DEAR ABBY: I am in a long-term relationship and things are good. I feel loved, and I love him. However, we have opposite opinions about current politics. It is disturbing that he could feel this way. Our discussions usually result in his telling me over and over, louder and louder, “how things are” and “what the real truth is,” and that I’m “not looking at the whole picture.”
I told him I don’t like the debates we have as I feel very off-balance afterward, and it seems like he’s pushing me to accept his beliefs. It has now reached the point that if we keep up these “discussions,” as he calls them, I’ll probably have to leave the relationship. I told him I don’t ever want to talk about politics with him again. Is this a good option? Any other ideas? I cannot believe we are so opposite, yet he is very nice to me. — OPPOSITE IN WASHINGTON
DEAR OPPOSITE: This gentleman may be very nice to you, but philosophically you and he are poles apart. I don’t think it is “very nice” to strong-arm someone into agreeing to something to which they are opposed. Do you really think you can stifle your feelings forever by not discussing this? This is who he is at his core, and he isn’t going to change his convictions. The question you have to answer is whether you are willing or able to do that.
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