With Disruption Comes Clear Perception and Action

This is probably the most honest blog post I've made on Nathan's Place. It's about me, the town I've lived in for about 30 years, and the problem I have with living here.

What spurred this action, this post, was an incident on Facebook. I posted a rather inflammatory political image which was simply this, though I paraphrase: Nationalism leads to terror, to coercion, to corruption.

It was interpreted by an old friend that what I said was against the American military. Well, it wasn't specifically against the US military, but it was a statement about patriotism and military action.

I was unfriended.

So, here's the main point. All of the time I've lived in this town, I've been quiet, reserved, went along with things. I've heard from the bigots, the patriots, the hypocritical and pretentious liberals, and the down-home, backward traditional Americans. I never agreed with anything they said. But I know the consequences of speaking out, or even just saying what I feel and think. I know that their "freedom" is selective, it depends on who you are and what you have to say and what you think and feel. I know they preach freedom but don't apply it to everyone. I know that if I said what I feel at any time, I'd be shut down, alienated, aggressively put in my place. I'd have to sit like a good little boy. So, I cut out the middle man and just stayed quiet.

I also always knew I couldn't just do whatever I want. I couldn't look at who I want or talk to whoever I want and I'd have to get used to it. The uptight feminist and the backward traditionalist would both keep me in line.

So, the incident online brought all that home to me. It was a local friend, behaving just like a local.

I've left this town several times, always to come back; and come back to endure. Each time, it seems there's left over business. And today I discovered what that left-over business is. It is time to end that abusive relationship, and leave for good.