Monday, January 23, 2012

They Shoot Liberals, Don't They?

Since 2012 is an election year, and I have not been given that oh-so-precious rite-of-passage, the right to vote, I realized something- Hey, I have a blog. Who says I can't use it?

Now, my mom has teased me in the past about being a democrat, but since I never knew much about that particular political party (I live in the Political Boondox, guys), I wasn't sure how accurate her assertions were.

Well, apparently, pretty accurate.

It's interesting, if you think about it. Oklahoma is entirely Republican, so it's not like my personal opinion really matters- but then, it does matter to me. What's even more interesting is the fact that I could be raised a firmly Christian, Nazarene kid with a Republican background and still be so- dare I say it- radical. In Oklahoma, being a democrat is a lot like what being a Red Sox fan must feel like- we never win, but we sure are loud. And well, there's always next year.

For those who aren't politically gifted, or for those who might even be slightly interested, here are the things that make me think I'm a liberal:

1. Gay Rights- Here's what I think: I'm not gay, nor will I ever be gay. And yes, I will concede that the Bible says not to be gay. But at the same time, just because I am not, doesn't make it right for me to hate &/or be rude to the people who are. I also have no problem with gay people serving in the military, simply because of the fact that no matter who protects my freedom, they deserve my respect. I also personally believe that not letting gay people get married isn't going to stop them from living together and being gay. Maybe they shouldn't call it marriage, though, because that's not exactly what it is... And that's the most awkward topic out of the way...

2. Pro-Life vs. Pro-Choice- This is another hard one. I personally would never get an abortion, no matter what the situation was- but I can see why a girl might, if she was raped or abused or something like that. I think that the government should kind of go minimal in this particular area, just because- well, quite frankly, it's down to the woman and what she decides to do with her body. But I think that they should keep it legal, as much as I prefer adoption as an alternative, simply because methods for abortion have been around for a long time, and human nature tends to seek an easy way out. I don't know about anyone else, but I would rather that people who seek abortions, if they really can't be swayed, do it safely with proper medical equipment as opposed to other more primitive "street" methods. It's utilitarian, but there it is.

3. Healthcare- Ooh, this one's fun! I love when people get mad about this, because "With the health care reform we'll have to pay other peoples' insurance!" That's not what happens. We're ALREADY paying for those uninsured little dudes. Health care reform provides universal health care that would stop that, or at the very least, lighten the load. And you're upset about this because...? I'll grant you, I'm not old enough to be a taxpayer yet, but I do know one thing: When you're a grown-up, generally more money makes a happy face. Now, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

4. Religious Stuff- I want to be perfectly clear about one thing: I am a Christian. But I am also a huge fan of the separation of Church and State. That is something that I support wholeheartedly. Now, apparently there are places besides Oklahoma where kids can't pray in school or celebrate Christmas, la-dee-da. Here's what I have to say to that:

A) Um, can't openly celebrate Christmas? People are always complaining about how over-commercialized it is, and how annoying it is to buy all those Christmas presents and what-not. So, having one place where the madness is repressed is supposed to be a bad thing? Right.

B) As my gifted teacher Mrs. Marvin used to say, "As long as there are tests in schools, there will be prayer."

C) People come here seeking religious freedom all the time. Politicians should let the churches do religion, and the churches should let the politicians do politics. If we could settle on that as a country, I think we'd be happier.

D) At the same time, Christians do get a bad wrap. There's that small minority of people, like the Westboro Baptist Church and Rick Perry, who make the rest of us look like freaks. And honestly, I think if Christians- myself included- would quit complaining about the way American Pop Culture has created this Religious Villain Stereotype, get off our lazy butts, and do something to prove the world wrong, maybe then it would go (slightly) away.

But, maybe not.

Well, there you have it. I successfully violated two out of three of Linus' blanket ban conversation rules. As far as the Great Pumpkin goes- he's real. That's all I have to say. If this entry shocks you, make sure you read the label carefully next time. The Loudmouth isn't just a title- it's a warning.

As Tobuscus says, "Bless Your Face. Goodbye."

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