Arguing on Facebook

I often feel like I'm always trying to defend the opposing side. Left leaning people love when I criticize Republicans and conservatives love when I criticize Democrats. I don't belong to any one side. There are often things I agree with from a conservative stance and often things I agree with from a more liberal stance. Doesn't mean I "belong" or identify with the left or right. My conservative friends like to call me a liberal every once in a while, and I'm sure my liberal friends think I'm a right wing nut job in sheep's clothing. That's the thing about being a libertarian. We've been called all of these things sometimes in the same day. If you truly want to know what I identify mostly with, google "classical liberal"

But back to my major point. If it seems like I am taking the opposing view just for the sake of a good argument, you may want to think again. I actually loathe arguing (No comment from close friends, please). I don't mind a friendly political debate, but doing so on Facebook is less than ideal because when you're the only one with the opposing view, it can feel like you're being attacked by everyone else. I know people hate to discuss politics on Facebook because "no one is changing anyone's mind."

I disagree with that statement.

If what someone says to you can influence the way you have thought about something, I would call that productive. It's not about changing ideas, it's about influencing people to change the way they think about something. Those are two completely different things. I have often said that I encourage and welcome opposing viewpoints. I NEVER want to seem that I am superior to anyone, and if I ever come across as condescending in my rebuttals, please let me know, because it was not intention. If you can present a clear and concise argument of why you think you are right and someone is wrong, the other person doesn't have to like what you say, but having mutual respect goes a long way.

I will openly say that I don't like to engage in debate with certain people because they approach debate with a personal interest. The second you take something personal when it's intent was not meant to be personal, your argument takes on entirely too much emotion. I've been guilty of this for sure, and have found myself angry with someone who I cared for.

We are humans, and emotions are going to take place in discourse, even if we try to leave emotions at home with us.

So, the next time you find yourself in a heated discussion on Facebook, relax, breathe, realize it's just a debate, make your point, and move on.

Dealing with tragedies

After the most recent shooting in which a gunman took down nearly 50 people at Pulse in Orlando, Fla., a gay nightclub, almost immediately people began calling for gun control. It's a predictable thing that happens after almost any mass shooting in the last couple years. Unfortunately, this has happened, and I don't think almost anyone wants these kinds of things to happen. Unless you're Westboro Baptist Church.

There are lots of emotions that people deal with after anything this terrible happens. Even locally, there were at least two known to be victims of this massacre. Makes you realize what a small, scary world we live in. No one should have to live in fear. I mean no one. I don't care what your personal feelings are about any one particular person or what their sexual orientation is. That's not being

debated here nor should it be debated in a tragedy like this. What is being debated of course after any mass shooting is the need and want for gun control. We've been down this road far too many times. And the end conclusion is always the same. Legislation can be introduced of course, but passing it is another. And when and if this legislation is passed, what's going to happen when this legislation doesn't work? What then? Are we going to hear cries from people to ban all guns or any kind of weapon that some people may feel can used for deadly purposes?

There is also a catch word going around through the media and across social media that is being misused and that is 'assault weapon' or 'automatic' weapon. Both of those words to describe weapons are used incorrectly. Mind you, I am not a gun connoisseur, nor do I own a gun, but I have common sense and I know how to look things up. Something that apparently gun control advocates who are playing off people's emotions (which by the way is disgusting), are currently doing. Assault weapon simply describes the aesthetics of a gun, and has nothing to do with the operation of the gun. There is nothing operationally different between an assault rifle and a hunting rifle that my brother uses to hunt deer in the fall.

I've also heard A LOT of people say that "no one needs a weapon like that." The purpose of the Second Amendment was for self-defense. and to keep the government in check. If you're waiting on the government to protect you or for police to arrive on the scene, you will probably already be dead. It's a harsh understanding and one of the biggest reasons why I am a supporter for people to defend themselves. I want to live in a world where gay couples won't be afraid to hold hands in public, and certainly not when they are out having fun. I just wish someone there would have been equipped to deal with that situation. Can you imagine if the gunman had been taken out by an off-duty police officer who used his gun to stop 50 people from being killed? I want that to be a reality. Gun-free zones are extremely dangerous, and are targets for people like Omar Mateen. They don't follow rules. They never will. Regardless of the fact that he was on an FBI watch list, he was still able to purchase a gun legally because we live in a democracy, and the government can't watch every citizen 24 hours a day, even though they try very hard to.

I wish that we could keep guns out of every single bad person's hands, or every person that is "on edge" but it would be nearly impossible. Stripping away the rights, whether that be Second Amendment or Fourth Amendment, of a law abiding citizen is wrong. Playing on people's emotions after a national tragedy because you think more government legislation is going to solve a complex problem, is incredibly stupid and irresponsible. I don't want to live in a country that does this.

These are tough times. Let's love one another. Teach acceptance. Learn about diversity of different religions, sexual orientations, backgrounds, etc. Use this as a teaching tool for those who don't understand. Raise awareness for LGBT issues. Practice kindness. Let's not create more political divide in this country.

