Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: conservative, dating, liberal, life, politics
I was reluctant to post anything about this . . . I’m not really into exposing my political views.
Heh, that’s actually a pretty big lie. I feel pretty strongly about the things I believe in, and I don’t care who knows that I think. I also feel very strongly that everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and that my opinions are just that: opinions! I don’t think that my ideas are the only ones out there…
I just want to post this quick disclaimer before I go on to publish this post: Think what you want about it! Mull it over, send it around to your friends, discuss. I really want to know what you guys think about this, because I know it has me feeling a little extra special something stirring deep down in my Moderate-to-Conservative Republican heart.
Oops — did I just let that spill?? 
My good friend Eileen, who goes to Colgate College up near Hamilton, NY, just sent me this article entitled “Can a Liberal Date a Conservative?” from a Colgate publication, “The Colgate Voice.” I had to post it so others could see it, because I think it’s…special. Here are a few excerpts. (I didn’t correct any of the spelling/grammar mistakes, so don’t blame me if it’s hard to read!)
“Conservatives view the world, and more specifically, other in that world, as ‘out to get them’. People are naturally bad and they must be controlled (or punished) in order to be set right. We are selfish beings. Accordingly, what is needed in both families and governance is a strict father/patriarch model with a system that will set those who steer astray back on the right path.”
“Liberals, on the other hand, view the world and those in it as organically co-harmonious. People are naturally good and it is societal structures and constructs that steers us astray. We are naturally social and unselfish beings who thrive on mutual connection. Accordingly, what is needed in both families and governance is an egalitarian model that is based on cooperation and mutual trust between both the parents/rulers as well as their children/subjects.”
“Additional notes of precuation [before dating a conservative] must be made b/c of the tumultuous nature of 2008. My original article for this issue had the title “to be a young conservative in 2008 is to have no soul”. Some may consider this “overly-harsh”, I prefer the term “controversial”. My argument is as follows: as young people we are those most likely and best-positioned to politically and socially engage society — moviing it in a positive direction; if there’s one thing we seem to all agree on, it is that “America” is not currently headed in the right direction; thus, to resist change — especially as a young person — is to condemn all of society to a less than desirable future for the sake of personal, economic, religious, or aforementioned “worldview” concerns. In other words: “to be a young conservative in 2008 is to have no soul”. Dating selfish people without souls is never a good idea. (Trust me.)”
To me, this sounds like a liberal chick who just got dumped by a conservative and is fighting back…and don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that I personally don’t want change in our country right now. She’s saying that this is how a Conservative mind works. In fact, I’d love to see some change ’round these here parts — in a lot of ways. Bring on the change! I’m all for better health care and economic growth.
Although you might not want to consider my opinion, since I have no soul.
What do you guys think about this? Comments?!?
My blog and I are getting lonely! =(
I’m not exactly an expert on anything I’m talking about, haha — I’m just spewing thoughts! I want to know what you guys think; that’s why I ask the questions. Tell me if I’m right, if I’m wrong, or if I’m just being a jerk!
So go ahead and comment…two (or two hundred) heads are better than one! =)
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: college, idealism, illusions, life, real world
There’s this song from the musical “Avenue Q” that I used to listen to a lot when I was in school. In the scene, a bunch of characters are singing about how they seem to have no grasp on where they fit into the world since they’ve graduated college. These are the lyrics:
“I wish I could go back to college.
Life was so simple back then.
What would I give to go back and live in a dorm with a meal plan again!
I wish I could go back to college.
In college you know who you are.
You sit in the quad, and think, “Oh my God!
I am totally gonna go far!”
How do I go back to college?
I don’t know who I am anymore!
I wanna go back to my room and find a message in dry-erase pen on the door!
. . . .
But if I were to go back to college,
Think what a loser I’d be-
I’d walk through the quad,
And think “Oh my God…these kids are so much younger than me.”
(Hardy har har…except it’s true!) =P
So…how many of you out there really feel this way? The only reason the song is funny is because so many people can relate to it, I think. Not everyone, of course — most people who’ve been out of school for a while probably have a better grasp on their lives than other twentysomethings like me — but I think everyone’s felt this way, or similar to it, at one point in their lives.
I know that when I was in college (and even high school!) I had this super-inflated self image, like life would just fall into place for me. I was going to be famous at whatever I did, and I had more talent than anyone else I knew. I was sure I had that extra special “something,” that unique trait that set me apart from everyone else — and that “something” was going to turn me into a star! So that line about “sitting in the quad” and thinking about how far life is going to take me was pretty accurate for me; I literally did that all the time!!
Now, don’t go thinking that I’m some kind of egotist! If you look down deep into your heart of hearts, I’ll bet you anything that at one point you felt the same way. Maybe you even do now, and there’s nothing wrong with that — it’s a great feeling, isn’t it? In fact, since I graduated college I find myself craving that feeling all the time. I miss professors telling me how talented I am. I liked when my teachers would come up to me after a musical performance and tell me what a beautiful voice I had, or how I’d “better get them discount tickets” when I’m on Broadway! What??? Come on — who doesn’t like that stuff?
Now that I’m graduated and in the working world, I don’t exactly get the same kind of pat on the back that I got then. Does anybody? Sometimes when I’m sitting in my cube doing Illustrator tutorials, I feel a tinge of sadness thinking about my dreams of being an actress, a singer, a writer, etc. What happened to those dreams? I guess they got lost somewhere along the way.
When I think back on the couple of years since I graduated college, though, I can’t complain about how my life has been since then. I’ve had a couple apartments, a few interesting jobs, and spent most of my time with my family and friends (not to mention an amazing guy who I’ll be marrying in less than a month!!) The career ideals I had as a teen are gone, but I think they’re replaced with solid, more attainable goals and dreams — and I no longer need that kind of constant reassurance from authority figures and peers that I have talent and that my life is going somewhere.
Now that I’m out in the working world I also realize that in order to have certain things, you have to give up other things. It’s just a matter of prioritizing. A lot of the larger dreams that people have when they’re younger kind of prove impossible to have when you get older, especially when there are other things that you want just as much. Like, is it worth it to give up financial stability, being close to family, or love for traveling the world and being “adored by millions?” It’s not for me — or at least not anymore!
Keeping in mind that not all things are what they seem, I think I’ve made a wise choice by deciding to live a fuller home life in lieu of the more “glamorous” career lifestyle that I used to dream about. I predict a happier future, better relationships, and a closer and more awesome marriage as a result of it — and the reality of those things is much more fulfilling to me than all the traveling and fame in the world!
So my question to you is this — should we mourn the loss of dreams that we once had, or write them off as illusions of what we used to think life COULD be like?
