More than likely you’re dreading seeing some family member during Thanksgiving or the holidays.

Not because of something he did 30 years ago or she does now or some habit that’s frustrating – though these things can be something for which we are less than thankful.

No, likely many of us dread seeing a relative because of politics.

Uncle Bob will talk about how much he loves Trump or how much he hates Biden, whom he will call “Brandon” as if he created the term, or how the “Socialist Democrats” are destroying America. He may use the word “woke” as a political noun, adjective and verb in every other sentence, including how he woke up with a crick in his neck … while being a pain in the neck to everyone around him.

Cousin Trish will talk about how much Biden has accomplished despite his age and how much she hates Trump and how she hopes he will do some serious time in prison during the coming year as if she will be seated on one of the juries. She will refer to “immoral Republicans” destroying the Constitution. She may use the term “Trumper” so often it can become a drinking game for family members who need some liquid help getting through Thanksgiving dinner.

And there’s plenty of reason to drink.

Abortion, immigration, adult presidential children, presidential indictments and trials, election results, the current president, the new speaker of the House, the old president, gender identity, the deficit, the current reason to be outraged according to CNN or FOX News, etc., etc., etc. – all of this will be on the table along with the turkey, dressing and pumpkin pie.

And more than likely at least one relative will denounce Trump while passing the mashed potatoes or another criticize Biden while dipping into the deviled eggs. More than likely someone will feel the need to respond with a different political perspective.

Soon, instead of giving thanks, people will be giving opposing opinions and talking points from their 24-7 news network of choice. Conversation will be hotter than the dinner rolls then devolve into a silence that is as cold as leftover turkey on Saturday morning.

Sadly, this has become a Thanksgiving tradition for many families. We dread seeing each other at a time when we’re supposed to be thankful for one another. To avoid the politics, we seek other places to eat at a time when families are supposed to come together.

Even if you avoid the Thanksgiving dinner, they’re still your family. That’s not going to change. They’re not going away.

Same for the country. Even if half of the nation disagrees with one another, which we apparently do according to the 50-50 results of presidential election after presidential election, they’re still your fellow Americans. They’re not going away.

As a family, we’re stuck with one another. As a country, we’re stuck with one another. Though some of us may find a different place to eat Thanksgiving dinner, no one is moving to another country.

No one is going to change anyone else’s mind. Uncle Bob is not going to convert Cousin Trish to backing Trump while passing the cranberry sauce.

We didn’t used to spend Thanksgiving talking about politics. We didn’t used to spend every free moment listening to cable news channels that form then reinforce our political positions. We didn’t used to spend so much time thinking about or talking about politics.

This Thanksgiving, put down the phones and social media, turn off the cable news during the dinner and family visits and if you’re the one that starts political conversations or must respond to any perceived political slight, shut up.

It’s that simple.

Pass the potatoes does not mean pass an amendment. Would you like more is not an invitation to talk about increasing the deficit. Asking for deviled eggs is not an indictment of Trump or Biden being the devil.

As families and as a nation, we must recognize that there are times to politically speak up and there are times to politically shut up.

If we could relearn that lesson, as families and as a nation, we could all have something to be thankful for.