Because frankly, this is exactly what's happening.

Bathroom bosses

I don't know why I felt compelled to write about this apparent touchy and controversial subject, but what the hell you know? Not like I'm scared to share my opinion with anyone (Even if they don't ask for it). So here goes.

HB2, known as House Bill 2, has been the hot button issue not just in North Carolina, but has sparked a national debate across the nation. NC has become the butt of many jokes and many businesses and performers have took a stand against HB2. I'm not here to tell you how you should feel about the bill. I know my personal feelings and if you know me you probably know these feelings. From an economic standpoint, Governor McCrory should be ashamed of the backlash against our beautiful state. We are not a red or a blue state and I've always appreciated that about my home state. But this bill does more harm than good, and I'm sorry if you don't feel that way. You are no more safer in bathrooms or public places today than you were 10 years ago. Men are not going to suddenly decide, "hey I feel like a woman today and I'm going to start using the women's restroom."

That's not exactly how this works. Cue this GIF

Transgender people are not new in our society. And I hear a lot of people say that their "lifestyle" is being forced upon us. Their "lifestyle" is no more a choice as the color of your eyes. Like it or not. Their issues and social acceptance was and is often shamed and told that they're not "normal." Whatever normal is. I sure as hell don't know. 

Trans people just want to be loved and accepted and not told where they HAVE to freaking take a leak. And government (like always) has no damn business telling people where they have to pee. I'm a big proponent of local government, and while I didn't personally have a problem with Charlotte's ordinance, even there I thought they should leave well enough alone, but giving trans people the right to use whatever bathroom facility they identify with is not asking a whole lot. Whether we realize it or not, LGBT rights matter. It has become too political in my opinion, but no one should be allowed to fire someone because they are LGBT. That's asinine. 

Often laws are overreaching and I believe the free markets and private businesses should be allowed to operate as they want. There's a reason why successful, large companies are LGBT allies. It's suicidal to be against. I think there's a way we can simultaneously have our religious liberties protected and not discriminate against people. I truly do. 

Senator Jeff Jackson said it best in my opinion: "Whether you are for or against HB2, know that its purpose was to turn us against each other. And it's working like a charm."

We can do better than this, North Carolina. 

Assigned politics?

I far too often hear that one has to vote a certain way if they are a particular race, gender, sexual orientation, Because this politician votes in favor of your rights, or democrats actually "care" about your rights, or of course they give the allusion that they care. And of course no one in the GOP cares about women, people of color or gay people, right? 

Well they may be half right, but they're also wrong. 

If you honestly think that Bernie Sanders or Hillary Clinton care more about your rights than say any other politician, you're living in a fantasy world. They simply want your votes. Hillary panders (like everyone else of course) to the gay community, black community, and anyone else she thinks will vote for her. 

Most people aren't single issue voters, but there are many who are. And the reason I know this is because most ignore Hillary Clinton's voting record, and focus on the fact that she's suddenly a champion for LBGT rights (looking at you Human Rights Campaign), even though she was for the traditional definition of marriage not so long ago. People seem to forget that. 

I've heard a lot of people say how bad the candidates are this election cycle, but 9 out of 10 of those people will end up voting for one of those people they don't like. Something that blows my mind. If you accept the status quo as is, it will never change. The American people are voting for what they want, or are they? Do people really want Donald Trump to be President? I'm sure some out there genuinely like the guy and he is their first choice, and although I disagree with them, it is their vote and their opinion. 

I'm implore you to not accept the lesser of two evils. If you don't like Hillary or Trump, by God don't vote for either! It is completely okay to vote for the third party or to leave the ballot blank. To me personally, a blank ballot option sends a message. It says, my choices are not to my liking, and I would rather vote for a tree stump. And do NOT let anyone tell you it's a wasted vote. Principles are a quality that is dying and is great to have. Most people do not have them. If they did, they wouldn't always vote one way. 

Don't let anyone tell you that you have to vote a certain way just because of who you are. I don't care where you grew up, or who your parents are, or if you go to church or don't go to church, if you're gay or straight, black or Hispanic, etc. You vote the way your principles tell you to vote. It's the best advice I can offer someone. 

So as you go to the polls this year (or today in NC), please keep these words of advice somewhere in the corner of your mind. 

Remember, it's the best advice I can offer. 

Mainstream libertarian-ism common grounds

Kate Hudson was on The View this morning, and the reason I bring this up (besides admitting to the fact that I watch The View), is because she mentioned the fact that her father, Bill Hudson, was a libertarian and her mother, well known actress, Goldie Hawn, was about the complete opposite. I'm assuming extremely liberal. My point of this post is to not praise the fact that Bill Hudson is a libertarian, but to point out the fact that the word libertarian is becoming a more commonly used word in the mainstream media and talk shows.

