I ran into a cousin today who I'm pretty sure is a Republican

[Syrinx]

But he's a really nice man. It was my late father's birthday, and I was taking some flowers to put on his grave. My cousin was there, because he's a deacon at the church where my dad is buried, and he was voluntarily doing some landscape work. He was very nice, but I didn't bring up politics. I was wearing my Kerry t-shirt though. We talked for about a half hour, mostly about common family members. How should I treat him? He's a nice man, but he's a Republican.

[Dookus]

1. You should, of course,

be nice to him and treat him like a nice family member. Politics isn't everything.

[drhilarius]

3. Exactly.Treat him as you did-humanely. n/t

[Jane Austin]

6. That's so true!

And there are lots of things in life that can manage to have no political coloring at all.

He's your cousin and a nice man. There are too few of both in this world. :)

[benburch]

2. You did fine

You need to understand that, once we destroy the Republican Party (and we will) we need to live in the same country with these people. Be civil, but don't tolerate their point of view without objection. You can do both.

[sadiesworld]

4. You should be kind.

Actually, I envy you. The few repugs I know are assholes but they are either family or friends' husbands, so I try.

[jmags]

5. Jesus, are you serious...

Family is family. He sounds like a wonderful human being, perhaps misguided politically, but no ones perfect. If you aren't able to have normal relationships with family members, just because you're "pretty sure" he's a republican, you've got a problem.

[Piperay]

7. My cousin is a hardcore repug

but we have been best friends since childhood and we both have an unspoken pact to not let our differences in politics ruin our relationship. Sometimes we mention political stuff but we are both careful to keep it light and on the more humorous side. Ordinarily I can't tolerate repugs because they are so stupid that I can have no respect for them but if they are nice I will return the favor. I also make a big exception for family, as long as they do the same for me.