(CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Merry Christmas, everyone! Now, let’s talk about politics!

A University of Illinois communications professor says it’s healthy to take in all sides. Emily Van Duyn says it’s okay to talk about our differences. Even next to the Christmas tree, even with that in-law.

“If it’s helpful, right?” said Van Duyn. “If you can be respectful and take a listening route to that and try to be understanding of one another. That can be really constructive, as long as it’s coming from a place of wanting to learn.

“There’s a difference between discussion and debate.”

Van Duyn says living near and associating only with like-minded people is not necessarily a good thing.

“You don’t get exposure to different ideas,” Van Duyn said. “You don’t get exposure to conversations with people who have different political ideologies than ours. That can be negative for our perceptions of the other side.”

Van Duyn has written a new book, Democracy Lives in Darkness: How and Why People Keep Their Politics a Secret.