Get Off the Sidelines

     If you're transgender, you shouldn't be on the sidelines.  If you are on the sidelines you're as good as helping the federal government and various state governments beat down the transgender community.  These are treacherous times for the our community and no transgender individual should be comfortable sitting on the sidelines!  Recently, both houses of Congress passed the National Defense Authorization Act, which contained anti-trans legislation refusing to allow payment for the medical costs of trans youth of military personnel.  Now, if you've read anything I've written on the subject, you know that I'm not big on medically/surgically transitioning minors.  What I must insist on, however, is appropriate legislation.  Whether or not parents let their children transition is between the child, parent, and doctor.  It would have nothing to do with the defense of this country if they chose to allow their child to transition.  It's simply the federal government imposing its will on a matter that the party with the most power finds distasteful.  If the parents allow their child to transition, they will need to find another way to pay for it.  (There are organizations that will help.)

    I know you don't want to hear about (or read about) politics; very few people actually do.  Pericles once said, "Just because you don't take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you."  What that means is if you stay on the sidelines and ignore politics except when it's time to vote, politicians will destroy your freedom, your happiness and your life.  We can't afford to sit on the sidelines!  Everyone of us should be active in some manner; we need to use our voices!  Whether you blog, vlog, podcast, or take it to the streets, use your voice.  Those who oppose us use their voices everyday, and the politicians who oppose us are fueled by those voices.  And so it is that we're losing our freedom to pursue happiness.

    A Conservative-Libertarian, like myself, once said (and I'm paraphrasing here), "If you aren't being represented properly, you have the responsibility to run for public office."  Are you well spoken?  Can you work a crowd?  Are you personable and likable?  Campaign for public office!  Maybe you're thinking, "I'm only a grocery store clerk (or whatever it is you do)."  Perfect!  AOC (who I personally detest with a passion) was just a bartender:  Look at her now!  There are so many doctors and lawyers and business people in Congress, and they're representing people with interests like their own.  But, their interests aren't your interests.  That leaves you misrepresented or, at the very least, under represented.  There is only one transgender person in Congress:  Sarah McBride.  The problem with Ms. McBride is that she's a member of one of the two parties responsible for destroying this country.  On the plus side, however, she represents a state that has rejected anti-trans legislation.

    I've been told many times in the past that I should run for public office.  But, I'm too flawed for the voters in my area to accept... and I refuse to move to a city:  Besides, I suffer severe (and crippling) social anxieties, which is why I do my thing online.  I don't have to confront scores of people in a head-butting competition.  The other day, I saw some random woman's comment on a social media post, mocking "keyboard warriors".  First off, making such a comment online pretty much makes you a keyboard warrior, too.  Second, there's not a lot of difference between a keyboard and an armchair quarterback.  I bet the woman won't say shit to her husband during the Superbowl when he's yelling, and cussing, and acting all crazy.  But, I digress...

    Anyway, we need our people to get in the fray, like it or not.  I'm not going to say you should join the ranks of the Democratic Party.  In fact, I'd rather you didn't.  Remember, they're equally guilty with the Republicans on destroying our freedom in this country.  You cannot retain your rights at the cost of the rights of others without causing harm to Liberty.  Remember that.  And while you're busy tucking that away in your memory... GET OFF THE SIDELINES!