Haters to my left, haters to my right

No, the title of this post is not a sneak-peak into my soon-to-be released rap album. This post is a narrative that (I hope) other young political junkies can relate to.

My dilemma is that no matter what I say, I'm ticking somebody off. Some examples:

me: "I'm a Republican."

left: "You are a racist who hates women's rights!"

right: "You are young and naive and your support for gays undermines the family!"

me: "Chick-fil-A spicy sandwiches sure do taste good."

left: "You gay-hating bible-toting jerk!"

right: "I'm pretending your free speech support is actually unabashed appreciation for traditional family values!"

me: "Welfare should be reformed."

left: "You want to hurt the poor?? You are heartless!"

right: "You don't support the full abolition?? You aren't a conservative, you believe in handouts!"

me: "Newt Gingrich should not be a role-model for the GOP."

left: "All you Fox news junkies are still the same intolerant scum no matter what!"

right: "RINO!! KILL HER!!"

Are you catching my drift here? If I go against the left, I am intolerant and any form of -ist word that makes me sound like a terrible person. If I criticize the right, I'm either a.) dumb/naive/young; or, b.) not a "real" Republican. I'm curious if young folks on the left feel the same way, because I sure do have a lot of friends getting the same flack as me.

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It's not just the older people in the parties, though... I would argue that my classmates/peers are much, much worse.

If you have an actual opinion or criticize the left on policy, it is a personal attack on whomever supported the policy. If my opinion is not perfectly in line with a GOP talking point, I'm not a real Republican. Sure, this situation doesn't seem too different from the first.... but the main problem is all the conservative students get their information from Fox News and all the liberals have their heads stuck up Obama's, ahem, democratic mascot.

NO ONE takes the time to read multiple news outlets, or (GASP!) bother to look at a primary source. And if you are the student who actually cares about your convictions and is passionate bout politics, then you are extreme. #cantwinforlosing 

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Now, let's bring together both of these situations so wonderfully displayed by Somee cards. The left censors everything I say and thinks I am "just like all the other Republicans." The right thinks I'm a liberal. What's a burgeoning Republican politico to do? The way I see it, we all have two options.

Option 1: Assimilate. 

Construe your convictions so that they fit perfectly into an elephant-shaped mold, abandoning your personal views and individual morality.

Option 2: Stand your ground. 

Don't settle with the party of today because it doesn't agree with the other guys - work to CHANGE your party (for the better, hopefully).

In case the suspense is just killing you, I'll go ahead and tell you that I'm going go with "Option 2." Even if I get called a RINO every day until the day I die, even if I never get support in any future political endeavors, and even if the RNC forcibly takes my secret GOP card away from me, I'm going to continue to criticize Republicans who don't believe in freedom or are hypocritical. I'm going to work every day to make sure my views and convictions are coherent with the Constitution of the United States of America and the beliefs therein. It's not the easy way out and it's not the way that makes friends, but it's the way that is right. If the people interested in politics don't strive to be ethical, how can we expect the leaders we elect to represent us to be ethical?

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P.S. I am also going to continue criticizing liberals if they are illogical or make blanket statements, even if it earns me a bad reputation and a few black eyes. Freedom of speech, y'all. Get used to it, because it ain't going anywhere with this girl.