4 More (War) Years in the Opposition

As Mitt Romney conceded the presidency last night, we are all in for 4 more years of Barack Obama.  I never claimed Mitt was my top choice for president or that he could fix all Americas problems; however, as I told one friend "we could have at least stopped digging the hole we are in."  However, this election did show us that Americans did not unanimously plead for this result, indeed we may still win the popular vote.  I came across an article on Breitbart that summed up my thoughts quite well. 

We will not heel. We will not stop. The defeat of Barack Obama would have launched the beginning of America coming together. But apparently, liberal America prefers to battle for the soul of the country.
And so we battle.

Now, we must prepare to battle on for our beliefs, our (future) children, and our ancestors....we must battle for America. How this battle will be played out remains to be seen, but I will be singing the battlesong.

P.S.“A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship. The average age of the world's greatest civilizations has been 200 years.” ― Alexis de Tocqueville



 

Election Night! I believe in America...

5:32 CST-Polls have closed in 5 states and we're into election night 2012!  As i was reflecting on what politics means to me, I came across this letter from John Newton concerning politics. I think it sums up my views as a Christian.  Politics fascinate me and is one of my passions, but in the end whether my party wins or loses, God is still sovereign. 

The whole system of my politics is summed up in this one verse, "The Lord reigns! Let the nations tremble!" Psalm 99:1

The times look awfully dark indeed; and as the clouds grow thicker--the stupidity of the nation seems proportionally to increase. If the Lord had not a remnant here, I would have very formidable apprehensions. But He loves His children; some are sighing and mourning before Him, and I am sure He hears their sighs, and sees their tears. I trust there is mercy in store for us at the bottom; but I expect a shaking time before things get into a right channel--before we are humbled, and are taught to give Him the glory. 

The state of the nation, the state of the churches--both are deplorable! Those who should be praying--are disputing and fighting among themselves! Alas! how many professors are more concerned for the mistakes of government--than for their own sins!



Once results begin coming in I will post again.  For now, I'm off to an election watch/post poll party!


7:27- Spent the last 2 hours going around campus with some friends from college dems to make sure everyone on campus has voted! Polls closed here in Missouri at 7:00.

 8:25- PA and MI have been called for Obama.  Not completely surprising.  I think Romney will win FL, NC, VA, and WI. 

9:25- Just met another person who is peeved by liberals bullying conservatives on campus.  She told me that a guy asked everyone on her floor if they voted for Romney because, "Only idiots would vote for Romney."  I like the way she put it that, "They don't have a right to be jerk and belittle someone just because they disagree about politics."  Why can't we all be civil?  

11:33- The election has been called in favor of Obama, but I'm not entirely sure why.  I think it could still turn into a 1948...we shall see.  For now I'm going to forge about modern politics and try to concentrate on my politics theory essay.  I'll post if anything interesting happens.

Wait, You're One Too? I Thought I Was the Only One!

As has been observed, it has been quite a while since I posted.  After a trip to the ER with a friend who had appendicitis, moderating a campus debate, and 3 tests I am finally writing another post.

One of the most interesting and oft repeated experience I have had so far, is striking up a conversation with someone and after much prodding discovering they are conservative.  For some reason, people are scared to admit this.  After talking for ten minutes or so the conversation drifts toward politics and the following ensues (N.B. this is an actual conversation I had when meeting a friend):  

Me: "So you're into politics?"

RS (random stranger): "Yeah, it's really interesting, but I'm not a huge fan of either side."

Me: "Which way do you lean if you had to pick a side?"

RS: "well, .... maybe I might lean a little toward the rightish?!"

Me: "Really?  I'm pretty conservative myself!"

RS: "What?!  Wait, there are other conservatives here??"

Me: "YES! ha ha And there are lot more of us than the other side would want to admit or most people think."

RS: "Wow, I thought I was the only one."

I've had this conversation at least a dozen times with different people.  Why is it that on College campuses, supposedly bastions of free thought, students are afraid to present themselves as Conservative?  I'll post my own opinion next week, but what are your thoughts?

P.S. I promise I'll be more consistent about posting, and I'll be live blogging on Election Night.

The 2nd Presidential debate

But you seem so nice!

It's hilarious to see fellow students' reaction when they discover I'm conservative.  One friend in particular said upon discovering this "You're conservative??  But you seem so nice!"  I couldn't help myself, and burst out laughing.  It borders on the ludicrous that someone could actually say this.  Now reasonable minds from both sides will say this was an isolated incident and not representative of America at large.  However, according to an article in the upstanding spoof paper of this University, not true.  After you've picked yourself up from ROTFL at the article, I have another(almost as) funny story.

Two weeks into school, a guy on my floor (who we'll call Jamie) found out I'm a "republican."  After we had argued politics and philosophy long enough to realize I have thought my way through the issues, we parted as honorable adversaries.  Later, I noticed him printing out a ton of Obama posters with the caption "I love this man and you should too!"  "Oh man," I thought "that's going on my door."  I decided to head down to the computer lab to plot a counter-strike.  A few minutes later, another friend texted me and asked for help with something or other.  I knew the posters were up and decided to survey the damage.  As I went up the stairs, I found my door as seen below:

Needless to say, I laughed again and then pulled down the posters.  I decided then I had been quiet long enough, and spurred by the article above I decided to come out entirely and fight back.  By each door, we have a bulletin board, and I decided to make ample use of mine. (A future post will detail what now covers my bulletin board)

Besides these two, I have had many positive reactions when people find out I'm conservative.  Many more students are at least fiscally conservative than most people imagine.  I'll post about positive reactions to conservatism another time.  For now, have you ever had a crazy reaction from your friends when they found out you were conservative?

In Which I Start a Blog and General Beginnings.

This blog began as an idea that it would be interesting to follow a conservative student through an elite, top 25 University and see his experiences both with academia and his peers.  I plan to follow those political and philosophical events which happen to, interest, or affect me on campus and in the national and international spheres.  I'll also post occasionally about my somewhat random philosophical and historical musings. 

Now, to introduce myself.  Ronald Reagan once said "You can tell a lot about a man by the way he eats his jelly beans."  However, since you can't watch me eat any, this will have to suffice.  I am a freshman at Washington University in St. Louis, currently ranked the number 14 university in the nation according to US News and World Reports.  I plan to double-major in History and Political Economy. 

Hopefully, this blog will be updated at least once a week.  Since we are already half-way through the semester, I will be blogging some things that happened to me earlier this semester.  I don't claim to represent all conservatives or college students, but hopefully it will be enjoyable for some to peruse my adventures and experiences while in school.  Hopefully, I'll post again this weekend, but for now (and while I study for a calculus mid-term) enjoy this cartoon from the first presidential debate!