My #WalkAway Story Series: CW Miller

My #WalkAway Story Series is a bigger and more long term project for A Lady of Reason, and it’s all about YOU! This is your big chance at getting your voice heard and your own story out there! For many closeted conservatives, afraid for our livelihood, social networks, family connections, even physical safety now, being stuck in the closet can be extremely isolating and it’s easy to feel like it’s you against the world sometimes! I certainly feel that way! By sharing our stories collectively, I hope to give a voice to you, my dear readers and followers here on WordPress and Social Media, to show each other camaraderie and that in fact, we’re NOT alone, just in the shadows. Well folks, it’s time to come out of the shadows and into the light! The “silent majority” is at least half of our nation, so you’re not truly alone. Come and hear others, and add your own voice, your own story to the mix, of what it’s like being a conservative in an increasingly Leftist country! Send me an e-mail at aladyofreason@outlook.com or direct message me at @aladyofreason1 on Twitter to add YOUR story!!! 🙂 I’ll send you the standard question list, or you can just write it free form as a narrative…

This loyal patriot and follower of mine wanted to add her story into the mix of Walk Away stories as well! Here’s her very interesting story and good advice for those who feel afraid to be openly conservative!

Tell me about yourself briefly:

My name is Caroline and I currently live in Central PA; a native NY-er of 45 yrs. I am in my late 50’s, and I am and retired, although hard at work caring for a disabled spouse with Multiple Sclerosis, four pets, and looking after my adult son and his lovely girlfriend who both work full-time. All four of us actually have disabilities that challenge us each day and every day we conquer that is another battle won!

When did you become conservative? If you were ever liberal, what made you walk away?

Growing up in a large city such as New York City can mold one into a liberal entity by default by nature of its diversity and social needs and demands. However, exterior circumstances shouldn’t always influence our personal values by which we were raised, or what we feel or know in our hearts. Even though I was by nature a “wild child,” by nurture I was raised with very traditional values by a very tight-knit and strong family. At some point in my latter 20’s a gay friend called me a “closet conservative.” It was then I realized as I was sharing with him some issues I was going through in my personal life that I was becoming uncomfortable in my own skin because it really wasn’t the skin I belonged in!

Do you feel at all afraid to be openly conservative? If so, how do you cope with being closeted?

Fortunately as a young adult it was the Reagan/Bush era at the time so there was little stigmatization I had to face. Then among and after 8 yrs of the Clinton debacle there was always Mayor Giuliani, (thank God!), and then of course Bush Jr. I moved to Central PA in 2008, after a short two year stint in New Hampshire so the liberal pressure was little and far between; until, of course, Obama ran against McCain, then Romney, and then recently the Hillary nightmares. Most of the harassment took place on social media. I ended up blocking several people and had to break ties with a few.

What advice do you have for other conservatives who are afraid to speak out?

As the saying goes; “if you stand for nothing, you’ll fall for anything.” What use is it being born in one of the best countries of the world in all its freedoms if you have to be afraid to be free? I believe free-will is a gift from God, and so many use it for wrong. Use yours for right! Pun intended!

I agree Caroline! That’s a very good point that if we don’t stand up for our values, all we do is cave to the mob rule and popular opinion. What feels good rather than does good! We should not be afraid to be free in this country of freedom and the silent majority must no longer be silent to show our fellow Americans what we stand for 🙂

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My #WalkAway Story Series: Sam

My #WalkAway Story Series is a bigger and more long term project for A Lady of Reason, and it’s all about YOU! This is your big chance at getting your voice heard and your own story out there! For many closeted conservatives, afraid for our livelihood, social networks, family connections, even physical safety now, being stuck in the closet can be extremely isolating and it’s easy to feel like it’s you against the world sometimes! I certainly feel that way! By sharing our stories collectively, I hope to give a voice to you, my dear readers and followers here on WordPress and Social Media, to show each other camaraderie and that in fact, we’re NOT alone, just in the shadows. Well folks, it’s time to come out of the shadows and into the light! The “silent majority” is at least half of our nation, so you’re not truly alone. Come and hear others, and add your own voice, your own story to the mix, of what it’s like being a conservative in an increasingly Leftist country! Send me an e-mail at aladyofreason@outlook.com or direct message me at @aladyofreason1 on Twitter to add YOUR story!!! 🙂 I’ll send you the standard question list, or you can just write it free form as a narrative…

