Entering Leftism

Over the past year or so, I had always described myself to others as having two different political philosophies: my pragmatic philosophy which tended to fall in line with the Democratic Party, and a much more extreme philosophy, one which has lurked in my mind throughout high school as I continued to develop a sense of who I truly am. This radical ideology could best be described as romantic communism, where I held the vision of a surreal society which upheld, to steal from Yugoslavia, "brotherhood and unity". While I never acted on the Marxist principles locked away in my mind, it had always served as a source of hope; a hope for a better tomorrow and a hope that one day the great potential in humanity could be realized.

It has become increasingly difficult to keep these two, often conflicting philosophies. Only when I decided to embrace my principles did I feel a true sense of personal identity. The shallow political culture in this county, dominated by trivial stories concerning out-of-touch influence peddlers, began to sweep me away. Too often I found myself refreshing the page of the Huffington Post, looking for a cheap headline that would feed my sense of righteousness I believed existed in supporting the centrists who call themselves the Democratic Party. I know now that there is nothing righteous about calling yourself a Democrat.

Unfortunately, I am not very well-read, especially in comparison to some of my politically active peers. It is crucial now more than ever that I delve straight into the different philosophies of the far-left, for I will be placed under an intense scrutiny not just by my conservative peers, but by my liberal ones as well. This page will hopefully serve as not just a document of my thoughts and experiences, but of my progression as I continue to educate myself. The following notes may consist of interesting things I have read, commentary on current events or personal experiences, or general observations.

I hope that this is the beginning of a journey that will last until my dying days. While I certainly recognize the ease at which a sixteen year old can stay principled, I reject the notion that as I grow up, I will be forced into a state of hopelessness and conformity. Whenever an adult attempts to lecture me about this future conformity (often through the overused, out of context, Winston Churchill quote concerning liberalism and conservatism), I become even more strengthened in my resolve to fight the good fight. I have been exposed to a war which I cannot walk away from. Once one has gone into the light, receding back into the shadows is not an option. Such an action would only lead to lifelong regrets and misery. In the end, the only option I have left is to fight.