I Stand Tall — I Stand Alone if I Have To

Thinking for yourself no matter how unpopular is often to be commended, sure. (Within reason. If you think you're Napoleon and no one else on earth agrees, I can't help you much.)

Do you really (potentially) stand alone though, and do you really think completely differently to a lot of other people, specifically other Conservatives (assuming you identify as one)? 🤔

Seems like these days people don't have opinions on separate issues; you download the whole bundle and all the pre-installed extra software that comes with it and can't deselect it from the package.

Someone tells me they're pro-Trump and I can pretty much instantly know their views on 20 other topics. Or even tell me what you think about 1 topic and I could probably also assume what you think about the other 19, and be accurate more often than not. It's so predictable it's boring.

(You've already hinted at that in your meme: anti-abortion, skeptical of Covid vax/ transgender people (or trance-gender, in case that's what you're referring to).)

That all arguably aligns very closely with typical politically conservative/rw beliefs. (Only need to read this page to see that.)

Eg, I could probably infer you're also not too enamoured with the idea of Muslims immigrating to the US, are skeptical of the mainstream climate change narrative, fairly pro-guns and patriotic, believe in good old-fashioned family values and the family unit, are pro-free market capitalism/hard work making you succeed financially and opposed to too much social welfare, favour minimal government intervention, are anti-woke, and possibly identify as some form of Christian, etc, etc. Would I be close or does my argument collapse here? Actually curious.

Same goes the other way btw. Lefties are often just as predictable and the same applies.

Most of us might not be as independent-minded and original as we'd like to think, myself probably included. Ideological clustering is a thing.

TL;DR: We've all gone back to living in tribes and have to conform with whatever the tribe believes. Like a creed. Pick your tribe, and there's no room for dissenters or heretics or you have to join another one.

Anyway you get an upvote just for quoting Schopenhauer, miserable bastard that he was. Filthy rich too. Bit easier to write edgy pessimistic philosophy when you've never had to do a real day's work in your life. Not the poster child for your typical hardworking Conservative American working-class taxpayer so it's an interesting choice.

I don’t often look at the comments section – – too many goofballs just wanting to tear down whatever I say. But today was a good day to open up your comment. Thank you for your thoughts, your insight, and your respectful approach. It’s refreshing to read well thought out commentary, from a smart person.

You are real close in your assessment of me and my views. And, you’re correct to think that much of the time, it’s a tribal requirement to fit in. I like to think that maybe I’m backwards in that regard. I have a solid foundation of values and principles. And whichever group or tribe that follows the most of my beliefs, that’s where I belong. I believe there should be nuanced differences within a tribe. We’re not robots! As long as the fundamental principles —the foundation— is unified.

So, regarding standing alone…
I don’t mean to say that I am alone in thinking the way I do. I’m just proclaiming that I don’t require a gang beside me, to stand up for what I believe is right. Or to stand against what I believe is wrong. I know what I believe, & why, so I welcome genuine challengers.

There’s usually not a whole lot of gray area for me. I’m all in for Jesus. All in for family, procreation, pro-baby, lawful use of guns & the right to bear them. I’m very much against Illegal immigration — all the way against. But, legal immigration is awesome. Anyone is welcome, Muslims included, if they’re making a legal legitimate attempt to enter this country. I do believe, however, that Muslims have no place at the seat of political office. They swear their oath on the Koran, which claims that no form of government is legitimate, or acceptable, except Sharia law. That has no place in the governing of America. But Muslims should be free to come here, legally, and compete in the battle for hearts and minds. I just wish more people would recognize that Islam is a political system, masquerading as a religion. And the motivation of the devout fundamentalist Muslim is to conquer and take over regions, & countries by whatever means necessary. I think that this country is going to have to come to terms with that — or at least take a close look at UK, & Europe, & the result of unfettered illegal invasion by conquer-minded peoples.

I’m a new follower of yours, brother. Looking forward to seeing your sharp mind at work!

Thanks. I really respect and appreciate that. And I appreciate you taking the time to respond in detail.

"And the motivation of the devout fundamentalist Muslim is to conquer and take over regions, & countries by whatever means necessary."

Respectfully, I would dispute this. I've lived in and travelled to a number of Muslim countries. I don't think this is quite accurate. I don't think Muslims are planning a coordinated hostile takeover. They're just people like all of us.

Btw: "There’s usually not a whole lot of gray area for me." Careful: naughty people could totally use that to troll you lol. (Gray matter/brain, etc. Just saying. Cos trolling people is my raison d'etre.)

Remember: "Shariah" law just refers to Islamic law in general.
Shariah just means the entire body of law. It's not just cutting off hands and stuff; it covers everything. US law also covers a lot of things and the death penalty is only a small part of that. Shariah is a dirty word in English. It just means Islamic law in general. Some of that relates to capital punishment. A lot of it is about more general boring stuff.

I'm not a Muslim or an apologist for Islam, btw. I don't even believe in "God" (whatever that even means). I just care about details.

I've fully refuted your views on Islam in the other thread. Other than that, I agree mostly with you and the poster above you. As he correctly identifies that Islam is less a religion and more a political battle plan for conquest.

Thanks for sharing, Flip. And for the advice about trolls. As I mentioned, I don’t regularly read comments. That’s because of the inane trolls.
I inevitably try to set them straight, which —of course— is their schtick. Instead of wasting my time, I don’t give them the benefit of even reading their post.

Re: Islam / Muslims
Yes, we all have our understanding & experiences. And it’s not one size fits all.
My comment about conquest was not to suggest all Muslims think that way. They don’t.
But, I know a fair bit about the subject.
I, too, have traveled a lot. Plus, I lived —for 13 years—in the most populous Muslim country in the world. My former in-laws are Muslim. Kind, loving people. Conquest is the farthest thing from their minds. But that doesn’t mean they are adhering to the complete doctrine of Islam, as outlined by Muhammad in the Qur’an & Hadith.

Nominal Muslims, & practicing modernist Muslims alike may not be thinking about Fiqh; Dar al-Harb; Jizya; Saturday- & Sunday-people, etc. But I can guarantee that Islamists & Jihadists are. Almost all of the Muslims I’ve had contact with, have been —seemingly— warm & friendly people. I exchange & share Godly love for them. But… it’s also prudent to be acquainted with the word TAQIYA. 😎✌️