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I’ve been talking about the walkaway group on Facebook. I have to admit that I’m wondering if it is real, although it absolutely makes no sense that somebody would be faking this. It would be the opposite they would be walking away from conservatism if anybody was making something up.

If these youngsters and stories are real, they are amazing. All of the pictures are of beautiful people and they have amazing English skills. Of course it makes sense that the intelligent ones would be the ones to come to our side.

Here’s an example:

“This page is where I go to when I need any encouragement or guidance, it really feels like one big family just supporting and welcoming one another. I’m so grateful to be a part of this group as the stories posted on here are really quite heartwarming. My mom had posted about a week ago regarding a video I made explaining why I do not support Black Lives Matter. I have faced some extreme criticism from my peers but the support I received from this group helped me in ways I can’t find words to express. I posted a follow up video where I actually mention this group and encouraged other people who are looking for a support system to speak up in these difficult times. I am having difficulty posting the link to the YouTube video or Instagram video on this page, but if you would like to watch either of them you can go to Instagram and type in madeline.gabriella - you will see my two videos are right at the top of my page. If you would prefer to view it on YouTube, you can just click my name and go to my Facebook page where I have shared the two videos publicly. If you click those links it will take you to the YouTube videos! You all are exactly what makes me so proud to me an American. For that reason, I want to formally introduced myself and share my #walkaway story.

My name is Madeline Powers. I am 22 years old, and I am from Massachusetts. I just graduated from college with a Political Science degree. Over the last four years I have battled with balancing the liberal ideologies that permeate the academic world against some things that I just know to be true. I kept quiet on a lot of my thoughts simply because I just thought I was wrong, and believed that one day when I grew up I would understand why the left pushes the narratives they push. I wouldn’t call myself a member of any party, but always catered to the ideas of Democrats when speaking aloud simply because it sounded nice and I knew everyone around me would be more likely to accept me. However, I knew a lot of the ways they went about getting things done simply didn’t sit right with me.

I remember when the Trump administration repealed net neutrality... I actually cried because I felt so terrified for what was going to happen to the web. What information was going to be kept from poorer communities? Was this the start of the end for America? The media really sold me on it even though I always considered myself to be a free thinker. I could not figure out what the truth was for such a long time and it felt extremely overwhelming and dark. For this reason I decided to do my senior thesis on this topic - as I was committed to choosing a topic I wanted to learn more about, not something I already understood. Throughout being forced to conduct deep research on something that I knew nothing about, I realized that so much of what I believed to be true just wasn’t. I started to see more and more how many democrat policies were structured to appeal to the morality of the uneducated (and invoke immense amounts of fear) while republican policies aimed to empower all Americans. Every time I would talk about these things, and defend things as basic as the freedom of speech, I would be called Stalin or Mao by my friends who were also political science majors. These peers of mine were strong Bernie Sanders supporters.. and this is where I really started to see that my institution wasn’t doing a great job at teaching us. If they knew anything about history or politics they’d know that they’re actively supporting policies that they’re accusing me of perpetuating. Calling me names of dictators because I don’t think we should ban books that hurt people’s feelings, all while supporting candidates that want our country to become socialist is a kind of hypocrisy that only someone who has no idea what they’re talking about could commit.

And then the “pandemic” hit. Being sent home from school in my final year of college was the biggest blessing I could have imagined. I spent the months in quarantine researching and teaching myself all the things I never understood while in school. I pieced together things that were so confusing before, and questioned everything I was taught. And then the race wars were sparked. And I realized more than ever that mine and many others voices were being silenced by an atrocious mob who want to rip this country apart by making us all hate each other, forcing us to implode and tear down our own democracy.

So I spoke up... and although I am absolutely paying for it with the hate I am receiving in the comments on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, it was without a doubt worth it. The things and people I have gained far outweigh any I have lost. I really do believe that nothing has ever been more worth fighting for than this - and if the smallest thing I can do is speak up and help others to wake up then I will gladly do so. Thank you for being a place that encourages diversity, kindness, patriotism, and IDEAS. Your support has changed the lives of me and my family, so thank you for being exactly what makes America great!!!