There used to be an old adage that one should never talk about sex, religion or politics in polite company. But when it comes to families, company is not always polite. You may find yourself sitting at the dinner table with people on the far left or right, and some who identify as the“exhausted majority.” How will the conversations go? What will be said and in what tone? And what can be done if things go sideways?
One strategy might be to nudge the conversation from national to local politics, where we can discuss concrete issues over which we can have meaningful impact. Which township, city, county, or neighborhood issues concern you and your dinner guests? For instance, maybe you’re frustrated with conditions at a county animal shelter. Perhaps an aunt has seen signs protesting solar farms and wants to know why. Your dad is frustrated that he can no longer see the stars in his backyard because of light pollution. A recent property tax increase has your brother hopping mad. And your grandmom thinks it’s crazy that it’s technically illegal in Ohio to share seeds of milkweed plants with a neighbor (Ohio House Bill 364 was written to try to change that.)
The more specific and tangible the concern, the more quickly the conversation can move from complaints to responsibility. Invite family members to join you in thinking about the kind of community they want and how they can help create it. Then “crowdsource” your knowledge – what interactions have people around the table had with their local decision makers and representatives. Have they attended trustee or council meetings and if so, what struck them about the experience? Has anyone volunteered to help with a public project? What research is needed to prepare to make a positive change in the community?
Every citizen has a right and responsibility to understand and contribute to decisions that shape their community. But many people don’t even know where to start. Cincinnati Nature Center wants to help! We are offering a unique course to help nature lovers understand how decisions are made in their municipalities and to identify ways to provide input and get involved. The course consists of five sessions (three online and two in person) and is offered in collaboration with CincinnatiChamber and UC Portman Center.
No matter how different the political ideologies of your dinner guests may be, there’s a good chance they care about health and enjoy some kind of outdoor recreation. Building on that common ground, imagine how impressed your family will be when they hear that you plan to become better educated about the systems that can either promote or destroy our health and well-being. Soon, you won’t just have a belief or an opinion – you’ll have knowledge!
This Thanksgiving, invite your guests to join you in getting informed and involved in making a difference for the environment, wherever they live. As we engage with local civics, we may become more connected with some of our neighbors and community. And in a polarized and disconnected world, that alone would be something to be thankful for!
