It started with a hat.

Author's Note: Sadly, this story is fiction, but the scenes it depicts are not. I am aware of more and more families, friendships, and even marriages broken by the polarization egged on by different means and media. Many folks will not be around friends and family this Christmas because the old rule of "no politics or religion" at the table is too hard to follow for some.

*****

“Take it off. Just take it off.”

The older man stared at his Son, noticing his daughter in law was standing in the doorway behind his son. Her face was neutral.

“Why, can’t you take a joke?”

“Dad, my kids and my wife are ready to have a great dinner. But they didn’t like that last time you came over you didn’t play with them, but turned on the TV to watch some more of your bullshit News. This time you aren’t going to play them against us - and each other. Just take off the hat. Please.”

“No. I am not going to. It isn’t my fault that you don’t have a sense of Humor.”

The older man felt his wife tugging at his arm. He wouldn’t turn to face her. He knew she was ready to tell him to take off the hat…she wanted to see her grandkids. Just stop the Political crap for once and enjoy being with family. But he was tired, he was angry, he didn’t want to live in this new world where everyone’s a victim. Pansies, snowflakes, cowards…and his son was one of them. In his anger he forgot that his son had served. Two tours in the Sandbox, one in Death Valley. He had a Purple Heart, Bronze star with Valor, and an Army Commendation Medal. His son had served. He had not.

So he spoke out loud…and once heard, words can’t be unheard.

“I don’t want my grandkids to be raised by a coward, especially one that thinks like a Communist.”

He heard the gasp from his wife behind him. He saw his daughter in law pull her two children closer. He saw the look they gave him. They were scared. None of it registered. He looked his son in the eye. Then he looked away. His son waited a long time to speak. When he did, it was with the same Iron voice that led men into combat.

“Leave. Don’t come back. You are sick.”

He turned and walked back into his house. The door closed. A moment later the curtains were closed. His wife squeezed by him.

“Where are you going?”

“To see my grandchildren! I keep telling you to turn off that darn TV. You are bitter, angry, and mean. They kicked you out, they didn’t kick me out. Why won’t you listen?”

The door opened, he heard a few words through tear stained pleas. The door opened wide enough to let his wife in…and then it closed. He could hear both locks being turned.

He took off his hat. He read it again. It seemed so funny to him. He couldn’t understand why his son hated it. The hat read:

“I could shit a better President.”

He held it in his hands as he walked back to the car. It never crossed his mind that a seven year old boy, and a nine year old girl, wouldn’t like that hat. Or that they would ask what it meant and he would have to explain shit to them. Just a few years ago, he would have never sworn in front of the little ones. Times change.

Inside his son refused to watch him go. His daughter in Law did. She would pray for the man. Hoping that someday…some…day…his pride would weaken enough to include them again.

In the car, he put on his favorite talk radio. His family and grandkids forgotten…his rage increased…he was proud of his hat. He would go to his favorite website and buy another hat, and send it to his son as a Christmas Gift.

He smiled.