I discovered this awesome conservative ally through here on WordPress! He writes his own blog, called The Rebel Post which is awesome, and is just starting out, so please give him a visit as well! This is his awesome story 🙂

Tell me about yourself briefly:

My name is Sam, and I recently turned seventeen. I’m the creator of The Rebel Post at rebelreformer.wordpress.com, and I love talking with people about political/social issues. I enjoy reading, writing, and studying intellectual arts. I attribute my love of politics to the fact that I was raised traditionally and that I’ve always been an avid fan of history and politics.

When did you become conservative? If you were ever liberal, what made you walk away?

Well, I definitely think that everyone has to ‘walk away’ from the Left at some point, because I believe that everyone is born somewhat of a Leftist. As with all very young children, when I first heard about welfare and such, I of course though that it sounded good. You realize, children are dependents, and dependents want to be taken care of – so that attitude of being a Leftist is ingrained in people from birth. Of course, a lot of people mature pretty quickly, including myself, and from pretty early on I realized the flaws that the Left has.

I attribute my first grasping of conservatism to be because of the influence of my dad. Fathers are critical in shaping a child’s worldview, and part of the influence that fathers tend to have on their children is setting an example of how to be a successful and productive individual. From a very young age, I spent time with my dad as he worked at his business, and I remember that he knew a lot about money in addition to having a good work ethic. I remember one discussion I had with my dad in which he explained to me why dishonestly stealing or cheating people is wrong, and I suppose I applied that principle to politics. After all, the Left likes to steal from the working class, and they use dishonesty to gain supporters, even when it’s not always obvious. My parents also had decided to home school me so that I wouldn’t be exposed to the Marxist bias in public indoctrination centers, so I also feel like that also helped form my conservative foundation.

As for exactly how far I walked away from the Left… that’s where the rest of my conservative beliefs come from. I’ve always enjoyed watching YouTube videos by prominent conservative speakers. I’d actually consider one of my hobbies to be simply watching YouTube, and I consider intellectual pursuits such as that to be very noble. I honestly find it extremely disheartening whenever I see other teenagers who don’t really have any actual hobbies or interests, and I often see a lot of other teenagers simply living a shallow life of pursuing sex, drugs, partying, and participating in other mainstream degeneracies. This may come across as prideful, but I honestly feel much more enlightened and more mature than other people my age, and I wish that more people my same age would take an interest in conservatism. Life is full of joy and prosperity: We life in the glorious United States, and yet, many young people are literally Neo-Marxists who want everything to be for free.

I also have come up with a lot of my own ideas as well, which shaped my rejection of normie mainstream conservatism. I now identify as a nationalist, and as an example of some of my more conservative beliefs, I personally think only older male property owners should have the right to vote, and that’s not out of hatred for anyone, but rather out of a respect for traditional conservatism and a regard for facts and logic. Many of my views, such as my views on voting rights, were shaped by my own conversations with liberals. Liberals honestly don’t have anything to back their beliefs besides feelings and emotions, and I’ve realized that you can’t base your worldview on subjective interpersonal feelings. Honestly, the Left’s core belief of thinking that their feelings are truth is what caused me to reject it entirely.

Do you feel at all afraid to be openly conservative? If so, how do you cope with being closeted?

