Left Meets Right

I'm facing a political struggle.  I'm fairly vocal about my political beliefs and don't have a whole lot of issue arguing with others who are vocal about their own (different) political opinions.  In fact, I think it's good fun.

....however...

Now we've moved to the political hotspot of our nation, and while Virginia turned blue during the election (thank goodness), most of my old friends and a few family members are quite conservative.  To a fault.  If I'm diving into the Pacific, they are backstroking in the Atlantic.  Back in Michigan, I had little problem sparring with various friends who had differing political beliefs (although there were only a few, as most folks I knew there were quite liberal). 

But being here is different.  And this political climate is different.  Conservatives, Republicans, Tea Party-ers...they actually seem to HATE our President rather than just disagree with him.  There is an animosity, a vitriole that I never saw exhibited toward Clinton.  And it gets my hackles up.  So I get fired up and want to debate.  Especially when I see really poorly-thought-out, misleading and misinformed posts by people on Facebook.  Normally I engage, but these days I've been holding back.  As Adam has put it, "You live here now.  You have to find a way to get along with everyone, which probably means putting your political dialogue by the wayside." That's not exactly normal for me--keeping my thoughts to myself (hahaha)--but I suspect he might be right.

So, for now, I'm keeping mum, keeping calm.  But this leftie is still steaming inside.