I had the following email exchange over the weekend where I presumed to give some advice:
My wife has invited a high school friend to spend a few days beginning tomorrow, her husband too. Wife informs me she is against guns so I see a gentle challenge approaching. They are Christians but I don’t know if it’s a rebellious church or a Bible believing one yet. They’re in SAT the past couple days for a missions trip seminar.
I’ve made a few talking points in my notes but remembered you have some links to violence stats and how inner city bad boys skew the numbers and if those of color are removed, America looks more like other countries. If you are without a lot of trouble or time to provide a couple links to help me in this glorious fight, I’d be most grateful.
My response:
Honestly, were it me I would politely avoid such talk– you’re not going to convert them, and arguments will create discord and hard feelings. Including, potentially, with the wife.
Actually, were it me, this situation would never arise but done is done.
Not bringing it up and saying, “Why don’t we just enjoy each other’s company for what we have in common?” — and being a gracious host like this if it does — is one way to redirect, and there’s no better way to show you’re a rational, reasonable and worthy human being with thoughts worth respecting instead of just an ideologue. Plenty of other things to talk about. And it will all be over soon, whereas, unlike house guests who leave, hurt feelings will remain.
Since you asked…
David Codrea/Ann Landers 🙂
I can hear the objections now. Feel free to comment as guests in my home.
Bought that album when it first came out, 1971 I think. Still have it.
My only objection was to you glorifying Ann Landers.
Did you know she sat on the board of Handgun Control?
My favorite AL quote:
“No one has the right to destroy another person’s belief by demanding empirical evidence.”
Yes, but I was mainly taking a dig at the whole concept of “advice columnists” in general. So was Dear Abby, whose daughter, surprisingly, once gave advice on guns I agreed with.