I absolutely feel worry of being a conservative. The Left tends to be extremely hateful and oppressive, and I know that a few anti-Semites on the Right can be hateful as well, but primarily the Left shows itself to be the most intolerant. I personally don’t hate anyone based on what they believe, and people are entitled to their own opinions, within reason. That’s the beauty of having a liberty in a free nation: People are of course going to have different opinions if they have the right to think for themselves. It’s wrong to even want to enslave the human mind’s capacity to reason, and since we’re all different individuals, we’re all going to have slightly different ideas, even when we’re on the same side of an issue. But, the Left doesn’t understand any of this, and because of their inability to reason with reality, they seek to silence conservatives from speaking. Here’s the point though: When the Left tries to silence someone, it is made clear that the Left is wrong because the Left refuses to refute our beliefs with facts and logic.

Sometimes on Twitter and social media, I’ve seen liberal lunatics literally calling for the death of Christians, but the Left never gets banned for hate speech, whereas Right-wing speakers often get banned from social media over even the slightest thing. We have to remember that Leftists have the ability to create a situation like Nazi Germany if our nation morally degrades into hatred and violence, and it’s important for us to remember that we’re all people, with our own rights to differing beliefs and ideas. Yet the collectivists have forgotten that.

What advice do you have for other conservatives who are afraid to speak out?

I’m sure that there are many conservatives who fear speaking out. People can lose their careers or be rejected by their families for being conservative, and every day the Left seeks to mar the reputation of those who they disagree with.
Letting your voice be heard is important though. We have the freedom of speech in the United States, unlike in most other nations, and if we let ourselves give in to the Left, then we give up our liberty. It is often said that cowards die daily before their deaths, and if you’re skilled at writing or making YouTube videos about conservative topics, then give it a try. The most important thing for people to know is what they would die for, and if you wouldn’t die for the right to speak your mind as a rational human being, then that is simply cowardice treason against yourself and against the liberties that our great nation was founded on. So don’t give in to fear, and stand with your fellow conservatives.

Thanks so much Sam! Your story is awesome and I loved reading your take on being a conservative! We need people like you to speak up and spread our voices as the silent majority must no longer be silent! You are more than welcome to do a guest post for my blog any time 🙂

Even Santa Can’t Escape PC Tyranny: A Guest Post by Time Foolery

The PC tyranny has reached its zenith with all out outlandish fancies! Of course, this extends to the holidays season, where anything remotely “Christmas” is banned and stifled! Even Santa can’t escape these grinches, as Time Foolery writes in to A Lady of Reason:

Recently a New Jersey substitute teacher took it upon herself to inform the children in her classroom that Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and other fancies such as the Tooth Fairy, weren’t real. Now, take yourself back in time to when you were seven years old, in the First Grade. It’s almost Christmas, and the decorations are going up and the stockings are hung. Naturally, your first thoughts are, “What is Santa going to bring me!?” I know this because I usually had dog-eared the heck out of our Sears catalog and written my Santa letter well before Halloween! Most kids I knew did. It was the highlight of our year!! Now, think to being a parent, coming up with other fun things like Advent Calendars and Elf on a Shelf to get your young’uns excited about the holiday.

Now think about someone swooping in and deciding for you that your child, or even you at that age, needed to know that something you’re so excited about, is all a BIG, FAT LIE perpetrated by you and your parents before you! If you are like me, you’d be incredibly upset from both vantage points!! To have your childhood so unceremoniously, and without cause or reason, crushed by someone barely qualified to teach!! And to have the right of when you let your children in on the secret so rudely ripped out of your hands – well, it’s no wonder this sub has lost their job. But I don’t want to harp on all the obvious issues that abound with this happening. I don’t think the majority from any party affiliation would disagree that this person seriously overstepped their bounds or crushed the dreams of little children. That’s an obvious.

No, it is the spirit of this season I wish to look at instead. This year I turned the ripe, old age of 52 and I proudly proclaim, I still believe in Santa Claus! St. Nicholas of Myra was an early Christian bishop who became the Patron Saint of Children. It is through his legendary habit of secret gift-giving that we find the traditional model for Santa Claus aka Good Saint Nick. It is this tradition that parents like to emulate and carry on traditionally with their children, and hopefully their children will grow up to do the same for theirs. But there’s many more reasons I still believe in Santa Claus.

