First Blog: Why am I a radical?

As according to www.dictionary.reference.com, something that is radical is "thoroughgoing or extreme, especially as regards change from accepted or traditional forms". To put it mildly, I have radical beliefs on a few aspects of life ranging from parenting (or lack thereof), to politics, to diet, and a few less important subjects. These radical beliefs, when brought up in a typical conversation with someone I don't know well, tends to cause disbelief in the other person or questions as to why I am the way I am.

We all have beliefs that range out of the normality of things. One could argue that being a Republican whom is pro-choice is radical, although I would hope most would agree that a political party is not a definition of one's individuality but a general set of ideas that revolve around political subject matter. Although radical beliefs tend to cause an uproar and confusion when in debates (and I am quite used to being judged for being individualistic, to say it in one way), my own opinion leads me to believe that a society where individuals were encouraged to act and think the same would only succeed to bring us to a 1984 type world where people are nothing but tools and sheep.

Am I saying that anyone whom does not have drastically weird or out-of-the-norm beliefs is a sheep in a herd? Of course not; even if you had a drastically weird belief forced upon enormous groups of people, these people would become void of personality and tend to follow rather than lead. Having a belief that is shared by many does not make you a sheep. However, bringing up a radical belief tends to make the other parties within the conversation look at you as if you are alien.

Let me announce quickly the top three reasons I am a radical: I am child-free (meaning I do not and will not have children because I simply don't want them, not because I cannot), I am vegan (in simpler terms, pure vegetarian; one whom abstains from all animal products ranging from meat to dairy to honey to leather, silk, and gelatin), and I am a libertarian (a political party that is in the extreme minority; it's basic and uncomplicated approach is the smaller government the better and to allow people control over their own lives). Obviously, there are many other child-free people, both men and women, out there. The same with vegans and libertarians. However, we must admit to each other that there are far more parents than non-parents in the United States (where I reside), and that there are far more meat-eaters in America than non, and finally that the number of libertarians compared with Republicans and Democrats is hardly an issue because the numbers and percentages are so vastly different.

Do these three beliefs make me crazy? Of course not; they make me an individual. No one in this world has every single belief in the same order of importance as myself; I would be willing to bet that no one has the same as you, or the person you saw last. We cannot be placed within a group so long as we say we cannot.

Are these the only things that make me radical? That could be argued. The very fact that I'm putting the generic label of a radical on myself could be argued as well with the beliefs and issues I've put onto the table. This is the way I choose to look at myself, so to argue would be futile.

I consider myself somewhat radical for choosing to live a moral lifestyle when it comes to entertainment, for example. I do not watch movies with sexual content (even sensuality), nudity, graphic violence and/or gore, for example, because I do not think it is right. I have not seen a movie with this content for over five years because I think it is unnecessary and disgusting. Many people don't like this content but don't go so far as to stop supporting or funding it. Do I have a problem with these people? No. I don't understand why they continue to watch things they don't care for, but their decisions are their own.

The same with videogames. I love videogames and actually do consider them one of my more entertaining hobbies. But I will not play videogames with the same content that I consider to be immoral in movies. Although listening to some music is inevitable (overhearing a neighbor car's blaring stereo, for example), I avoid music that sends wrong messages as well.

This tiny belief of mine--avoiding what I believe to be immoral--is, surprisingly, not accepted or not believed by many whom hear of it. Why some think that my decisions to avoid things such as these are troubling to themselves is a mystery to me. Why people go flock to the latest teen movie with the unnecessary sex scenes and humor is beyond me, but has no effect on my personal life and therefore is not a problem. I was once told that I must be egotistical since I don't want to see anyone's naked body besides my own. Not only is that a faulty argument and completely off topic and point, but it doesn't even make sense. If I only wanted to see myself naked, being married wouldn't make sense and I'd run around naked in a mirrored room. Even if being egotistical were the reason, why would this person ruin precious time of his/her life worrying about why I make the decisions I do? I believe that intimacy is a beautiful thing for two people to share together; I do not believe that it is something for me to intrude upon, whether real or acted out.

Another arguable belief of mine is what I think of as relaxed Christianity...I am Christian but also believe in allowing others to make their own decisions. Sure, I will tell someone else I am Christian and why and what I love about it--if they ask or if we are in a conversation about just that subject. Why force my opinions on another person? How is telling someone they will go to hell or that they are sinning going to get them closer to God? I am no perfect person by any means; therefore, I will not go around telling everyone else that they are sinners without admitting my own sins. Actually, I would not tell anyone they were a sinner no matter the case; that is not my job in this life. I believe the best way to be a Christian is to be one. Kind and compassion will always win my favor over screaming at someone that they will go to hell because they do not believe in Jesus.

Perhaps the most radical thing about me is how some of my beliefs tend to conflict in the view of standard belief systems. For example, many Christians have children because they truly believe they are a gift from God, and/or are against birth control because of their view of the Bible, and/or believe it is a sin to go against the "be fruitful and multiply" line of the Good Book. There are many Christians, as well, whom are against not eating meat because "God said it was okay." I was even told once by a pastor that being vegan was a religion by itself; he told me that I worshipped plants rather than God and did not use all of His gifts. I found it appalling that this man was even a pastor. He was not judging me, necessarily; he was judging his assumption of my character.

My beliefs may seem like they conflict because of what society and/or the average person may deem a belief entails. For example, for some Christians, being vegetarian or vegan is not, in their opinion, using all of the resources the Lord gave us. I am a Christian, and my view on meat-eating is simply that the Lord gave us dominion over our animals, much like the Queen of England has dominion over her people. It does not mean she eats them; it simply means she must take care of them and watch for their well-being for the sake of her own. I do not think meat-eating is sinful, but I avoid it because I believe it is immoral and that immorality and Christianity are two that cannot mix well but tend to get forced together too often.

This is why individuality is so beautiful. Debating (nicely, of course, not resorting to name-calling and overly ignorant assumptions) can teach anyone new things if they allow it. Beliefs and their reasons for being within the individual, if different than your own, can teach a person how one's upbringing conflicts or goes hand-in-hand with what they were taught or what they have experienced. This does not mean you must change your opinion or your mind-set; however, if you are open-minded and learn to accept, you can become wiser than others whose world is black and white and anyone whom is anything other than that is wrong. If you open your mind wide enough, you may just find more intelligence to add to your own arguments or beliefs.

Or you may find your own opinions changing for the better.