If you are not familiar with the work of Brandon Stanton, here is a lovely intro. This is the series he was posting when I discovered him. http://www.humansofnewyork.com/tagged/iran
Talking about PM’s…How I wish I was French 
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It’s such a shame that because countries have bad leaders we can’t visit them, spend our money and experience their culture. People are the same the world over. We all love our families, and want to enjoy life. Damned politicians and their damned wars and aggression.
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In my experience, liberals/progressives/socialists are very quick to make you aware of their presence. 
But then again I live in a very liberal neighbourhood in one of the most progressive cities in North America, so there are very few conservatives, and those that do exist are usually adept at hiding their views to avoid being ostracized by friends and family. I’m a solid centrist by US standards, and I turned a few friends into enemies simply by stating my opinion that Hillary wasn’t actually a very good presidential candidate, or that people who voted for Trump may have had legitimate reasons for doing so.
As a result of my past personal experinces, I would never voluntary talk politics with any of my guests for fear that they would give me a bad review because I offended them for some reason. Too many people have thin skins these days.
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Long time lurker, AirBnb ‘superhost’ (100 plus something stays but whatever) but I thought I’d register to comment on this thread.
You are right about the ‘make everyone know’ about their views, because they - as with vegans and weirdly cross-fit enthusiasts - tend to make them known fairly quickly. I am sure not all of them do, but it is a good rule of thumb in my experience.
As the polar opposite politically of @annanyc; I’d say that personally I wouldn’t find her dinner parties and chat offensive, but a great many people I know personally and professionally probably would. As would I suspect would be the case the other way around.
I’ve had plenty of left/liberal seeming guests staying with us (I work at a university and we get a lot of people staying for conferences and we also have a hospital nearby so lots of physicians) and we just avoid politics as a rule if get beyond pleasantries. It stops any nastiness and is common sense if you ask me.
Only twice have I ever had political discussions with someone and in one case it was rather specific (healthcare reform and was a good natured exchange of views that he intiated) and in the latter an Australian chap who wanted to sell me his book about ‘world peace’ and tell me how he could ‘change the world’ with teachings he learned from Buddhism which was rather awkward.
I studiously avoided him (live-in host) for the rest of his five day trip.
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I was a Bernie delegate last year and at the convention I got some yard signs and banners for not only Bernie but other progressive Democrats-- Brian Schatz and Tulsi Gabbard. I still have these hanging in my carport. If guests walk by and see them, so be it.
I did come also to realize that some Canadians are conservatives too and have learned not to gush over Heartthrob Trudeau with every Canadian that I host. 
️:heart_eyes:
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konacoconutz:
Canadians can be very left-wing/liberal and not be enamoured of their Prime Minister. We may like what he says, yet become impatient and irritated in awaiting his actions to concur with his words.
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I see. Thanks for the clarification.
And this is one of the great differences between the two groups. I say this as a white, ‘educated’ person in a senior position who was unlucky enough be go to an exclusive boarding school full of other white people. I am very progressive and most of my close friends are not from the same background, have the same color skin or the same sexual preferences as me.
What I see in my life which regularly crosses over both circles, personally and professionally is the white, upper class (in their mind) who are conservatives are grossly intolerant of those different to themselves and those who they feel threaten their privilege and power. The other groups, like the poster described who have ‘very left’ views and what sounds like cracking parties, are usually much more tolerant of those different from themselves.
This is exactly the kind of intolerance and condescension I am referring to in my earlier post. Why does ‘world peace’ etc require air quotes? To emphasize your pain and hilarity at having to listen to such ‘silly’ ideas? Wow 
because economic rationalism and war have worked out so well for the human race? Please
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Thanks for all the responses. I wasn’t trying to pick a fight here. I’m fairly liberal. I love and see my parents on a weekly basis. They’re incredible grandparents, love and support me with all their hearts, and are complex, interesting, great people. They also both voted for Trump, as did the vast majority of my incredibly large extended family. I’ve had decades of negotiating relationships and political differences. This one has been different for lots of reasons and lots of people. I honestly think I’d struggle if my parents still supported Trump/didn’t regret their votes for him, because it feels so character revealing in a way past elections weren’t. Even now, there’s a lot of tip toeing and just not talking about unsafe things, which has never happened before, and I find really sad.
All of which is a little off topic, but to say I get that emotions are intense and easily-provoked here and the last thing I want to do is make guests uncomfortable. I think I’ll probably include a picture of the “In this house we believe” yard sign I have. And I’ll mention that there are weekly dinner parties, but probably wait and feel people out before extending any invites.
I did also want to comment above, about the person accusing conservatives of being the unaccepting close-minded ones. And just say. Hah. Intolerance and judgment go both ways in my opinion 
Liberals tend to accept certain differences better. Conservatives other. But it’s all a yucky hot zone right now.
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It sounds like a good idea, if it was me I would say: “You are welcome to join dinner with a local group of my friends who are artists, activists and assorted bohemians…”. I’m pretty sure they’d get the picture.
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We have that kind of sign too, right on the dining room table, saying that all people are welcome. We don’t have a separate house for guests, they stay in a bedroom in our home. And we do have groups of friends over sometimes to discuss politics (other things too). We have political yard signs as well. We don’t hike our liberal stripe. That said, I don’t invite our guests to participate, or I haven’t yet. I am friendly and often share personal stuff with guests and vice versa, but generally I keep our lives separate. We are already sharing a lot of space and time with them, I am not really looking for friendships… though at least one has come about. That may seem cold but it works for us to have these boundaries.