Whenever I, or someone else, help someone out of sheer humanity, there is Santa Claus. Anytime someone donates their time to a charity, there is Santa Claus. Even just holding a door open for someone for no reason except to help, that is Santa Claus. But right now, I think Santa Claus is actor James Woods, who just recently played unofficial Twitter coordinator for helping fire victims find their families in California. A week later, he helped police find a homeless vet who was going to end it all because he thought no one cared. He got so many people involved with both situations who shared their love, concern and help for all. That is truly, truly Santa Claus. Indeed, we need look no further than our fellow man to see that the spirit of giving is what St. Nicholas stood for, and doing things like he would makes us all Santa Claus, and I certainly hope we all believe in ourselves!!!

I agree Time Foolery! While as I am non-religious but still celebrate Christmas, I too have experienced the magic of Santa Claus and I guess he’s been generous, as he still leaves a special gift from time to time under my tree 😉 You make the excellent point that when we stop believing in Santa, we become Santa for others!!! The magic doesn’t stop once childhood ends, it only continues through acts of kindness during the holiday season and all year round! Why ruin the magic though while it lasts??? The world is bleak as it is, and childhood is one of the only times we will ever see the world as mainly good and warm and fuzzy… I always advocate for forewarning and forearming our children of the dangers of the world frankly and openly, not shielding them in naivete to its many dangers, but that doesn’t mean some harmless fun and a little magic shouldn’t be experienced, and no longer believing a milestone in growing up… The magic of Santa Claus is something everyone can cherish even when all grown up!

My #WalkAway Story Series: Susan

My #WalkAway Story Series is a bigger and more long term project for A Lady of Reason, and it’s all about YOU! This is your big chance at getting your voice heard and your own story out there! For many closeted conservatives, afraid for our livelihood, social networks, family connections, even physical safety now, being stuck in the closet can be extremely isolating and it’s easy to feel like it’s you against the world sometimes! I certainly feel that way! By sharing our stories collectively, I hope to give a voice to you, my dear readers and followers here on WordPress and Social Media, to show each other camaraderie and that in fact, we’re NOT alone, just in the shadows. Well folks, it’s time to come out of the shadows and into the light! The “silent majority” is at least half of our nation, so you’re not truly alone. Come and hear others, and add your own voice, your own story to the mix, of what it’s like being a conservative in an increasingly Leftist country! Send me an e-mail at aladyofreason@outlook.com or direct message me at @aladyofreason1 on Twitter to add YOUR story!!! 🙂 I’ll send you the standard question list, or you can just write it free form as a narrative…

This #WalkAway story comes from Susan, another awesome conservative who reached out to me to do an interview via Twitter!

Tell me about yourself briefly:

Well I’m 50 years old. Caucasian and grew up with a conservative military father and a radically liberal mother lol! I really didn’t think about politics until I was 20 newly sober and a single mother of a half Hispanic daughter. By this time I was living in Anchorage, Alaska and I wanted to help all of the marginalized people I was aware of! So I set out to earn my BA in Social Work at UAA. After 7 years and additionally a AA degree in Human Resources I was absolutely through trying to deal with the crazy professors and bureaucracy. And had started to see a lot of truth in what my fiancé of 4 years had been saying. I graduated went to doing my husbands books and putting our money to work on Wall Street. Oh and raising our (5) kids, 3 stepsons and a boy and girl of my own. My last child was from said husband.

When did you become conservative? If you were ever liberal, what made you walk away?

