Posted on 01/19/2007 6:28:23 AM PST by knowseverything
As I approach 30, I am beginning to look back on the scraps of wisdom I have gained thus far in my life. I look at the man I have become and find that it is harder and harder for me to relate to he views of most people every day.
From my early teens to mid 20s I have had a major interest not so much in politics, but in the issues of the day, where certain demographics in this country came down on each of these issues, and why. The last couple of years however have been increasingly frustrating because I have begun to finally realize that I really don't fit into any of these major groups. This shock is added to by the fact that as a reader and viewer of politic happenings at home and around the world I am well aware of terms such as “fringe right-winger” and “secular progressive liberal”. TV hosts, reporters, and columnists are increasingly shooting for the center and denouncing these “fringes”. I can only assume, this is to to keep their viewer pool alive and well. On the right fringe, I had always envisioned the guy living in Montana, dressed in camouflage, building bomb shelters in his back yard and stock pilling supplies for Armageddon. Only recently have I realized that the real fringe right wing extremist, is me.
I have realized that not only my stance on the issues, but my particular way of prioritizing them puts me in the minority these days even among so called, fellow Republicans and conservatives. (and I can hardly claim to even be a Republican anymore, even if this means I now have no one to vote for)
First and foremost I am pro-life, from conception. That's right, I'm a crazy nut bag who believes God created my life, and even if at the beginning it looked like a tiny sac of cells, he still knew me. This also puts me against all embryonic stem cell research of any kind, REGARDLESS of any miracles it may produce. (which it hasn't) This apparently places me at odds with “science and progress” in today's society.
I am not pro-Iraq war or anti-Iraq war, however I know we must win it at this point or things will get much worse for our country. I do know one thing though; With situations like this in the hands of the President of the United States, it is vital that every President we elect be an honest, moral man. While I do not agree with his handling of many other issues, I believe we have that in G.W. Bush.
I am anti-gun control not because I like to hunt, but because every American citizen should have the right to defend himself and his family. I also believe that the most dangerous entity to threaten the law abiding citizen will likely be his/her own government. Although, I generally wear slacks and not camouflage, this belief pretty much lumps me in with the camo/militia guys in Montana.
I am anti-gay marriage, and also anti-”letting homosexuality become the norm in our modern culture”. Though probably too late on the latter. I believe the institution of marriage is the backbone of a moral society because it provides for the raising of children by a mother and a father as God designed. However, I am not anti-gay people. They are sinners like me, you, and everyone else on the planet. We should not however have to embrace the sin as a society.
I am anti-illegal immigration. Not because I'm a racist and hate people of a different shade, but because I believe all “immigrants” should obey our laws, come here legally, and once they do, embrace this country as their own.
I am anti-”having the government take my hard earned money and giving it to those who do not work when they are physically able to”. Enough said there.
These are just a few main examples but let me add that all of my beliefs do not stem from the fact that I want my paycheck to be more each month, or that my parents brainwashed me for 18 years. They stem from the fact that I am a Bible believing Christian. That's right, I believe there was a real Noah's Ark, Jonah really lived in a fish for a few days, evolution is a crock, and of course God sent His only begotten Son to atone for the sins of the world 2000 years ago. Yes, I am truly a nut case to most.
I have also found in the last couple of years that while I used to think I was Republican, as I have voted so in every election since I was 18, I now find I have very little in common with most “Republicans” I run into these days. So the problem I, and those like me face going forward is there is no longer any representation for us “extreme right wing zealots” anymore. I will not ever abstain to vote, and it appears no one candidate will ever again meet even a majority of my requirements. So unfortunately for me, it will have to come down to finding someone who is pro-life, closing my eyes, and pulling the lever.
-knowseverything
Uhm, how exactly has the GOP moved away from you?
"Uhm, how exactly has the GOP moved away from you?"
oh boy, where to begin, this could be an article in itself.....
Lets just look at the first issue I listed. Abortion. Even if you are lucky to find a GOP candidate today who claims to be pro-life, he won't touch the issue with a 10 ft poll once elected. It would be political suicide.
Look at your main 2 hopefuls for Pres in '08, McCain, Gulliani. Pro-choice, pro-choice. The "social liberal"/ "fiscal conservative" GOP candidate is getting very popular.
Cheers,
-knowseverything
Actually, McCain is pro-life. And you might be right about candidates not willing to touch the issue with a 10 ft pole, but Bush hasn't exactly been outspoken about abortion either, he just talks about the "culture of life".
Anyway, there is little a president can do to stop or limit abortions, even if he is passionate. Don't be fooled by the Constitution Party's deceptive claim that they will halt abortions by executive order, such a thing is impossible.
"I'd love to see a point where it (Roe v. Wade) is irrelevant, and could be repealed because abortion is no longer necessary. But certainly in the short term, or even the long term, I would not support repeal of Roe v. Wade, which would then force X number of women in America to [undergo] illegal and dangerous operations."
-John McCain -San Francisco Chronicle 1999
But that was the only time he said such a thing. It contradicted his record. Also, he has since then stated that, if he was governor, he would sign a ban if it included exceptions for rape, incest and for the life of the mother.
(Not a McCain fan here, BTW, he's unstable and unreliable.)
just read this. From the horses mouth.
http://www.nrlc.org/news/2000/NRL02/doug.html
The problem with the "pro-choice" and "pro-life" labels are their meanings can be decieving. Meaning that if you are a politician that likes to say he is "pro-life" to the public, but will do nothing to help out or spark the pro-life movement for fear of political retaliation, you might as well be "pro-choice" in my book. McCain is a centrist on the issue. He will never go to battle for it, so he is upholding the status quo, which in this case is unborn children continuing to be killed in droves. Like I said...I am the extremist here. :)
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