A few years ago, people would read the word libertarian and mistake it for librarian, or they wouldn't know what a libertarian was at all. Kate also made a good point about how even though growing up in her house was "different," it teaches us a good lesson about two people being friends or even spouses, but having completely different political ideologies. It is possible. I have facebook friends who I'm fairly certain only associate with people who think exactly like them.

Sad if you think about it. No one ever challenges your viewpoint, or brings up a side of an argument they would never consider. I appreciate my varying friends political views. Even if I know they're wrong ;-).

Kidding of course. But you get my point, right?

I also posted a link to an article earlier this week about Justice Antonin Scalia and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and discussing their close friendship even though they voted and dissented very differently and were almost complete polar opposites on the political spectrum. They may not have agreed, but politics as a whole is mostly a discussion. It doesn't mean you can't get along with someone you don't agree with, or that has different political leanings. That teaches us all a very valuable lesson in American politics, especially today as we are so politically divided as a nation.

So whether you're a libertarian, liberal, social conservative, anarchist, or Green Party member, we should all be able to get along. 

Let's talk about race

Most of what I write here is straight from the heart, and I am usually apologetically honest, even when it's not the popular thing to say. But how does a white man talk about race without it blowing back up in his face? We are in some ways (and many will argue with me on this) the "privileged" race and sex, so that's two strikes against me. How does one engage in an open dialogue with anyone if they are white and male? I've been told before that I just don't understand and to be silent, because I was (as if I was around) the oppressor for so many years. Yes, my fellow white men (and women) were oppressors and they did terrible things to people of color. A long time ago. No one alive today remembers anything about slavery except what we hear from older generations (the stories they were told by older people) and from what we read in our history books, etc. I know people of color today in a lot of ways still feel oppressed, whether it's by society, law enforcement, political leaders, etc. Do I feel that oppression is a problem? Absolutely. You'd be a fool to think it was not. But I see a world that is open and ripe for the taking regardless of your background. Accepting personally responsibilities and not blaming the world for your problems, no matter how big is a step toward maturity.

I know that racism still exists. And it's still a prevalent part of our society, unfortunately. It will always be to a certain extent. Race has been brought to the forefront the last handful of years. With the #BlackLivesMatter movement, racial justice has been a leading discussion among people. Beyonce has caught some heat for her Super Bowl 50 halftime performance, which she performed her new single "Formation," which highlights the Black Lives Matter movement. and her backup dancers were dressed as an homage to the Black Panther Party of the 1960s. I will personally say that, I like Beyonce, and I like her new music video, and I respect an artist's freedom of expression. But, I think maybe the Black Panther Party, which advocated violence to overcome black struggles, might have been done in poor taste.

But hey, it's Beyonce and she can pretty much do what she wants. I think most people will forget about it, and buy her new album and attend her concerts.

I recognize the significance of racial injustice, and know there's still more work to be done. As a libertarian, I recognize the decriminalization of harmful drug laws most affects the African American community. These are steps we can take to keep non-violent offenders out of prison, which often times tend to be African American males. It's a problem that is bipartisan, and I think we're headed in the right direction.

It's important to listen to your neighbor, even if your neighbor isn't like you. Something that isn't an issue to you, might be a very important one to your black, Latino, gay, elderly, transgender, female, etc. neighbor. I am for the individual. I re-posted a picture on Facebook the other day that read, "The smallest minority on earth is the individual. Those who deny individual rights cannot claim to be defenders of minorities." This speaks volumes in my opinion. Because most who claim to be for minority rights don't typically care about the individuals rights at all. But that's for another article I suppose.

My biggest question is what can I do to help? The only way I know to help is to treat everyone I meet with kindness and respect. Something I was raised to do. I'm not much on protesting or attending rallies, or even arguing with anyone that disagrees with me. As a white person, I believe I can still recognize and acknowledge these issues, without feeling any "white guilt." I am only an individual and I only represent myself. I don't represent all white people or all men. I only can speak for myself and myself only. And I suppose you can relate.

Post Iowa Caucus thoughts

There are two major things that I took away from the Iowa Caucus results. Number one, the only candidate that I wanted to support dropped out of the Presidential race Wednesday morning. Of course I'm speaking of Rand Paul. It was probably the right decision for him as he's done everything possible to try and relate to every voting base possible. His campaign had took a great turn earlier this week, but only receiving 4.5% of the vote in Iowa was enough for him to suspend his campaign. Rand is needed in the senate, and he will continue to fight for liberty and government overreach. I'm grateful for this. This country is clearly not ready for a libertarian president. I'll never figure out why. Establishment republicans clearly want to elect someone who doesn't have what it takes to beat Hillary in November. 

