round it became clear that one of the hands was nearly entirely clubs and spades. My uncle, again, referred to the hand as the ghetto hand. I think he was a bit taken aback when everyone at the table jumped on him about such a racist comment, including his own daughter. He tried to back off and gloss it with his comment, "What? There were ghettos in Poland. I was talking about those."

Sometimes I can't believe that I'm related to a racist ass who is so incredibly opposite to his parents and brother. What is even more ironic is that he supports the republican agenda blindly, but if he thought for a half second about it, he would realize that he does not fit their profile. You see when he was stationed in Texas during Vietnam, he met an married a full blooded Mexican lady and is now the father of 2 mixed-race girls who are fully taking advantage of the grants offered to minorities.

[Ernesto]

1. My therapist told me......... ENJOY!

And never, never feel guilty about the fact that my fundy right wing nut-job father in law finally died a couple of months ago.
What's that tell ya?

[coconuted]

2. Are you

Related to my in-laws?

[snagglepuss]

5. Your handle coconuted is hysterical. Welcome to DU

[coconuted]

Thank you very much!!!

[coconuted]

6. Thank you very much!!! oops!

[ejpoeta]

3. I can't believe how my family members will talk... and they are my own siblings!!!

they make the kind of comments you talk about, and it ruins my friggin time with my family. It's getting to the point where I don't even want to be around my brother... and my husband and brother who have gotten along very well for years you can see the strain... becaue bob is more like me in thinking, and pat just has to make his comments. It'd be a shame for politics to get in between our family.... I try not to even discuss things around pat or a couple of others of my family because I figure what's the point. They refuse to listen to anything anyone says and just spout the talking points over and over.... it's sad really.

[GreenPartyVoter]

4. :^( I am sorry you have to deal with that. And you are right. It's crazy that

he doesn't realize the irony. You oughta mention that sometime.