This is the time of year when we spend more time with extended family.

That presents some interesting challenges for those of us who have family members who see the world through much different eyes.

I had the opportunity to spend time with one of my extended family members, resulting in a spirited discussion.  Neither of our minds were changed about anything, except, perhaps that the other person is even more radical than previously thought!

We seemed to agree that grassroots change is the only real effective means of change.  We also seemed to agree that people should help other people.  That’s about as much agreement as we could muster.

This family member believes that the NRA is crazy, and that none of this is a “school” issue.  Guns in the hands of reasonable people are dangerous because they too can become crazy in a moment and kill people.  She didn’t want to touch my new handgun after she found out it was not just a laser “pointer”, but a real gun with a laser sight.

We did find some agreement that both political parties have some responsibility for the current state of our country.  I am sure she would still blame most of it on the “extreme right”, while I am certain most of the blame rests with the “extreme left”.

There were moments where she was disparaging of conservative Legislators, both state and national.  Some of those moments were the most tense.  The part about Senator Jim DeMint not believing that conservatives in Congress are “pure” enough wasn’t a comfortable moment.  At least, not when I responded that I agree with Senator DeMint.

I left this conversation convinced that there really isn’t much hope to change the mind of a true liberal.

The only hope is to educate and activate reasonable people.  2013 is a year which holds much work for conservatives.

***Gordon Howie is a nationally syndicated author, host of Liberty Today TV and CEO of Life and Liberty Media***

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