I still feel strong support for gay men and women but I really worry about children who are confused, how they got that way and why it’s encouraged. Also I currently live from state support because of my many health issues but that’s another story. So I can see where if utilized properly it is an effective tool but let me tell you I think it is a disgrace how many able bodied people with no children are getting handouts. So now here I am in Southern California, thinking it was pretty conservative and alone. Look I’ve been through a lot in my life. Twenty years of emotional, financial and psychological abuse. Rape last summer. Addiction that took me out after 20 years of sobriety and yet here I am in a conservative but great relationship again and having to seek assistance but I am fiscally, morally and by all other norms a conservative. I have a very strong drive to see justice done but I don’t think our president, his family or conservatives in general are getting a fair shake! I don’t believe in blatantly following because he/she said so! I lost respect for HRC when she stayed with Bill!!! And have zero respect for her for many reasons today! I do respect Donald J. Trump and all he stands for. All he has and is doing for our country. I do believe we are a country built of migrants but not one demanding to be let in and supported and certainly not if they are violent on their approach. I do believe that welfare, ugh I cringe at the word, can and is useful but not for anyone or everyone and certainly not for years!!!

Do you feel at all afraid to be openly conservative? If so, how do you cope with being closeted?

So I speak with my boyfriend and I come speak out on Twitter, but none of my family know I’m on there and unfortunately my “mothers” (yes my mom and her partner of 35 years got married) are radically liberal. I’m pretty sure they know I’m not but have agreed to not talk politics with me. One of my neighbors is conservative so I can talk to her but she doesn’t follow everyday like I do. Honestly I thought to myself if that young girl in NY can get elected to Congress surely I can, however, I cannot stand longer than a short line at the supermarket so how would I handle speakers etc. Lol! I guess I can honestly say also that while I feel overwhelmed by the dishonesty and meanness on the left, to try to talk to one of them is really difficult. I have all these well researched facts but immediately when I’m looked at and treated like a monster I fail to be able to articulate a thing.

What advice to you have for other conservatives afraid to speak out?

And last I think your blog about being a conservative at Thanksgiving dinner with liberals makes excellent points on how to handle speaking out. Simply put, know your facts, don’t try to “win” and be willing to walk away. On the other hand I think it’s about time that we follow great examples set by the Fox News team and confront stupidity!!! Thank you for giving me the chance! Sincerely, Susan

Thank you, Susan! Your story needs to be heard too! I’m sorry you went through so much in your life already, but you’re a victor, not a victim as Candace Owens says 🙂 Stay strong, patriot! We need you to speak out and show others we’re not as alone as we think, and of course, you’re always welcome to comment and speak your mind on my blog 🙂

My #WalkAway Story Series: Suzanne

My #WalkAway Story Series is a bigger and more long term project for A Lady of Reason, and it’s all about YOU! This is your big chance at getting your voice heard and your own story out there! For many closeted conservatives, afraid for our livelihood, social networks, family connections, even physical safety now, being stuck in the closet can be extremely isolating and it’s easy to feel like it’s you against the world sometimes! I certainly feel that way! By sharing our stories collectively, I hope to give a voice to you, my dear readers and followers here on WordPress and Social Media, to show each other camaraderie and that in fact, we’re NOT alone, just in the shadows. Well folks, it’s time to come out of the shadows and into the light! The “silent majority” is at least half of our nation, so you’re not truly alone. Come and hear others, and add your own voice, your own story to the mix, of what it’s like being a conservative in an increasingly Leftist country! Send me an e-mail at aladyofreason@outlook.com or direct message me at @aladyofreason1 on Twitter to add YOUR story!!! 🙂 I’ll send you the standard question list, or you can just write it free form as a narrative…

This #WalkAway story comes from a fellow Lady of Reason named Suzanne! This is how she walked away and came to appreciate the conservative side:

When did you become conservative? If you were ever liberal, what made you walk away?

