Winning and losing gracefully

So just about everyone is celebrating some kind of win or mourning some kind of loss today.

I'm doing both: I'm ecstatic about Obama's win last night (despite falling asleep before/during his speech).

And I'm deeply disappointed about how Prop 8 went--and disturbed that one deep pocketed minority group essentially bought a new line in the California state constitution. Regardless of how people feel about gay marriage, that kind of political imperialism should disturb EVERYONE who cherishes the democratic process.

I was listening to NPR yesterday on the way in to work and commentators were discussing the matter of being a gracious winner and a gracious loser.

I am aware that there are some in my immediate family and circle of friends who feel differently on both of the above issues. (For instance, my MIL, whom I adore, expressed how scared she was about Obama winning. So how do I have a political conversation with her without being a jerk?)

My hope is that we can talk through our respective losses without the winners gloating too loudly or the losers letting bitterness or animosity take over. (Know that I say this as much to myself as to anyone else reading).