I’m not going to lie.
My first political blog was flung out into the world via the wonders of Facebook. I must admit, I kind of enjoy the fiercely partisan chaos:

• Obama supporters: YES WE CAN!!!
• McCain supporters: NO YOU CAN’T!!!!
• Obama supporters: OH NO YOU DIDN’T!
• McCain supporters: My friends, WE JUST WENT THERE!!
• Token “Libertarians”: Dude…you just…oh man….dude! (titter)
• Obama supporters: CHANGE!!! YES!!! CHANGE WOOOOOOOO!
• Token “Libertarians”: Marijuana!
• McCain supporters: OMG. (flail)
• Token “Libertarians”: MARIJUANA!
• Obama supporters: YES WE DID! (high fives)
• McCain supporters: Wait…what? Noooo! (runs to bunker, makes ready the cannons)
• Obama supporters: CHANGE!!! YES WE CAN!!! (jubilation)
• McCain supporters: But but but… how?
• Obama supporters: HOPE!
• Token “Libertarians”: RON PAUL?!
• McCain supporters: (facepalm)

Welcome to the vicious cycle of collegiate activism lite.

Before you panic, let me assure you that I’m not here to bring the OMGWTFLOL brand of politics to RedState. After almost a year of watching my peers toss around the F-word and the C-word and the other F-word (fascist!) and of course everyone’s favorite, the R-word (racist!), I’m ready to take it to the next level.

What follows is something I wrote to stretch my legs following my own bout with post-election PTSD. It’s old, but I certainly don’t think it’s irrelevant. I hope you enjoy it.

“I will go down with the McCain ship. I’d rather lose an election than lose my bearings.”
~Charles Krauthammer (Washington Post, 10/23/08)

I really like Charles Krauthammer. In fact, Charles, if you ever read this, I’d like to give you a hug. From what I’ve seen, this little sound bite encompasses the bravest testimonial of the election season. Forget Obama’s pontification on bitter Midwesterners (more bold than brave, but still…), or McCain’s defense of his supporters amidst all the race-baiting and idiocy surrounding his rallies. In my opinion, nothing can compare to a simple declaration of loyalty—not to a particular candidate or party, but to oneself.

I am tired of ideological infidelity. We are far too easily rattled, too easily tricked into a state of compromise and “acceptance.”

I am tired of being chastised for my intolerance. Perhaps it is time to remind our friends who are sliding to the left of their tendency to jump ship when things get choppy.

I refuse to capitulate to these “progressives” who insist that a peaceful world depends on the abandonment of all moral, religious, and ideological norms. You know what? I’m pro-Life, pro-Marriage Protection Amendment, pro-personal responsibility, pro-small(ish) government, pro-Jesus, pro-free speech, pro-church, pro-bitter Midwesterners, and pro-gun. I do not own a Confederate flag, though I would give my life to defend your right to fly one. But you know what else? I’m also anti-racism, anti-affirmative action, anti-discrimination, anti-Hitler, anti-socialism, anti-homelessness, anti-poverty, anti-murder, anti-ignorance, and anti-hate! I’m politically incorrect, and am certainly not afraid of damaging your self-esteem.

There. It’s all out there, exposed to the censure of this crazy mixed up world. I do not take issue with the fact that there are those who disagree with me. In fact, I welcome the heated debate that is born from such radical declarations. I love that people disagree with me—the joy of my life is listening to people with different ideas. What I must protest, however, is this idea that repressing my morals, my ideas, and my God will somehow save the world from a nuclear and/or cultural apocalypse. Personally, I’d rather be rocketed into the sun than live a Godless existence. (I wonder how many people, after reading this, will offer to personally strap the rocket to my back?!) Where are the protests defending my right to defend an unborn child, or to say a quick prayer before eating my lunch at the office?

I’d like to take this moment to call shenanigans on the whole “progressive” establishment, and recommend that it be rocketed into the sun. I don’t protest “change” and “moving forward,” but I do protest exchanging one brand of intolerance for another. Here they are, trying to force me into accepting that it’s okay to rip a baby out of my uterus, crying foul when I testify to the fact that it’s wrong, and all the while rendering their point moot by being completely intolerant of who I am and what I believe. I get the feeling that these “progressives” would rather set fire to an orphanage than acknowledge the legitimacy of my convictions.

The point is this: stop riding the fence just because the other guy won. Don’t let these people change who you are simply because they are now in a position of incredible power. Pro-Life? Stay that way! Support the gay marriage ban? Don’t let some idiot waving a sign browbeat you into changing your vote. It’s still okay to feel your feelings, no matter what the ACLU says. NO PANDERING. Resist the “WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER NOW (ahemso surrender your morals to mecough cough)” argument; if they’re really interested in working together, they’ll prove it by actually reaching out across the aisle. If they’re not interested…that’s all the more reason to hold tightly to their convictions and fight for your right to party as you see fit.