GOP Results: (Source: AP)

100% reporting	Delegates	Vote %
Cruz (won)	8	27.6%
Trump	7	24.3%
Rubio	7	23.1%
Carson	3	9.3%
Paul	1	4.5%
Bush	1	2.8%
Fiorina	1	1.9%
Kasich	1	1.9%
Huckabee	0	1.8%
Christie	0	1.8%
Santorum	0	1%
Gilmore	0	0%

And number two: Judging by the post-caucus speeches, it appears nobody really lost. Even when they did. Hillary Clinton narrowly won by a coin toss, which technically is not accurate, but she did in fact win 6 precincts by a coin flip, but it's not why she edged out Bernie Sanders. She was very fortunate to win that is for sure. The Iowa Caucus is a strange happening in American politics. Almost like a sporting event in which a winner can be determined in part because of.... a coin toss. 

Democratic Results: (Source: AP)

100% reporting	Delegates	Vote %
Clinton (won)	23	49.9%
Sanders	21	49.6%
O'Malley	0	0.6%

This has been and will continue to be a very interesting presidential race. I don't feel like there is a clear winner, especially on the republican side. Bernie Sanders has made it interesting and is definitely making Hillary sweat. He has a lot of supporters, (And most, if not all could use a basic economics lesson) but I'm certain those supporters will jump ship to team Hillary if she wins the nomination, even though they seem to be against one another at the moment. 

I'm not certain at all what will happen on the GOP side. I'm still not convinced Trump will win the nomination, and I personally don't think it will end up being him. Just don't ask me if it's going to be Ted Cruz or Marco Rubio. 

As a libertarian, my attention most likely turns to a Libertarian Party candidate. Sighs.... Maybe 2020 is a possibility, libertarians? Don't give up the good fight. The libertarian message is becoming more common and I hope people are starting to take notice. 

Obama's final SOTU reflections

President Obama address the nation in his final SOTU

"Who is President Barack Obama and what does he stand for? I used to think I knew, but after seven years of an unprincipled, meandering presidency, I'm not sure that even he knows.

When President Obama first ran for office, he promised "hope" and "change." As a Republican who didn't vote for him, I nonetheless believed he might right some of the wrongs of the Bush administration. Instead, he has further concentrated power in the executive branch and eroded our rights.

The president's failings provide an opportunity for Republicans to grow our party, but to do so, we must genuinely stand for limited, constitutional government. That means spending less time on the excuse that we don't control every part of government and more time persuading others to join us on sound policy. More important, it means fully advocating for liberty—not just economic liberty but also personal liberty—for all people.

We must uphold the Rule of Law by ending cronyism and corporate welfare. Every person deserves equal protection under the law, and no corporation, group, or individual should receive special treatment under the law.

We must protect civil liberties and stop the surveillance abuses that violate our privacy, and we must defend the rights of all people to speak and worship freely.

We must reform our justice system to combat overcriminalization, and we must ensure that every person accused of wrongdoing receives due process and, if found guilty, fair sentencing.

We must pursue a rational, conservative foreign policy—focused on defending Americans, not bravado and rash interventionism. Our sons and daughters never should be sent to war without congressional approval.

In short, Republicans must embrace the fundamental principles of limited government that we profess to hold. I am honored to be leading the Republican Party in this direction, and I am grateful to the people I represent for their continuing trust." - Rep. Justin Amash (Serves the Third District of Michigan)

I always make a point to watch the president's State of the Union. I think every American should regardless or their party affiliation or leanings. I thought it was long to say the least. But there were things that President Obama said that I liked (believe it or not), but there was plenty that I did not like. I'm not sure what Obama's legacy as a President will be. It will probably depend on who you ask as is the case with most presidents. 

I had hoped after the 2008 election, which I did not vote for Obama, but I liked some of the things that he campaigned on, and after 8 years of Bush, I was intrigued to see if any of the things he campaigned on would come to fruition. I have been mostly disappointed from a libertarian standpoint as Obama has expanded government and increased our national spending. He has expanded drone strikes, killing innocent civilians. Something most liberals (sorry I know it's a broad sweeping term) don't even bat an eye to. He just signed executive orders to expand background checks on the private sales of guns, and mostly has trampled on our privacy rights in the name of safety. 

As we turn the page into 2016, I am not very optimistic about our impending choices for the next President of the United States. I am a fan of Rand Paul. If you know me or follow my tweets or Facebook posts, you probably have figured that out. Is Rand the perfect candidate? Not by a long shot. But he's the closest thing we have to a libertarian running for President (two-party system) probably ever. Most of the other candidates (democrat and republican) have some admirable qualities, but the idea of a Trump/Hillary race frightens me. I know my republican and democrat friends alike will inevitably and almost blindly support whoever their respective party nominates. Something I've tried to preach on for a few years now. 

Vote principle over party.

Do it. I promise you, you'll feel much better about yourself. And don't listen to anyone tell you that you've wasted a vote if you don't vote either nominee. Accepting the status quo of the current state of American politics is a disease we must eradicate. Neither a Hillary Presidency nor a Trump Presidency is going to solve anything.

