The campaign I helped the most with lost by 6,000 votes. It really made me sad and sorry for the fact that each one of us involved believed that we might have done just a little bit more to have garnered some of those needed votes.
But the truth was I was still too scared to really come out of the political closet. I did my level best at talking to strangers and friends who agreed with the candidates and ideals that I was working for, but I wasn't willing to cross over the threshold of letting everyone I know in on what and who I support.
Honestly, it seemed too dangerous.
What if I ticked off somebody I work for? What would my neighbors think?
I was so used to just keeping my mouth shut and nodding so an not to tick off people with my politics, even if I never intend to attack them in any way for their own. Even though I don't agree with many people's politics and yet have learned to always be respectful.
Somehow I never learned to expect the same for myself.
I live in a place where if you are not a 'progressive liberal' type, then your views simply do not count. You will be laughed out of any political discussion with a knowing look of feeling sorry for how stupid and small your silly ideas of more freedom and less government are.
If you live somewhere other than the left coast, you may be thinking that there cannot be a place like that in America. Come here and see. I dare you.
So, this time I'm putting it out there. All the way out there! I might make some people mad. People may not like me as much. I won't be as safe. I'll have to put up with being called names, yelled at, being flipped off.
That's OK. I'll be true to myself and have no regrets this time.
A sign like this is going up in my front yard just as soon as I can get one.
And I'm getting a bumper sticker too.
These are not perfect candidates. And neither am I a perfect person.
But I'll be freer one just for the fact that this time I'm actually willing to put it out there for everyone to see.
