Miss Independent

Independent. That's the box you'll find checked on my voter registration card. Some believe that makes me a fence-sitter. Let me tell you, I am no fence-sitter. Name an issue, and you will find me on one side or the other. But, what I am is a big picture kind of girl. I don't see much of this world in black and white details. I prefer my big picture in vibrant color.

The thought of drawing a line in the sand, and having to stay on either the right or the left forever (regardless of what's happening on the other side) makes me more than a little uncomfortable. I won't do it. The line was drawn years before I even entered the game. At any given moment, the team captains on each side, are making decisions for me. I don't know who these people really are, what's at their core. And what about the others, the players? Don't really know them either. I only know what they shared when they were squealing like 5 year olds: "Ooh, ooh, pick me, pick me." Why would I choose one side to stand on, regarding every issue imaginable, when I don't even know the captains and players?

I checked the Independent box because, quite frankly, I think both the Republican and Democratic parties suck...BIG TIME. I checked the Independent box because when I look at politicians, I don't see one (I mean NOT ONE) person representative of what I believe.

I checked the Independent box because on some issues I'm conservative, and on some I'm more liberal. Because Dick Cheney, Colin Powell, Bill O'Reilly and Rush Limbaugh don't speak for me. Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Keith Olbermann, Sean Penn, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid don't speak for me. I speak for myself. Today I woke up aggravated by these people who somehow, in their self-inflated egomaniacal worlds, believe they speak for me. They don't. Too many politicians and entertainers see this world in only black, white (and of course the almighty green).

Depending on which side of the line a person stands, they will view me as either too liberal, or too conservative. Can't win 'em all, right? I thought I'd share some of my line-crossing ideas. (Why, oh why, do I do this to myself?? Am I some sort of masochist? This could be the end of my blog. After this, I will have made people on both sides angry. Snarky Mama, you won't leave me will you?!?)

Here goes.......

Too liberal: I have been the target of religious discrimination. So I say, no prayer in school....unless we ALL get to pray. That's right. Christian, Muslim, Jew, Hindu, whatever. Some will say I'm too "tolerant", too "accepting". I've had my prayers judged by Southern Baptists my entire life. It's humiliating, and infuriating as well. I guarantee that some Southern Baptists in Mississippi would have a huge problem with prayer in school...if that prayer was being offered by a Mormon. I can make that guarantee because it's happened. I will never be a member of the self-righteous prayer police. I will never be on the side of the line that pushes for prayer in schools, but only if those prayers fit their ideas of what prayer should be. One of the most beautiful things about this nation is that it was founded on religious freedom. Our forefathers left their mother country, left all that was familiar to them, for a new start. A new start for everyone. Granted, EVERY religion has extremists and zealots. But, I don't believe those people are the majority. The LDS church has 13 Articles of Faith. One that holds great significance in my life is number 11: "We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may." In my life, it is a privilege to be a Christian. But, given Christ's belief in free will, how can I take the privilege of worship from someone else, just because they do it differently than I do? Or just because they have a different understanding than I do? I won't be that person. Too many hard-core Republicans are that person.

Too conservative: Our welfare system is a complete and utter disaster. It is massively flawed, and we encourage people to be dependent upon this flawed system. We do not teach skills. We don't reward hard work. We just hand out checks. It's interesting to me that the Democratic party is all about "hope", and yet I don't see evidence showing they really believe in anyone. If you believe in someone, you don't just throw money and ineffective programs at them. You teach them, you mentor them. You remind them that hard work pays off, not always immediately, but is does eventually pay. If you have hope in a person, you don't assume they can't make it without you. Instead, you teach them how to fish, and let them feed themselves. You get in there, and get your hands dirty. You don't create another ridiculous program that will be inefficiently/ineffectively run. Blindly throwing money at problems, especially when it's taxpayers and not your own, doesn't solve much. But, if you add hard work and effort to that money, you can solve a lot. Our current system sends the message that we don't believe people are smart enough, resourceful enough, or responsible enough to ever fish and feed themselves. Where is the dignity?

Too liberal/conservative: I do not believe Roe vs. Wade should be overturned. But, that belief shouldn't be misinterpreted as an endorsement of abortion. Partial-birth abortion will never be okay with me, it disgusts me. Everything about the abortion issue makes my heart break.

Too conservative/liberal: I, like Congress, believed going into Iraq was the right thing to do. NOT because I enjoy war, NOT because I want to wreak havoc, but because I believe in helping those who need help. Defending the defenseless. If we have the resources to bring members of our human family out from under the wrath of a dictator, I believe we should help. If genocide is taking place, if innocent lives are being lost and we can help, we should. That doesn't mean I'm a warmonger. I can promise you, there isn't a damn thing in Iraq that I want. And there are countless Americans who feel just as I do. The majority of us are not so Americentric as to believe we can fix all that ails the world. What we hope to do is help others who may not have the resources to help themselves. It brings tears to my eyes and makes me ill when I think that some people have a desire to, and do, profit from war. It's sickening. I also believe that when our efforts are not creating the peace we had hoped for, or when we have done all that we can do, it's time to go. Enough.

Too liberal: I am thoroughly disgusted by "old, white guys" who have cheated their way to the top, causing great misfortune to those they trampled in the process.

Too conservative: I really don't like the phrase "old, white guys" because I know more than a few. And they are some of the most charitable, compassionate, honorable men on this earth.

Too conservative: Capitalism in not the problem. GREED is the problem.

So there you have it.
I am guessing this post just confirmed what you already thought: "She really is crazy." Oh well, you were going to figure it out sooner or later. I was just hoping it would be later!