Freedom?

I really hate politics.

Actually, I like politics, but I hate people who want to label themselves as Republican vs. Democrat or Left vs. Right or “I’m right, you’re wrong”. I love when people are passionate about what they believe – that’s great – but if your passion takes you to the point of blindness to anybody else’s opinion other than your own, that’s where I have a problem.

Do you know why I love America so much? It’s because I can say whatever I want, I can do whatever I want, and I can believe whatever I want without anybody telling me otherwise. We were a nation fed up with being told what to do, so we revolted, and we gave ourselves complete freedom over our own country. I’m not a fan of history, but the start to our country is quite an amazing feat.

The point of having political parties in the United States was to give different people the opportunity to speak out and join others with the same beliefs. It’s quite an amazing opportunity to give to citizens – the right and freedom to choose what to say without any penalty for it. We were given a chance to join like-minded people, but it is not a death sentence to be all-or-nothing within a certain party.

So why, then, are we arguing with other people who have different opinions than us? Why are we getting into physical fights just because somebody else wants to speak or hold a rally or give their thoughts to a larger audience? Why does nobody know the meaning of “peaceful protest” anymore? We have some of the bravest men and women fighting every day to help us keep our freedom, and meanwhile, we’re back home fighting each other and taking that freedom away.

I don’t care what side of every debate you’re on – at some point, the people you agree with have been violent in some way, shape, or form. People’s fuses are short, their voices are loud, and their minds are set. Instead of hearing out the people around them (or ignoring them, if you’re set in your ways), people are choosing to fight. They’re choosing to hate. They’re choosing to take away the freedom of the people around them.

If you want to post political views or talk about them, and somebody doesn’t agree with you, it’s perfectly fine to have a nice discussion over each side. But when voices raise and attitudes appear, it’s absolutely useless to continue arguing. Just agree to disagree, shake hands, and wish the other luck. People will believe whatever they want to, regardless of the points you’re trying to make. That’s the great thing about America – they’re allowed to do that!

So please, I beg, remember what this nation was built on and remember why we’re even able to do half the things we are today. Remember how hard our fathers fought for us to have the freedom to have our own opinions. And, remember that we are, and forever will be, one Nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.