Well …. I walked away 25 years ago and am walking further and further every day! After being raised by conservative, extremely kind, ethical, hard working parents who valued hard work and accountability, I became more liberal/independent in a liberal NYC college in the 80’s. Conservatives were evil to this group, as they are now. After marrying a hard working man with his own business I realized the scam of liberals taking our tax money for their liberal ideology and groups I did not agree with. I continued to listen to conservative talk radio and stay out of politics but vote Republican.Hillary was a diameter and embarrassment to NY, then Obama turned our country into the leftist state it is becoming, I was no longer to be respected. I was a racist and privileged white person instead of a hard working woman who cared about values and safety and was against abortion on demand. Them when Donald Trump ran, I was energized to take more interest in our country direction. MAGA people were like me, normals, against the radical left.

I first embraced liberal ideas in a liberal NYC college in the 80’s. Only because it was the thing to do (although we were happy liberals, something that does not seem to exist now). After marrying a hard working man with his own business, I starter to realize what a sham the Democrats had become. They didn’t care about me or about the excellence of the individual. They just wanted our tax money to increase their power and sow division. I started to really appreciate my conservative hard working amazing parents and how they raised their family to be responsible and self-reliant. Thru Obama and Hillary I was angrier and angrier about how they treated us, normal Americans. I am NOT a racist, sexist, dumb stupid frail woman as they profess. When Trump ran, I felt more energized ! I was so excited because I knew people that worked for him and loved him. Then,disappointed as the left attacked us “deplorables” more and more and saw how divided this country become. I just got more and more emboldened in my views and now see more clearly the truth of the lefts hatred of American values.

Do you feel at all afraid to be openly conservative? If so, how do you cope with being closeted?

Its shocking how friends with liberal views have cut me off but I continue to let people know I support conservative values, hoping this helps us turn a corner back to sanity, The good thing is there are LOTS more like me, Yes, a lot of them whisper it like we are in a secret club. Time to stop that. Let’s have a coming out party…go say ” Yes mom and dad, co-worker, brothers, sisters, I am a conservative!”

What advice to you have for other conservatives afraid to speak out?

Come out of the closet! Not with hatred and anger like the left. Practice your FACTS so you can inform. Acknowledge their feelings but ask them to listen to facts. Maybe if they can’t deny the good things happening you might convince someone to walk away.

Thank so much Suzanne! your voice is valuable in the fight for common sense and reason! It is true many do feel pressure to be closeted, but you’re right: at some point we must come out and speak! If not now, then later down the road when you have less to lose, or this country (hopefully) becomes more tolerant! In the meantime, you’re always welcome to speak out more here on A Lady of Reason!

My #WalkAway Story Series: Maria

My #WalkAway Story Series is a bigger and more long term project for A Lady of Reason, and it’s all about YOU! This is your big chance at getting your voice heard and your own story out there! For many closeted conservatives, afraid for our livelihood, social networks, family connections, even physical safety now, being stuck in the closet can be extremely isolating and it’s easy to feel like it’s you against the world sometimes! I certainly feel that way! By sharing our stories collectively, I hope to give a voice to you, my dear readers and followers here on WordPress and Social Media, to show each other camaraderie and that in fact, we’re NOT alone, just in the shadows. Well folks, it’s time to come out of the shadows and into the light! The “silent majority” is at least half of our nation, so you’re not truly alone. Come and hear others, and add your own voice, your own story to the mix, of what it’s like being a conservative in an increasingly Leftist country! Send me an e-mail at aladyofreason@outlook.com or direct message me at @aladyofreason1 on Twitter to add YOUR story!!! 🙂 I’ll send you the standard question list, or you can just write it free form as a narrative…

This next #WalkAway story is from Maria, who has bravely spoken out about her story, despite fear of liberal backlash on her business! Here’s her story:

Tell me about yourself briefly:

How about “Rapidly aging research analyst who writes mystery romance fiction as a sideline, just to prove Ocasio-Cortez’ theory about everyone having two jobs.”? 😉 Boring side notes: Married, 2 kids in college, live out in the country (mostly because the city is way too liberal)…

When did you become conservative? If you were ever liberal, what made you walk away?

