Friends Enjoy Dinner Despite Political Differences

Columnist shares story of thoughtful discussion with friend who holds opposing political views.

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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In a column, the author describes having dinner with a close friend who holds different political views. Despite their differing opinions on numerous political topics, the two were able to engage in a thoughtful discussion without the conversation turning into a heated argument. The author highlights the importance of focusing on the personal connection rather than political divides, and expresses gratitude for her friend's patience and understanding.

Why it matters

This story resonates with the growing societal trend of people cutting ties with friends and family members over political disagreements. The author's experience demonstrates that it is possible to maintain meaningful relationships across political lines by approaching discussions with empathy, patience and a willingness to listen to differing perspectives.

The details

The author describes having dinner with a friend and realizing they had differing political views on numerous topics. However, rather than getting into a heated debate, the two were able to have a thoughtful discussion that avoided finger-pointing or name-calling. They acknowledged that most issues are not simply black and white, and that it can be difficult to discern the truth from any single media source. The author's friend was patient and kind, listening to the author's perspective and sharing her own views in return.

  • The author had dinner with her friend on a recent night.

The players

Jill Pertler

The author of the column and one of the individuals who had dinner together.

Debbie

The author's friend who she had dinner with and who holds differing political views.

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What they’re saying

“Neither one of us got up from the table and left in a huff. We had a delightful evening. I'd love to do it again soon. I think she'd agree.”

— Jill Pertler, Author (stauntonstartimes.com)

“We did delve into some tough subjects concerning the 'P' word. I'm not sure we came to any conclusions but we had a thoughtful discussion that refrained from any finger pointing or name calling. And we did manage to agree on a couple of things.”

— Jill Pertler, Author (stauntonstartimes.com)

The takeaway

This story highlights the importance of focusing on personal connections rather than political divides, and demonstrates that it is possible to maintain meaningful relationships across political lines by approaching discussions with empathy, patience and a willingness to listen to differing perspectives.