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coming clean

coming clean

Glenn Reynolds made an interesting point yesterday in defending Little Green Footballs:

What's ironic is to read Charles's posts on the Middle East from before 9/11, and compare them with what he's written now. Johnson is a lefty who's faced reality, which apparently makes him offensive to those who prefer not to.

He could have been speaking about me, though my change has more to do with a myriad of things, not just the Middle East.

Look at my posts prior to September 11, and for almost a year after. My views and ideals have taken on a decidedly different tone since then. I spent the year after 9/11 in mourning, in a somewhat depressed, sad state. When I came out of it, I faced my reality. MY reality. Not yours, not Woody Harrelson's, not Sen. Byrd's. Sadness gave way to anger and that anger fueled the change my course took.

There are still some issues that I will never bend on, that will always have some people labeling me as left of center. However, I am most vocal these days about the issues that are painting me into the right hand corner. And that's ok with me. If that is where I need to be, then that's where I'm going.

I tend to be a very emotional person. I take everything that happens in this world personally. I gather everything into my heart and then my heart leaks it all into my brain and I let it out.

Like I have said a million times before, I do not consider myself either right or left. But these days, the slipperly slope of politics has me sliding down the right hand side of the hill.

September 11 changed me forever. I'm sure it's changed every one of us, if in some small way. Some of us had larger, broader changes in our world view. I am one of them.

I've been engaging in a lot of self-therapy since last year. Part of that therapy is coming to grips with who and what I am, and not bending to suit the needs of other people. Part of that therapy has been taking medication so I can sift through the self-made anxiety and nervousness that made defining myself so hard. I can see into myself with a much clearer view now that I have removed the filters that stopped me before.

I have taken a lot of flack for my stand on certain issues. Let it be known that I am not here to put out your point of view. If you want to be disappointed in my change of course, that's your right. But I am coming clean today and facing up to the direction in which my political compass has swung since last year. I am sliding towards the right.

This is me. Take it or leave it.

Comments

I'll take three...do you come in six packs?

Hmmm...let met see...what a difficult decision...take it or leave it... DUH! I'll be over here on the TAKE IT side of the room. Thanks. (You need your token Sox fan to pick on anyway, or you'd get bored.)

i want! i want!

:)

love you ANY WAY you are..

hugs

My only disagreement with Glenn's statement is his describing Charles as a "lefty who's faced reality." Reality is too subjective for Glenn to be defining, but I will accept that Charles and you have changed your opinions, viewpoints, minds, etc.

I change my mind on specific issues all the time as I learn new information or gain experience. That's what thoughtful, open-minded people do (no self-flattery intended). I'm glad that you are seriously examining why you hold certain beliefs, and I hope Charles continues to, as well.

It's always good, though, to recognize a change in opinion based on emotion or trauma, and one based on facts. Of course, "facts" can be pretty subjective too, sometimes.

The only thing changing in my world right now will be my underwear....which will change in about ten minutes.

I put my left leg in first.

[sings, a la "The Brady Bunch":]

"When it's time to change,
you've got to rearrange
movin' on to what you're gonna be..."

Welcome to the right side of the hill, hope you enjoy your stay. :-)

"Sha-na-na na-na na na na, sha-na-na na na!"

Both ends of the stick are a little too self-righteous for my tastes.
I find that if my life-raft drifts over a little to either side, I get "I Told You So" or "Glad I Could Help Convert You" or "Welcome To Our Side! Our Beer Is Less Bitter!"
If I keep my hands at 12 o'clock, I can watch as both islands hurl spears at each other.