I flirted with liberalism in college, for the same reason many do–it struck me as the kind, fair, caring political stance. Then I went to graduate school in business and came to understand free markets and how hand-outs tend to perpetuate poverty as opposed to “curing” it. Ultimately, I realized that the political label which fits me best is Libertarian: don’t care how anyone else lives their life, as long as they don’t push it on me and don’t expect me to pay for it!

Do you feel at all afraid to be openly conservative? If so, how do you cope with being closeted?

Yes, definitely afraid to be openly conservative, except among close friends. I live in a very liberal area (Raleigh-Durham area), and I would never wear a MAGA hat or a flag shirt. That’s really sad, but I would be afraid of being attacked verbally or asked to leave a place, as others have been. I felt very alone before the 2016 election, but then my husband and I started finding more and more people on YouTube and Twitter who felt as we did, and I started to realize we weren’t the last freedom-loving Americans around! The election, of course, cemented that. The internet has remained my safe haven since.

What advice to you have for other conservatives afraid to speak out?

I wish I had some. In addition to a regular full-time job, I make money selling books on Amazon. I am terrified that some SJW will smear all my books and leave a million bad reviews for them, because of my views. Sometimes, I think I should go totally back into hiding, so I have no advice to offer!

Thank you so much! It is indeed a shame you and countless others feel afraid to be openly conservative and speak out! The leftist lunacy is rampant, but our voices must be heard, and I commend your immense courage in getting yours out there too! I really hope you don’t stop speaking out, and yes, the internet is a great place to reach a ton of people, and stay anonymous! Ideas are what matter most, and they may silence us in our personal lives, but our ideas live on online 🙂 Keep writing and speaking out! You can do both, you just have to be careful not to overlap the two! Best of luck in your endeavors, and you’re always welcome to speak more on my blog!

My #WalkAway Story Series: James

My #WalkAway Story Series is a bigger and more long term project for A Lady of Reason, and it’s all about YOU! This is your big chance at getting your voice heard and your own story out there! For many closeted conservatives, afraid for our livelihood, social networks, family connections, even physical safety now, being stuck in the closet can be extremely isolating and it’s easy to feel like it’s you against the world sometimes! I certainly feel that way! By sharing our stories collectively, I hope to give a voice to you, my dear readers and followers here on WordPress and Social Media, to show each other camaraderie and that in fact, we’re NOT alone, just in the shadows. Well folks, it’s time to come out of the shadows and into the light! The “silent majority” is at least half of our nation, so you’re not truly alone. Come and hear others, and add your own voice, your own story to the mix, of what it’s like being a conservative in an increasingly Leftist country! Send me an e-mail at aladyofreason@outlook.com or direct message me at @aladyofreason1 on Twitter to add YOUR story!!! 🙂 I’ll send you the standard question list, or you can just write it free form as a narrative…

This wonderful #WalkAway story comes from James, a Twitter fan who reached out to me via direct message! I apologize if anyone could not contact me before by direct message on Twitter, but now I have remedied the issue so if anyone wants to, they can send me a message request asking for the #WalkAway question list 🙂 James’ WalkAway story is very insightful and worth the read!

Tell me about yourself briefly:

My name is James. I am an American, born and raised, and I am in my early thirties. I am a practicing attorney and I deal in international contract law. My career has afforded me the opportunity to travel and live in many different countries. I am currently based in Colombia.

When did you become conservative? If you were ever liberal, what made you walk away?

I don’t know that I “became” a conservative so much as I always was one and just didn’t know it. When I was in high school and college, I called myself a liberal but only as a result of never having met a self-identified conservative. For that matter, I never recall encountering libertarians or anarchists or agrarians or any other type of politically involved person. Until I was in my mid-twenties, everyone I met was either leftist or politically agnostic.

