Hi everyone,
My name is Tim K., and I identify as a fairly moderate leftist (maybe center-left, I'm not 100% sure). You might be assuming at the moment that I'm here to post a lengthy, dumb, hate-filled rant against Trump, the GOP, and/or conservatism as a whole, inviting a large influx of strong, well-written responses that completely destroy my arguments and expose me for the brainwashed SJW that I am. Of course, I don't doubt that there are many people here who would most likely annihilate me in a political debate, mainly because I suck at political arguments in general - whether it be with online conservatives or with my hardcore liberal parents. However, that's not what I'm here to do.
Instead, I wish to say that as someone who personally opposes conservatism as an ideology, as well as opposes many contemporary right-wing figures (e.g. the President), I hold NO feelings of hatred, resentment, or disdain for my right-wing brothers and sisters throughout America, or anywhere else in the world. What I mean by this is that I fully respect people who hold political opinions that differ from my own and that I do not presume them to be stupid, prejudiced, brainwashed, hate-filled, or anything like that. Instead, I simply recognize that they see many issues from a different perspective than I do and have different ideas as to how we should resolve the problems that currently face our nation and our planet.
In fact, I have a few things to say to (the majority of) the conservatives and right-leaning individuals who like to share their opinions on this site and elsewhere on the web; things you don't often expect to hear from a leftist:
You are NOT racist.
You are NOT sexist.
You are NOT xenophobic.
You are NOT evil or heartless.
You do NOT necessarily hate LGBT individuals.
You do NOT hate people in poverty or want them to suffer.
You do NOT hate Hispanic or even Muslim immigrants.
You are NOT stupid for supporting Trump, Fox News, the GOP, Breitbart, or any other right-wing authority in the U.S.
I am willing to bet that much more than half of you are very intelligent, reasonable, empathetic, non-prejudiced, and open-minded human beings, and I feel the same way (sort of) about many liberals in this country. I dare even say that it might be possible for liberals and conservatives in this country to unite to a certain extent and try to work together to solve a lot of issues we're currently facing - from homelessness and LGBT discrimination to illegal immigration and voter fraud. I don't think we have to necessarily stick to any one-sided solution and ignore all complaints from people we disagree with, though I do understand why it is extremely difficult to find enough common ground to get effective, bi-partisan solutions.
I see so much endless anger, resentment, and down-right from both sides on the web and elsewhere almost every single day. I certainly don't believe it'll ever be possible to make this bitter division to go away or to even greatly reduce it, but I do think that it's not what our founding fathers or people like MLK Jr., Milton Friedman, Abraham Lincoln, or Harvey Milk would want from us either. Of course, these people knew that there would always be political disagreement in this country and in many cases welcomed it, but at the same time they envisioned an America where people from both sides could work together and do their best to make this country as prosperous, free, and beautiful as they could. I honestly believe that cooperating with people like Donald Trump, Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, and Jeff Flake - all people I really can't stand - is necessary for the United States to move forward in a positive direction and resolve problems that are holding us back from true greatness.
That's what I have to say to the people of this website, and I hope it left a somewhat positive impression on you some of you. Unfortunately I'm not really in a mood to enrage in any debates with people, and I can tell a fair amount of people here would love to do that (to be honest, you would probably beat me really badly, I SUUUUCK at political debates). I don't exactly plan on posting here a lot more unless I find it necessary to speak out again as a moderate liberal. I wish every one of you well, and I sincerely hope that our President, as much as I oppose him, succeeds in making this country "great again" - at least, great in a way that I can agree with.