After reading this piece, I felt compelled to speak for myself as to why I've grown tired of the negative, nasty message of some left-leaning individuals in our country.
As a white woman who primarily votes Republican and Libertarian, it is presumed that I am just about every kind of -phobe and -ist, and that I am guilty of every -ism there is.
These accusations are hurled by people who have never even met me (or the millions of other people they paint with that brush, based on nothing but their skin color).
I am assigned “privilege,” so any struggle or hardship I face is brushed off. I'm white; therefore, my life is assumed to be perfect.
All people with light skin are supposed to hang their heads in shame, forever, because of sins against Native peoples and slavery against African-Americans, even though nobody alive today was involved.
We're not allowed to be proud of our lineage if it is white. We're to tolerate kneeling during our national anthem, even though many feel that the anthem is to honor our veterans and active military.
We're told our military (our friends, family, and fellow Americans) are bloodthirsty killers. We're told “Black Lives Matter” is wonderful but “All Lives Matter,” a more inclusive message, isn't.
The Democratic Party sought to tear down monuments to Confederates while leaving intact highways and other monuments named after Klansmen (like the Robert C. Byrd Highway in Virginia).
The Democratic Party bleats about racism but ignores its own shameful history, including opposition to ending segregation and opposing civil rights legislation in the '50s and '60s.
We're told Earth will end because of humans just living their lives, and if you dare to bring up the fossil record and question the theory, you are branded a “denier” (and worse).
If you oppose higher taxes and expansion of government, it means you don't care and are selfish.
If you want fewer government regulations and you want businesses to grow, it means you want the Earth and all your family to die.
The nasty messages and incorrect assumptions are tiresome and I, for one, am ready for a positive message.
I am proud of myself and my relatives. I am proud to fly the flag of the United States of America. I'm proud of my country and the good it does in the world. I don't feel government knows best; I feel people do.
I feel everyone, everywhere, should be proud of who they are and optimistic about their future.
Both political sides should be able to hear an opposing viewpoint without trying to shut the conversation down with labels and assumptions.