Just A Normal American
I wrote these thoughts 4 years ago. All of it is still true...even more so than then. But will this November be different? I pray so...
I used to be a normal person.......
I used to think I was pretty much just a regular guy. I was born white into a hard working two-parent household. 8 kids, so we weren't "well to do" by any means. But now that labels me as "Privileged", racist and responsible for slavery.
I'm a fiscal and moral conservative. I plan, budget and support myself. I believe in staying out of the affairs of others, and that government should generally do the same, which by today's standards, makes me insensitive at best, and a fascist at worst.
I went to high school and graduated. Went to college and paid for it myself, and have worked hard since to support me and my wife. But I now find out that I am not here because I earned it, but because I was "advantaged”.
I believe in the 2nd Amendment, which makes me a threat to the liberals, and I get labeled as being part of a militia, or as a "white supremacist", and now responsible for all gun crimes in America.
I am over 60, making me a useless person with outdated ideas and values, despite the fact that for over 30 years I was trusted with educating the very same people who now dismiss me.
I think and I reason, and I doubt much of what the "main stream" media tells me, which makes me a "Right-wing conspiracy nut”. I also believe that there are legitimate concerns about how the 2020 Presidential election was conducted and that the American public must be assured that its elections are fair and legitimate. But that also makes me into a "conspiracy nut".
I am proud of my heritage and our inclusive American culture. And I also believe that those who come to be part of this great country should do so legally, as millions of others have before. And that the millions who came ILLEGALLY should be sent back. But that now makes me a "xenophobe".
I'm happily heterosexual, and I think males and females should go to the restroom based on their birth sex, so I am labeled a sexist. I believe that biological males should not be competing against women in sports. But that makes me a transphobe.
I believe in a strong defense and protection of America for and by all citizens, now making me a militant. I believe that we shouldn't be recklessly sending billions of dollars in weapons to fund wars that don't directly impact our nation. But that makes me an "isolationist" or simply ignorant and naive.
I am proud of our flag, what it stands for and the many who died in its honor. I fly it proudly every day; I stand and salute during our National Anthem and I believe there is only one national anthem - so I must be a racist.
I was a history teacher for my entire career, So now I'm labeled as "imperialist" and "white privileged", or simply ignorant for thinking the erasing of history will potentially cause us to repeat the problems.
I think that all lives matters, which labels me as a racist.
I think the riots and destruction of property around our country is wrong and is just an excuse to push a political agenda, so I'm labeled a racist. And when I observe the fact that conservative protesters are prosecuted, but liberal ones are not - and point out that the justice system appears unequal - I'm called un-American and a "gangster".
I support our cops, which labels me as a racist. I believe that defunding our police is an idea that threatens the safety and security of ALL people, yet that would also have me be dismissed as racist and "part of the problem".
I vote for the Republican party because it best represents my conservative views, which labels me as a racist at worst, and an ignorant "deplorable" or "clown" or "domestic terrorist" at best.(according to the President himself)
In truth, I know none of those things define or describe me. But there are four things that I know for sure:
1) My wife loves me wholeheartedly and I her.
2) There are millions of good, common sense Americans, just like me - far more than what the mass media shows us, or are vocal in social media. The TikTok mob and Facebook apologists and scolders of this country don't represent me.
3) I am not naive nor "immoral". I see through those kinds of attacks, and I refuse to be silent, even when acquaintances and friends disagree or try to shame me into submission.
4) I will be voting for Trump in November. The current Democrats offer NOTHING that reflects what I believe, or is good in any way for this country. And their unprecedented strategy of "lawfare" to try to eliminate him as a political opponent is desparate and disgusting. And it reveals the true nature of those claiming "No one is above the law". I'll take a "convicted felon" over any of them any day.
It's time to stop being afraid of standing up for what is right.