As a child, I proudly went around announcing to the world that I was a Republican. Why? Because at 6 years old, that’s all I knew. I didn’t understand the difference between the two major parties, other than that one was a donkey and the other was an elephant.
It was in my senior year of high school that I finally began to decipher the differences between the two. As I got older, I found myself strongly disagreeing with more and more things that proclaimed Republicans preached.
Alan Jackson explained it best: “I’m not a real political man. I watch CNN but I’m not sure I could tell you the difference between Iraq and Iran.” I don’t enjoy politics. In fact, I believe that it only instigates animosity and tears us apart when we should be standing together. However, when it comes to how I feel towards many of the most controversial social issues, I’ve grown to take a seat more towards the left.
All political arguments aside, I am ashamed that we live in a world where many feel as though protecting themselves with firearms is a necessity. I don’t know about you, but guns absolutely terrify me.
Though I do not believe that limiting or banning gun access will fix the tragedies our nation faces too often these days, I don’t feel as though guns should be so easily accessible in the first place.
Though I am not pro-abortion, I am pro-choice. Many argue, and in a sense, rightfully so, that abortion is wrong because it’s the equivalent of taking a life.
In everything I do, I try to keep an open mind. There are many circumstances in a woman’s life that may draw her to feeling as though abortion would be the best route. Who is to judge anyone else? Over the course of history, the decisions of women have always been made for them. I feel as though at the very least, women deserve the right to decide this one for themselves.
When it comes to love, I think the world needs more of it. Whether it’s heterosexual, bisexual, homosexual, or all of the above … love is love.
You can beat me with the Bible all you want with how any union but a man and a woman is a sin, but I’m always going to support people loving one another, regardless of their sex.
Personally, I find the whole idea of “shutting down borders” and no longer allowing immigrants into our country extremely hypocritical. Our nation was founded on the ideals of a better life. I have a hard time understanding the justification in denying others this opportunity when a little over 240 years ago, all of our families were immigrants themselves -- seeking the same things that these people are.
By no means am I suggesting that one party is superior to the other. If any of this offended you, it truly was not the intention. Politics are based on nothing but mere opinions. Thus, my views are no better than yours and vice versa. This is just where a 19-year-old college student stands on some of the more divisive issues that have no problem dividing our nation.
I hope that one day we are able to put aside our differences and come together as the United States of America.
