Carolyn Hax: Know your priorities, ideals

Hi, Carolyn: I’m caught between my husband and my dad. Dad is getting older and becoming very set in his political views. My and Hubby’s views are opposite his but we do not engage him in debate because he tends to be closed-minded and prone to ranting. Fine, OK, whatever.

But a recent issue came up in which Dad stated opinions that go directly against our church teachings (we are all of the same religion).

Husband is irate that I didn’t “stand up for your faith” when my dad was on a rant. My feeling is that it would do no good, and alienate us from my parents, who live nearby and dote on our children.

How do I know when to stand up for myself and when to let it go? – Anonymous

First, you try to figure out what your priorities tend to be in these situations, reflexively; then, you try to add these up into a general worldview; then you draw on that worldview when the next conflict arises.

Amazing that a rollicking, religious/political/ intra-family/ intergenerational rhubarb can produce that dry a response, but there it is.

In the case of the recent argument, for example, you might decide your priority was to keep the family peace. Peace was possible, getting through to your father wasn’t.

Add that to your history, and what belief system comes through? Maybe you opt for expediency over principle, and need to revisit those principles. But maybe, too, you value pragmatism over absolutes, or family over philosophy. Maybe you believe in considering context (say, you suspect your father’s growing combativeness is a factor of age more than free will) versus focusing narrowly on debate topics.

Knowing your ideals, and building confidence in them, is your best chance at staying calm, focused, articulate and principled in the face of irate husbands and dads.