One thing I will echo from Obama on his final State of the Union address, is to make sure you vote. No matter which party you lean or have allegiance with, go vote. Now, let's try and make sense of this crazy presidential race in the upcoming year. Not going to happen? Oh well, I tried. 

Wanting What We Can't Have

Drew Sechler


Why is it that we always want what we can't have? I've often wondered that very question and then thought about all of the things I did have that others may desire and vice versa. These aren't always material things of course. Often times we desire a job that we can't have, or a person that we wish to date, or even the thought of someone else's life often sounds appeasing.

It's okay to want to accomplish something or "go after" what we really want. In fact that's great. But it needs to be something that you work for and that you earn. All the while realizing you may not be meant to be with a certain person, or maybe that job is not really for you. I think it's only natural to desire things that we don't have. I would like a flat stomach and a million dollars. One of those is more obtainable than the other (I'm trying to figure out which).

Nothing makes these "Keeping Up the Jones" attitudes worse than Facebook or Instagram. I love both of these social media outlets, but I'll be damned if people try to paint a picture that their lives are always dandelions and unicorns.

They're lying.

When we stop comparing our lives and our journeys with others, is when we truly become happier individuals. This is not an easy task for some. Especially if you know someone makes more money than you do, or someone just got married and you are still single, or someone has a full-time job and you have two part-time jobs. See what I did there? It's too easy to compare ourselves to others. Stop doing it.

Your life is only yours. You can share it with many people, but your journey is strictly yours. Decide the best way you can live it and go do it. Don't worry about criticism because it's going to happen anyway. Look at your failures as learning opportunities, and not really failures at all. It's called life.

Let's live it.

Getting there

I've never really been one to not be able to express myself, either through my writing or my voice. So as I continue to write, which is clearly my passion, or one of my passions in life, it should be noted that I continue to struggle with what I exactly want to do with my life. People ask me what I really want to do, and I can't always honestly answer that question. Is that a problem? I obviously love to write. I always have. I love politics, hence my political blog, Facebook page, and my Twitter account (shameless plugs).

But the trick is, how do you translate your passions to earning a paycheck for doing what you love to do? I've often thought of how great it would be to write for Reason Magazine, Heritage Foundation, Cato Institute or even a less known libertarian leaning or political outlet. Hell, I'd write for MSNBC or Fox News if they hired me (Maybe).

I also have a passion for giving people advice, and/or counseling, but I have no background in that arena. That shouldn't stop me of course, and I guess the moral of this short piece is that you should follow your dreams and ambitions no matter what someone tells you. I remember during my internship at the Salisbury Post back in college, I had one of the reporters (not naming names) tell me and pretty much every young intern there to "get the hell out of journalism." Bold words from a longtime stalwart of the Rowan County daily. I may have entered the journalism field at a terrible time, but I do still possess a journalism degree and I intend on utilizing it again. Mark my word.

One thing that I've learned and one thing that I must overcome is that I cannot let my past "failures" or shortcomings keep me from pursuing what I want to do. Living in fear or the fear of failing is no way to live at all. I've took a few kicks in the teeth from life, but so has everyone else. My only problem is that I haven't found my right niche, and finding that right niche comes very naturally to some, but not much to others. If you have found the perfect place for you and you're doing something you absolutely love, you are incredibly fortunate. Many people work years in jobs they hate simply because it's security. I never will be able to live like that.

I would rather be poor and happy, than to be well off and miserable any day of the week. Finding that balance is key and I am the only person that's going to make that happen. It's time to start making things happen instead of waiting.

So here goes nothing. Or maybe it's everything?

Answers

      I'm having a really difficult time here trying to make sense of senseless acts of violence that happen in this country. I, like most people are only seeking answers. Is there a solution? Some believe that through more regulation, we can prevent these acts of violence from happening. Others don't believe any regulation at all could stop crazy people from doing anything. I'm not sure where I fall to be honest.

I certainly am a proponent of the 2nd amendment. I don't think it's outdated in the least, and I think most people understand that no one is wanting to take away any guns as gun control supporters like to point out as if they're speaking to children. We've had these discussions before as mass shootings seem to be a monthly incident now. Some politicize the situation before the dust even has time to settle. We've gotten to a point in this country where people think that government is the solution to all of our problems. 

We do have a gun problem in this country. Guns fall into the wrong hands. Can we keep these people from getting their hands on these weapons? Maybe, maybe not? I think some provisions could work in theory, But real solutions shouldn't be theory-based. It's also important to have these discussions. Guns are dangerous, of course. I've never been a fan of guns, but I would like to learn how to use one properly one day, and I believe that if more people were educated and were taught and allowed to conceal carry, I feel like some of these gun violence victims could have or potentially could save their own life one day. Let's be honest, this problem isn't going to go away overnight. And more government regulation will probably not be the answer. Let's have open discussions about this and less finger pointing. I truly do not care if you consider yourself to be a social justice warrior because you believe in more gun control, or if you're a staunch conservative who wants to cling tighter to your gun. Enough with the division. Try and act like adults and less like children comparing who has the better bicycle. I am so over seeing both sides of the aisle constantly bicker. It's getting us no where. 

