Is Right Always Wrong?
Today someone called me a pro right wing conservative republican. I had to sit and write an honest response. Because even though it was in the heat of a fiery discussion, he did so respectfully. Here was my response.
All my viewpoints are by no means pro right wing conservative or republican. There are various issues I feel strongly about that contradict traditional republican thinking. Many of my beliefs are more akin to Libertarian values. I even have liberal values that I have held since the 70’s and were not a secret to anyone that knows me. I am and have always been, as I said before, a registered Independent.
I will tell you that being someone that was lucky enough to escape a Marxist dictatorial system at the ripe age of four years old, I am very vocally and actively adamant against Marxism, Communism and yes, Socialism. I have studied philosophy and economics and it is not difficult to surmise they are complete failures. They continue to sacrifice good people to lives of misery and slavery. Freedom is a very underrated value among many Americans.
As for Donald Trump, I knew who he was going in. In fact, I was one of his early supporters in the early primaries. I knew his history, his character and his flaws. But I also saw his strengths among the sad cadre of competition he faced. I didn’t support him for who he poked, or who he didn’t. He was at least, a millionaire most of his life. I didn’t support him for his dealings in the slimy underbelly of what is New York City, much like Bloomberg and a few others I prefer not to name.
I supported him because like many of the other Americans that made it a point to get out and vote for him, we were tired of the same old Washington, DC political grime and stagnation, cronyism and vice. I felt like others, if anyone could even begin to make a difference and clean up the stench, it was Donald J. Trump. In fact, we all knew it would take someone with a ‘bully’ attitude to move things along in a pre-Madonna stagnant world like DC.
We also knew all of his decisions would not be perfect and to our liking. But we knew he was a business man and he knew how to get people to negotiate to an agreement to take action. The way he was elected as an outsider with two of the leading political and most powerful families in the country against him, says a lot about his drive and charisma. He gave our Federalist political system a new sense of achievement.
Yes, I also know how many criticize how he has ‘empowered’ white trash. In a sense, much the same way Obama empowered a lot of black trash. But most of us know that white trash and black trash are two sides of the same trash heap. We did not forget that just because he was elected. In fact, you can argue he also exposed considerable leftist hatred and hypocrisy. Many of us believe that is a good thing.
It is also a good thing the elites in Hollywood, DC and the business community were exposed for their sexual predatory practices. Let’s be honest. A little friskiness or flirtatious activity is not necessarily sexual harassment or sexual predatory behavior. So when those that use their power to prey on others were exposed, we all cheered. At the same time, destroying careers over a minor bout of misbehaving, is not always appropriate either.
So yes, I knew many of my friends would not agree with me. And many I considered friends eventually unfriended me on the social platform. Others with an open mind and stronger convictions did not. It doesn’t matter. The only things that matter is that those that come after us have opportunity and can live safely.
For the past five years I have traveled the world. Many places were considered third world or impoverished. I figured out that the most important thing good people want anywhere is rather simple. They want a way to make an honest living so they can feed their families and provide a roof over their heads that is safe, so they can get up and do the same thing the next day. Not so complicated. An honest living can mean selling gum to tourists for three cents that you bought for a penny. Or fixing sandals or sewing clothing or planting and harvesting rice.
People get by. When anyone comes along that can make their world better, or can provide them with a smile or a shred of self respect or dignity, they are invaluably appreciative. Americans take way too much for granted. I also learned many of my liberal friends are looking at the world through a peephole. Just like I was. Before I had the good fortune to see more of the rest of the world. It is that righteous attitude from the left, the ‘I know what is right for you and that is the way it has to be’, that I find to be hypocritical, dangerous and not liberal in the least bit whatsoever.
So just like I was vocal and active in the 70’s against the ‘establishment’ and the decriminalization of weed and the respect for our environment, I will continue to remain active now in my later years with my diminishing energies and battered body.
f j llorente
9.19.18
