Somebody stop me!

[MuseRider]

Sitting in my in box is a letter from one of my few remaining relatives. Lovely woman, my mother's cousin. She is in her 70's and the stereotypical southern fundamentalist. Slave to her husband who is a complete ass, she never asks anyone for anything but is always the first to help out if she can. In the past she has sent me a lot of pro Bush* stuff until I told her I would not read anymore and I would not rest until I saw he and his maladministration in prison. This was after I sent her a ton of facts refuting everything she had sent. She was stunned and she stopped. Then she started with the Christian e mails until I told her that if Christians would stay out of my face I would be less reactive to this kind of crap so please stop it. She stopped until 2 days ago when she sent me the letter about Bush* in Church. It is killing me. I want to respond about how damned dangerous this kind of thinking is. I want to send her several of his more "Christian" quotes. I want to send her a list of others who have been described as God like including Osama, Charles Manson, Jim Jones, you get the picture. I am furious that I have to respond some way and I do not want to hurt her or start the big argument I see coming. I could ignore it but then more would come. She is one of the very few remaining birth relatives I have so I can't just cut her off. Does anyone have a suggestion? If it was anyone else she would have had a blistering reply already. Damn, I really hate this.

[NC_Nurse]

1. I would tell her

that in the interest of your relationship you want her to stop sending you this stuff. Otherwise, you won't be able to open her email anymore, you'll be deleting it.

[MuseRider]

3. Thanks

I have told her that so I suppose that is what I have to do at this point. I just hate it, it is not right but I guess that has been her choice.

[daddybear]

2. Kindness is the key...

That is gramma... do not hurt her...okay? I am a Christian and was once pretty well like her (not a bad thing, really, just over-bearing when ya NEED to hear it so bad)... anyway... maybe a gentle approach... as in "hon, I love you and I detest Bush and all he pretends to stand for... I would rather not talk about this at all than to hurt your feelings because I do love you. Who I vote for is not going to send me to hell or to heaven -- so, please, let's talk about some of your delicious banana pudding!"
And just drop it.

(and send me some pudding!) LOL

[daddybear]

4. Okay not gramma

but a relative... peace MUST prevail. ;-)

[MuseRider]

5. It seems so simple

yet it has not worked. I think I figured it all out just a moment ago. I have said these things to her and she has made the choice of Bush* over peace with family. Her choice. Very sad for me.

[redqueen]

6. Don't treat her like your loving relative

Treat her like a fellow human - with respect, but also honesty. I think if you don't deal with someone with honesty you're not really treating them with respect, anyway. But I know that's my opinion and not a popular one.

Seems to me that you've tried the 'please stop' route, so the only alternative is ignore her or engage her. I'd choose to engage. Who knows... you may even reach her.

[MuseRider]

7. Thanks

I know ignoring it will not help and I have tried engaging her but she responds only with these canned responses. I think long ago she had heard about what a stupid woman she was so much that she started believing it because there is no "there" there. It seems it is only a problem for me since she continues. I seriously doubt she even really reads my responses, unfortunately I always read hers. I will keep trying I guess since she won't stop. I have always treated her with respect, probably the only reason she writes me since for as long as I have known her I have never seen her treated with anything but condensation (Is that the correct word? I keep seeing her dripping!) I have never been quite so angry or torn, that is why I asked for help with this. Usually I know the correct things to do but this one is so upsetting. Thanks.