Bigbear57,

One of the most powerful tools we have to develop your opinions of others is to listen to what they say. Unfortunately, sometimes they say things we find distasteful. As a civilized soul, you valued familial peace highly. Familial peace is not the only value. There are occasions when we must say “enough”.

When someone sends unsolicited emails or snail mails extolling one politician over another, then he or she is acting as an agent for “their” politician. You have every right in the world to say to any – or every – agent of a politician “thanks, but no thanks”.

You were, if anything, overly generous to her. You are as entitled to your opinions as she is of hers. Letting her know that this is a conversation with her you wish to avoid will help to reduce to a minimum the total familial friction. If you do not discuss it, you cannot fight about it. While it may not be any kind of a win situation, you’ll salvage most by limiting your losses.

Just be sure to not let some comment slip which may reopen that Pandora’s Box.

__________________
Eudaimonia