Ghosts in The Attic

How have your political views changed over time?

I grew up in a conservative Christian home. Middle class, when that was a thing that could be attained. I went to a private Christian school. My childhood, while filled with immense love and support, had clear marked boundaries of morality and Christianity. In my household they embraced Reaganomics, disliked the lackadaisical manner of the Clinton’s. Something that my mother has always taken umbrage with was a president who didn’t act civilized and tactful in all public appearances.

I guess that went out the window with thrice voting for the biggest loudmouth buffoon to disgrace our Oval Office, but I digress.

As a growing teen I immediately clung to the politics and identities of my parents. I was neither ethnic, nor queer, nor alt, but I was… different.

From a young age I suppose I irked my teachers and other students by asking “too many” questions looking to poke holes in the plotline. Not one purpose but because I saw blind faith that wasn’t backed by the book I was being forced to read.

This did not make me any friends. I remember telling a dare officer that I would not pledge to never drink because it’s legal and when I was old enough why couldn’t I do as I pleased?

Slowly I did become more alternative. More liberal, more bi-curious. I remember vividly when an acquaintance at my school was passing out pamphlets about bush being behind 9-11 and that Saddam had been minding his own business. It was all a ploy.

I didn’t know how to feel about this but it was starkly opposed to my parents views. Over time I became a redneck liberal. Still trashy, still very white and uncultured, but I yearned for something more. At least I had hoped to. I was dating a boy that I found out was bi. When he told me his desire to have sex with the rapper TI, I was pretty grossed out. I wasn’t as liberal and inclusive as I thought.

As I’ve gotten older I’ve taken on a socialist/anti capitalist political view point, but I am pro 2a. I believe in the separation of church and state and the separation of government interference in schools and colleges even if that “radicalizes” the youth. I still struggle with gender identity and how that affects me any loved ones.

I want to be inclusive to everyone to a degree, yet I’m also extremely skeptical of the overusage of criticism and calls to dog pile on people for cultural appropriation.

I guess I’m a bit all over the place. I’m human. I have to look at the world through the lens I understand with and I have to have the grace to understand that everyone else is doing the same too. My personal experience is just as anecdotal as anyone else’s. I’m also skeptical of statistics that paint broad strokes because it’s so easy to skew data.

I’m a conundrum like everyone else. But I am always changing. Who I am now is not who I will become. I highly encourage you to listen to the song -Somebody else now by Daði Freyr. it’s such a poignant piece about change and growth over time. Something that I think all of us need to be a bit more introspective about.