I honestly never thought of myself as a conservative. Still don’t really. Yes, I have some conservative beliefs but as far as I can remember these developed later in life. Perhaps the old saying is true, “If you aren’t a liberal when you’re young you have no heart and if you’re not a conservative when you’re old you have no brain.” Not long ago, when I engaged in political debates with a conservative American friend of mine, I would more often than not take the liberal position on most topics. I distinctly remember stating “sure there’s some abuse of the welfare system, but isn’t it better that we help those in need?” This brings to mind another quote, “to be old and wise, one must first be young and stupid.” I was in my 40s at the time so perhaps “young” isn’t necessary.
It's tempting sometimes to think, “I didn’t change, the world did.” That’s not entirely true though. Yes, the center did shift. Historical guilt, crime, trans, DEI, and a host of other far left policies did shift politics to the left, but my life experiences (I hate that phrase) contributed to me shifting (a little) to the right as well. How did I end up on the right? To paraphrase Hemingway, it happened slowly and then all at once.
I won’t risk boring you with the details, but if you’d like to know more, you can find it here:
Maybe you’re like me, tired of biting your tongue so as not to offend people who think rational thought and common sense are forms of oppression. Tired of being told “we know better,” “it’s for your own good,” “up is down, black is white.”
I bit my tongue for years. No more.
“Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.”
― H.L. Mencken
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