If you're the praying kind, keep these families of the Oregon shooting in your thoughts and prayers. Let's have some time pass and discuss things rationally. Not as liberals or conservatives, but as people with level-headed approaches. 

Mixing Jesus with your Huff Po

Okay, so as I was trying to think of a title for this piece, I didn't intentionally target any particular news outlet. Huffington Post just came to mind. My blog posts are usually inspired by what I read on Facebook (or through fill in the blank social media) on a daily or weekly basis. I try my best to just be a casual observer as my wide variety of Facebook friends post their political and non-political thoughts. I came across one last week associating Jesus himself as a political figure in our modern times. What would Republican Jesus Do? It read "Cut food stamp benefits, cut affordable healthcare, demonize the homeless, and block equality rights) Jesus wasn't a democrat, republican, socialist, anarchist, etc. Jesus was (if you're a believer) as the Bible tells us the son of God. While I will not make this post religious, Jesus can't be equated with what our government should or should not do.

Jesus gave out of the kindness of his own heart. Giving someone food, clothing, shelter, love are beautiful things, but doing it voluntarily, not through government force is another. Being against food stamps is not being a mean person. If you're for food stamps and government assistance, it doesn't make you a better person than the person who is against it. Give of your own time. Volunteer at a local food shelter, donate clothes, make Christmas shoe boxes for children around the holidays, but whatever you do, do it because YOU want to. Not because someone tells you. Giving out of the goodness of your heart will mean ten times more than sitting back and expecting our government to do it.

Yes, government assistance is a necessary thing on occasion, and even though I don't think it should be a means of living, I understand people endure struggles, and I'm not heartless enough to understand that.

But please, please do not say that Jesus would be aligned with any political party of our modern times because you think the government taking care of people is caring. Do something on your own. That's what Jesus would do.

Life in the crossfire

Growing up in North Carolina is not quite like growing up in Georgia, Alabama, or Mississippi. We are still southern. There is no doubt about that. We have our own kind of unique southern charm. Yes ma'am and yes sir. Please and thank you. We smile at strangers, which by the way, never ever try if you're in New York City. It's going to send the wrong message and you'll end of unknowingly "flirting" with someone, or you'll end up with a black eye. 

North Carolina is also not exactly like our neighbor to the south either. South Carolina is very much so still indoctrinated in the ways of the old south. I've never thought twice about the fact that the confederate flag still flew on the state house grounds in Columbia. I've been there before, but honestly didn't think twice about it. It means nothing to me. It's just a flag I told myself, and like many others think it's harmless. 

But is it? 

I sometimes get too caught up in my own opinions, but I always try to consider both sides of an argument. While I am mostly still indifferent on the issue, I do think that it's probably time that we retire the stars and bars to a museum. It is history. A very ugly history about a war of secession (You're welcome history majors). But sometimes the right thing to do is just the right thing to do. South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley called for the removal of the flag this week in light of the recent tragedy in Charleston. And many other individuals have echoed the same sentiments. 

My first reaction to this was, o.k. but is this going to change anything? Will it change attitudes? People's way of thinking? Is it going to make individuals "not racist?" Racism is still a real thing. It's not cut and dry, and it's not one-sided as some journalists and media members would lead you to believe. I've heard the term "institutionalized racism," more in the past year than I ever have before. I've struggled with understanding exactly what it meant and if it had any truth behind it and it wasn't another one of those made up terms to victimize individuals when they may not be a victim at all. Maybe it is a real thing? Who I am to say it's not? After all, I am white, and I am a male, right? The left in particular has tried to silence the white male opinion as much as possible because after all, anything bad that has ever happened is the white man's fault. There is some truth to that statement and of course I am being sarcastic, but I digress. 

Is removing the confederate flag the right thing to do? Simply, yes. But truth be told, I don't know what's to happen after that. It's going to make a lot of people angry. Most people will forget about it and move on with their lives. 

But will that proverbial flag still be flying?

People need to realize that others will always hate you just because you're you. Racism will always exist. I know that is a tough pill to swallow for some people and I know some people will argue that it will not, but as long as people are different, and as long as they come from different cultures, one side will always find angst towards the other. We have come a very long way no matter what anyone tells you. People of color are afforded every opportunity that my European descent relatives are given. Life is what you make of it, and if you constantly play the victim and are worried that someone hates you because you are a different color than your neighbor, well, that is not a life worth living in my book. I treat people the same. If you are nice to me, I will be nice to you. It's that simple. It's how my mother raised me. Doesn't matter what race, gender, nationality, sexual preference, etc. You will receive my respect and kindness if you deserve it.

I hope something good comes of this removal if it does happen. Maybe some people's attitudes and opinions will change? Maybe not? I guess only time will tell.

What is normal like?

