Journay Said it Best: Don't Stop Believin'

On Sunday, September 7, I attended a Ralph Nader rally. While the previous statement may seem like a contradiction of itself, (because really, who rallies for Nader anymore?) there really were some honest believers in the Nader cause. Not many, maybe 175 max, but some crazy, socialist, Republican-hating, eco-psycho supporters are better than none, right? Wrong. That statement could not be anymore wrong. If I were in the same position as Ralph, I would rather have no supporters than be backed by the eclectic group that came out to show their love. But then again, I would never be in the same position because I am not an economy-killing socialist supporter. And I never will be. Ever. But, while I do not in anyway support the Nader/Gonzalez ticket, I was willing to be entertained by their fervent supporters on a Sunday afternoon. The beginning of the meeting was town hall style, with an open floor forum for Nader-approved topics, such as the environment, getting Nader in the debates, and corporate crime. And let me tell you, the people did not disappoint. Men and women (even a set of twins!) got up and spoke about how Ralph was going to win this election (by default, of course), and questioned why Americans pick the lesser of two evils (the Democrats) when both options were still evil. Although, my very favorite part of the day was before I even entered the room where the conference was held, because I was interviewed by our local newspaper, the Lansing State Journal. The interviewer asked a number of questions, like why did I come (because, Nader is historic, crazy or not) and did I support him (never). But, my favorite question was: are you prepared to be swayed by Nader? My response: not unless he makes a very good argument, which I doubt would ever happen. Harsh? I prefer to think honest. While many think I maybe just as crazy as Nader himself, because I went and saw him speak even though I don’t support him, I think that the day served its purpose. I am now more informed on the policies of Ralph Nader than many Americans, and because of that I am now, more than ever, set in my conservative views. I heard what Mr. Nader had to say, just as I have listened to Senator Barack Obama and Senator John McCain. After listening, analyzing, and deciding for myself what I think is right, I have chosen to support one candidate over the others. Bet you can’t guess who! So, if I could, I would walk into a voting precinct in November and confidently cast my vote, knowing that my views had been questioned, but that I was able to support them and keep believing in what I thought was truly right.