Ask Amy: Views have her on the outs

By AMY DICKINSON

Last update: November 9, 2009 - 4:49 PM

Dear Amy: I have been enjoying a group of friends for the past 10 years.

During the past year I have had a real problem over their pontificating about their political point of view. I am the only person in the group with a different political view.

The past four times I've seen them, I've come home feeling very upset about their bashing of the new president. I did not act like that when the previous administration was in office.

We have had some angry, awkward moments, and it makes me want to stay home.

I have tried to tell them I feel bullied, but they always say we all should be able to express our opinions and I shouldn't take it personally. What would you suggest that I do?

LINDA

Amy says: I recently heard Glenn Beck refer to the president as a socialist and call filmmaker Michael Moore a "fatty-fatty fatso."

Is this the sort of civilized intellectual discourse our foremothers and -fathers had in mind when building this great nation? Probably not.

But while you may have been sheltered from this sort of passion during the Bush years, I remember many heated, shocking and extremely disrespectful bashing sessions coming from the left.

If you don't want to participate, you can do your best to change the subject, but if you can't and still want to spend time in their presence, listen passively or (my trick) offer to wash the dishes.

Send questions via e-mail to Amy Dickinson at askamy@tribune.com or by mail to Ask Amy, Chicago Tribune, TT500, 435 N. Michigan Av., Chicago, IL 60611.

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