A breach has been healed in a friendship.

[IdaBriggs]

I have had problems with a dear friend for several years. This is a person who has been extremely supportive in other areas of my life, but politics had to become 'off limits' due to our different viewpoints.

She lives on the West Coast, but lost friends to 9/11, and frankly, was a HUGE Bush supporter. Since I practically froth at the mouth with my hatred of him, this has been an 'off limits' topic, especially when she told me she voted for him in 2004.

She and I talked earlier this week (we usually e-mail, but frankly, my 20-month old twins have been keeping me busy/away from the computer lately), and she APOLOGIZED!

She told me she voted for Barack Obama, and was ASHAMED OF VOTING FOR BUSH.

She told me that she had voted for him because she was AFRAID after the terrorists hit us on 9/11, but when she voted for Obama, she was voting for hope.

A breach has been healed, a relationship repaired, and both of us are now sleeping better -- me, because someone I love and respect isn't supporting a complete Moran, and her, because FEAR isn't ruling her life anymore.

:)

P.S. We're both scared spitless Obama is going to get assassinated. I hated Bush with a passion, and apparently, not even a terrorist or crazed Jodi Foster fan went after him, but a guy who makes a nation believe in hope again -- well, look what they did to that guy 2000 years ago, who told everyone they should be NICE to each other!!! Here's the best part: even though we are afraid for him, we still support him as President. He is a man of courage. He is -- what do they call it again? Its been so long since I've seen one! -- A LEADER!!!

[Midlodemocrat]

1. My best friend stopped speaking to me a week ago because of the election.

Her kids were 'in tears'.

C'est la vie.

[Heidi]

3. You know more about this stuff than I do, Midlo,

but did you get a sense that your friend's children would not have been "in tears" if not for their mother's dramatic reaction to the GOP's loss in the GE? Maybe I'm cynical.

[IdaBriggs]

4. More details, please.

Is this a permanent breach, or just a temporary one?

[amyrose2712]

2. I experienced something similar on election night...

One of my best friends and I had a schism regarding Bush* and religion. She had become a born-again Christian and was a big Bush* supporter. She contacted me to tell me that she voted for Obama. She did not apologize for voting for *, but this is a good beginning. If she would just believe in dinosaurs again...

Also, it is always people of peace and love and HOPE that become targets for hate.

[Uben]

5. If I let politics define my friendships....

...I wouldn't have a whole lot of friends. WHen you live in a predominantly red state, I guess things are a bit different. I live in an area that is like 95% republican....I was born here. Unless you are among avowed dems or repubs, you don't mention politics.
Now, I do not back down from an argument if someone chooses to bring it up. I am much more schooled in current events than most, and am more than able to back my arguments up with facts, should someone be so bold. But, it is rare. I have many republican friends, probably more of them than dems, but just because of the demographics. All of my closest friends are dems or independent.

I would never let an argument over politics end a friendship. I don't care enough for politicians to let that happen, and I have to live with the people around me. If I see an opening where someone is on the fence and fishing for answers, I don't hesitate to give my opinions, but I don't press. That's life in the "red zone"!