Often times in this crazy world in which we live, we get caught up on each others differences, and trying to get along, especially in the social media age of today, takes us back to the playground at elementary school. I would venture to say most of us have varying opinions, and for the most part we are able to civilly discuss said various topics (even if they are political) without much damage or someone's feelings being hurt.

Not everything that happens in the world around us is going to be something we like or we agree with. Bruce Jenner (now Caitlyn) this week appeared on the cover of Vanity Fair, after her recent gender reassignment surgery. Gender reassignment and transgendered people are something that is not new. But for this topic to be in the limelight, and at the forefront of popular culture today IS new. Caitlyn Jenner is certainly not a transgender pioneer, as people such as Christine Jorgensen, Sylvia Rivera, and Renee Richards all transitioned in times when it was much less accepting as it is today. But Jenner should certainly be celebrated in her own right.

It takes guts to be yourself. 

If you have never had to not be yourself, then you don't understand what it's like. Being yourself is something that comes so naturally to most, but for others it can take years before they are comfortable being themselves. Please don't discount that fact if you don't simply understand.

It's O.K. to not understand everything of this world. My initial reaction to Caitlyn Jenner was that it didn't really affect me, and what someone does to their own body and with their own life has no affect on me. 

Sometimes we don't need to have reactions. 

A lot of people can confuse this with not being allowed to have an opinion. Having an opinion is a right. Whether that opinion will be well liked is another, but it's still a right. I saw many people share a photo of a double-amputee soldier with the caption, "Caitlyn Jenner won the Arthur Ashe Courage Award. The runner up was this guy: Army Veteran Noah Galloway, who lost an arm and a leg to a roadside bomb in Iraq, and now competes in Crossfit events, runs marathons, and competed in the 58-hour Death Race."

This fact has since been disproved, since ESPN does not award a runner-up for the Arthur Ashe Courage Award. The fact of the matter is, every year there is going to be someone that is absolutely worthy of the award but does not win.

Can we for once put down our self-righteous weapons and let people be who they are. Nothing is wrong with our nation for making things that were once taboo, normal. Being who you are is your normal. It may not be someone else's normal, but guess what? It's not theirs to have. You are you.

 Be yourself for god's sakes.

Trust in God

Life is way too funny the way it turns out sometime.

Sometimes or more often cases, a lot of times, it doesn't turn out the way you want it to. Sure, I've had things in my life that have not come easy, but that's most everyone. I'm through with placing these burdens on myself and give them to God. That's the only thing we can do sometimes.

I'm only 25 (*almost* 26 ... ) but my mom has always told me even from a young age, that life is not and never will be fair. I'm so glad she didn't sugar coat things for me. I never felt entitled to anything in life. I was never an A+ student, but I got by. Finding employment has never been easy for me. I've just now recently found some part-time work. I realize that God knows our path in life and I completely trust Him in where he wants to take me next.

Life is too short to be miserable. So give your worries and burdens to God, and watch him go to work in your life. Something I constantly have to remind myself.

And maybe you need reminding too.

Toying with our emotions

Gabby Giffords wrote an op-ed piece in the New York Times yesterday in regards to the senate vote on gun control.

As you can imagine, it's dripping with heart-felt emotion:

SENATORS say they fear the N.R.A. and the gun lobby. But I think that fear must be nothing compared to the fear the first graders in Sandy Hook Elementary School felt as their lives ended in a hail of bullets. The fear that those children who survived the massacre must feel every time they remember their teachers stacking them into closets and bathrooms, whispering that they loved them, so that love would be the last thing the students heard if the gunman found them. On Wednesday, a minority of senators gave into fear and blocked common-sense legislation that would have made it harder for criminals and people with dangerous mental illnesses to get hold of deadly firearms — a bill that could prevent future tragedies like those in Newtown, Conn., Aurora, Colo., Blacksburg, Va., and too many communities to count.

Let me start off by saying, I have the utmost respect for Gabby Giffords (former Democratic Senator from Arizona, who was shot in the head on January 8, 2011). She has fought a courageous battle in recovering. She has been an inspiration for many Americans, and she should be commended for that.

However, in saying that, background checks could not have prevented the actions of Adam Lanza and other madmen from doing the horribly, horrific acts they committed. The weapon Lanza used belonged to his mother, who would have passed the background checks. If we banned certain "assault" weapons, this isn't going to stop a criminal. Connecticut already had a ban on these weapons. 

Letting emotion dictate our policies is not only incredibly foolish, but dangerous.

We do need to come togehther to try and come up with a solution, but placing more background checks and placing bans on certain assault weapons isn't going to accomplish anything. The 2nd Amendment, and I will state it for you in case you have forgotten what it actually says (and means)

A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.

The orignial intent of the 2nd Amendment is to protect citizen's rights to bear arms against a tyrannical government. Any infringement upon these rights is deemed unconstitutional. Senators like Rand Paul, Marco Rubio, and Ted Cruz are fighting for our constitutional rights as American citizens, and it is a damn shame that protecting civil liberties is now seen as "extreme," or somehow those not in favor of gun control legislation do not care about the victims whose lives have been lost. 

