Overheard Conversation at a Restaurant

I had an interesting experience tonight, and though the chances are infinitesimal that whomever this was might see it, I thought I might write about it here (and if this is not quite the right place, I understand, though I'm not sure of a sub where this might be better). Small sushi restaurant in a small shopping center in an east coast suburb, and I get seated at the booth right behind what was clearly a daughter having dinner with her dad who had gone very far down the right-wing hole and who was trying to help get him out. Weird place to be seated, since there's only one more customer in the restaurant, but that's where I was, and I heard a lot of it.

Obviously I had no way to say it at the time, but damn, the respect I had for this woman. Dad talked about Trump's ability to lead, you didn't make it about his nonsense but instead calmly talked about how many people left his administration so often, and how that lack of stability hurt. He tried the "successful businessman" and "Trump's economy" crap, you brought it back to his bankruptcies, lack of tax transparency, and the economy historically performing better under democrats, all while not being condescending, letting him talk, and sprinkling in jokes and humor and asking about his social life. You found common ground when there was some, such as on corporate bailouts, but brought it back to Trump's tax breaks for the rich and didn't let him weasel out of things when he tried.

At the end, Dad said he appreciated having the conversation with you, said you'd lived all over the place and been in the service (unlike your sister, and something about a bubble) and how all of that makes him want to listen to what you have to say and how he respects your perspective. I have no idea if it'll make a difference, but I hope it does.

I have no idea how hard that conversation must have been to have, but, to this person and anyone else going through similar stuff, good on you. It's really, really, really tough. Keep it up and stay strong.