First Things First

Questions: Are you "conservative" or "liberal"? How do you feel about using this term to identify yourself?

There was never a time I thought I was conservative, but it was just a few years ago when I realized that I was liberal, a very strong liberal. My parents encouraged me to think independently, and it just so happens that I agree with their opinions.  Most hardcore liberals speak to me.  I would much rather spend my money healing people and saving lives rather than destroying them in war. I think women should have the right to choose whether or not to have an abortion, not the government. It's their own bodies, after all.  I also agree with socialism, and wish President Obama would push us further towards progress, because our system doesn't seem to be working.

I'm very proud that I'm liberal.  In an environment where being liberal is the norm, I'm not sure if I'd feel as comfortable if I was conservative.  Teenagers seem to be overly judgmental in a negative fashion, so I try my best to not think ill of people just because their opinions differ from mine, but the question does always cross my mind, "I wonder if they're judging me?".  For the most part I dislike labels, but in a culture where sentences must be concise and explanations short, we must sometimes resort to one-worded answers.