From Rose Colored Glasses to Republicanism: My Political Awakening
Once upon a time, I wore my open-mindedness like a comfortable cloak—a badge of honor that allowed me to embrace diversity, live and let live, and dismiss the “stuffy” conservatism of the right. Politics? Nah, not my cup of tea. Voting? Seemed futile; after all, both sides were equally flawed, right? And then, like a plot twist in a gripping novel, Barack Obama stepped onto the stage in 2008. The nation held its breath as history unfolded—a black President! Surely, this shattered any lingering illusions about racial barriers. Minorities would now find their opportunities, right? I watched Obama’s inauguration—the only one I’ve ever witnessed. But as his presidency unfolded, my rose-colored glasses cracked. Arrogance seeped through, and the fact that he was biracial seemed conveniently ignored. The unity he promised? It fractured. The country felt more divided than ever. In 2012, I cast my first-ever vote—against Obama. Yet, he secured a second term. My disillusionment deepe...