Has anyone ever asked about your political views without telling you why? Only once in my life have I had the pleasure of answering that question for someone that really, truly wanted to understand what I believe. We had many a lively debate and became good friends. We agreed on almost nothing.
Usually the question seems like an attempt to squeeze me into one of two cubby-holes: liberal or conservative. But I resist categorization. I'm a Caucasian American of European descent, but I speak fluent Spanish with a slight Mexican accent. I live on a farm in the rural midwest, but I work in a high-tech job. I believe in God, but I don't deny that evolution is happening.
If you put me in the liberal cubby-hole, I'll tell you that I believe welfare is demeaning to the soul of man. That abortion is not a form of birth control, but a means of escaping the consequences of choices already made. That the government should do for the people what the people cannot do for themselves (footnote to my man, Abe).
If you put me in the conservative cubby-hole, I'll tell you that I favor a lenient immigration policy, because I would leave some of those countries too, if I had to. That I give more than twice as much to charity as the average American. That it is not good or right to malign 1.6 billion Muslims because of the terrorists and criminals that claim to speak for them. That I listen to NPR. A lot.
I think about things. I decide for myself what I think is right. I reexamine those conclusions whenever new information comes to light. When I find it is warranted, I change my position. I actually change what I believe if it conflicts with other ideas I hold to be true.
So if you ask me, you may get a non-committal answer. Or no answer at all. But if I'm feeling inclined, I'll probably tell you I'm sort of conservative... sort of not. Now let's talk about the issues.