You know what is a shame? Legislators, senators, and our current administration using victims of these heinous acts, as propped up political propaganda. It's disgusting. 

And even more amazingly now, there are comedians like Jay Mohr and Lawrence O'Donnel actually blaming the 2nd Amendment for the bombings in Boston earlier this week. We have to stop this blameshifting.

Our priorties are all wrong. 

Post Inauguration Thoughts

I've had a lot on my mind recently in regards to the state of politics in this country. Ok, let's be honest, I always have that on my mind. As I was driving home from Florida, Monday, I had time to collect some thoughts as President Obama was inaugurated into office for his second term.

I often think my opinion is not the popular one, but then I realize lots of people relate to me. As I mentioned on facebook Monday, I never like to be labeled anything for that matter, but definitely not another anti-Obama person. Let's get one thing clear, because of my beliefs politically, I am not a Barack Obama supporter. I never have been. BUT, let's also get one thing clear as well, the problem in this country for a long time has been status quo politics. We have politicians who claim to be fiscally conservative like Paul Ryan, who is nothing short of a moderate. Ryan is about the furthest you can be from being a fiscal conservative.

I was a fan of George Bush, the person, not George Bush the President. Many Obama supporters are obviously not Bush fans or fans of the GOP party altogether, and rightfully justified in most instances, but if we take away the Obama name, he is hardly different than Bush. Their foreign policies are the same, they are both big spenders. Obama claims, or at least claimed to be anti-war back in 2008, but he's hardly that. Obama tried to extend the war in Iraq, wanting to keep thousands of troops there passed the proposed deadline, which was set in place already by... yep you guessed it, Bush.

I imagine if Obama was a republican, most in this country would be chastising him for supporting NDAA, Patriot Act, TARP Bailouts, and don't even get me started on the drone strikes in Yemen and Libya or the whole Benghazi ordeal.

Four reasons why Obama was reelected:

1) Ignorance by his policies
2) The U.S. is becomming more socially liberal
3) Too many in this country are dependent on government handouts
4) Mitt Romney was the LAST choice of many in the GOP

Social issues are important to most people, and I consider them important as well, but to vote for a president solely based on the fact that he has come out in support of gay marriage is, well pretty dumb if you think about it. Obama is not going to somehow legalize gay marriage. It is a state by state issue. And further more, why do people not realize he has pandered to the LGBT community to get their votes. A presient's personal view on gay marriage is pretty much irrelevant. I understand that most in the gay community feel like they have a voice with a president supporting this, but in reality, he can't do anything because it's a state issue.

The republican party is seen by most as backward, because of some of the comments made by Todd Akin and others regarding abortion. The GOP is also seen as anti-science and anti-gay. This is why they are failing to attract the youth vote.

As I have said before, the GOP must embrace libertarianism, and libertarian-minded republicans if they want to change their party's platform. For a die hard conservative, you have to realize if you support a libertairan candidate, you're not giving up your socially conservative values, you just have to realize the government has no place enforcing morality. The GOP should want to limit government overall.

Grassroots activists did not support Romney, and he was the last candidate they would have chosen. If the GOP wants to win, they have to have the support of these individuals who will get out, knock on doors, put up yard signs, make phone calls, etc. The GOP must also not continue to shun libertarians, particularly at national conventions like we saw this past year in Tampa. If the GOP continues to elect more "fiscal moderates" because they think they are more electable, the GOP will continue to spiral downward.

Lastly, I thought I would post a YouTube video that clears up some of the confusion most have about libertarians. Julie Borowski is a policy analyst for FreedomWorks, and is one of my favorite libertarians.

The Day After

People are incredibly predictable. Today feels a lot like that November day in 2008. Some people happy, others very unhappy. Some people like to get philisophical about how we should all act, treat each other, etc. 

I'm always ALL for working together to solve a common goal, but how we didn't learn our lesson four years ago is baffling. This president, nor individuals in congress believe in non-partisanship. We're going to be faced with the same problems, same issues as we are today in 2016. Except of course, we'll all be paying out of our nose in taxes trying to afford Obamacare. 

I've expressed my displeasure with "status quo" politics before and until we come to the realization of not accepting this problem, we will continue to spiral downward. 

The liberty movement within the Republican party is a strong one and is continuing to gain momentum. We'll be pushing candidates like Justin Amash (reelected in MI-3), Thomas Massie (KY-4), Ted Yoho (FL-3), and David Schweikert (AZ-6), Kerry Bentivolio (MI-11, and of course Sen. Rand Paul (Ron Paul's son) who should make a strong run in 2016 for the Presidency. If you're not familiar with this movement, make yourself informed. Candidates and ideals like this are the future face of the now broken Republican party. 

So here's to 2014, and eventually 2016!