I went to a Jesuit high school and then on to undergraduate and law at a Jesuit university. As you may know, the Jesuits are very deep in to social justice. During my tenure under “The Order”, I was heavily involved in social justice and liberation theology politics. As I reflect on it now, it seems hilarious. Many of the Jesuit priests I knew were engaged in teaching ideas considered heretical by the Catholic Church (pro-abortion, pro-divorce, and so on).

Once I left law school and entered the real world, the economic realities of life began to immediately hit me. My previous leftist leanings in this area began to fade rather quickly. I did not enjoy paying near 50% of my income to the government, only to turn around and aid clients (corporations, unions, NGOs) in bilking the government for that same money. However, I remained resolutely socially liberal. Specifically, I was heavily indoctrinated in to women’s rights issues.

My conversion in to social conservatism was merely a matter of changing my identifier, as I had really been quite conservative my whole life. Although, I didn’t know it. I dated the same woman from the time I was in high school until my last year of law school. We broke up and I entered the contemporary dating market with eyes wide shut… at 23 years of age. The first woman I dated after law school was my boss’s daughter (he set us up). She was very in to women’s issues, as well. As she should have been, because it turned out she had been working as a prostitute for a number of years. When her father and I found out, not only did her “woke” friends help her move out of her fathers house, they also assisted in filing suit for parental abuse and neglect against the man. I have known him for many years. The man is a saint.

There was a lot more to it than that, but suffice it to say that I began to question exactly what purpose much of the feminist doctrine I had been taught actually served. As I continued dating, my poor innocent conscience was shocked by the things I was hearing from the (often upper middle class) women I was dating. You name the issue and I have a story. Tattoos from head to toe. Morbid obesity masquerading as body positivity. Three kids out of wedlock or three abortions to avoid it. More sexual partners than a whole neighborhood of women would have had “back I the day”. But the worst of it was that it all came with an attitude of extreme entitlement – the idea that any man should just accept them as they were, with no improvement and no explanation.

All of this drove me to actually read some of the foundational feminist thought leaders. And… my eyes were opened. I would encourage anyone who supports feminism to please read notable feminist author (Greer, perhaps as she is a bit more palatable). It will cure you of your feminism completely. And so I walked away, leaving some family and lifelong friends.

Do you feel at all afraid to be openly conservative? If so, how do you cope with being closeted?

How I feel about openly espousing conservative views depends on where I am. When I am in the US, I spend a lot of time in NYC, LA, and Chicago. I simply do not discuss politics in these places. It is too great a risk to my business. However, when I am in South America or, even, Russia or China, I am fairly open about it. That I feel more at ease speaking freely in the latter two countries than the United States should frighten anyone with any sense.

I deal with being a closeted conservative in the US by spending as little time as possible there. I very much regret to say that travel has caused much of the luster of America to fade. If I do return to live full time in the US, I will most likely move to a more rural area in the Western states.

What advice to you have for other conservatives afraid to speak out?

I will not offer untested advice. I will only tell you what I am doing. Much of the fear I see comes from conservatives afraid of institutional and social retribution. I am minimizing the potential for this in my own life. I have opened my own legal firm and I am broadly diversifying my client base. I have extended my social network to include people I otherwise might not interact with – farmers, blue collar workers, the devoutly religious. They are some of the most decent and down to earth people I have ever met. And, as I alluded to earlier, I am looking at relocating to a more rural environment in a red state. I hope you will find, as I am finding, that minimizing the downside allows a person a certain political freedom and license they might not otherwise have in these crazy times.

Thanks so so much James!!! I agree that while closeted, interacting with a diverse base of people does help you open your mind to others, such as fellow conservatives 🙂 I agree with your take on how feminism has become too radicalized! It’s hard, I’d think in Law to be openly conservative, as in many jobs, since the whole smearing of Kavanaugh by his own law Alma Mater!!! All I can say is stay strong and persist… To borrow the Lefty terms: Resist! Persist! 😉 Of course, you’re always welcome to write for my blog anytime! We need voices like yours to show others they’re not alone!