Much too often, Republican is becoming synonymous with racist, bigotry, and divisiveness. It's hard to remember sometimes that we actually have opinions on issues; we don't all spend our time insulting women, insulting minorities, or insulting poor people. Here are some of the reasons why I am a Republican.

1. I support military spending.

Military spending is often a hot topic in the media. While I agree that funding is sometimes used for overpriced military toys, I firmly believe that we need to increase our military presence around the world to keep threats like ISIS, Russian antagonism, and Chinese encroachment on international waters in check.

2. I support limited government intervention in the economy.

The government has no place in managing the economy when it can barely manage itself. Leave it up to private entities to do what they do best, and only step in as a "night watchman" when things get out of hand.

3. I support the Second Amendment.

The right to bear arms is being infringed upon. The right to defend yourself is an unalienable right and it is becoming increasingly harder to exercise that right.

4. I do not support affirmative action in higher education.

Affirmative action often keeps the best and brightest out of our best institutions in the name of diversity.

5. I support harsher immigration laws.

We cannot allow our borders to be compromised, and we cannot continue to allow illegal aliens to enter our country. While mass deportation is absurd, mass amnesty is not the answer either.

6. I support freedom of speech.

Hearing something you do not want to hear is now considered being politically incorrect. That is absurd. Speech is being limited by social justice warriors who believe that they are correcting the ills of society when they are in fact, infringing on the rights that make this society so great. Whether you agree with my views or not, I think we can all come to a consensus that these are real, relevant issues that have no clear answer. Republicans just happen to have an opposing view.