On the Fence Or a Cop-out?

I often refer to myself as an "on the fence" kind of person when it comes to many views, especially those related to politics and religion. I can often see points to both sides and I don't take a firm stand.

Is this really a good way to be or is it a cop-out? Is it important to always take a side? Am I a Republican or a Democrat? Or a Republicrat? Is it that important that I'm one way or the other?

Today (ahem, when I should have been working), I took two different quizzes to determine if I was a Republican or Democrat. After all, we all know quizzes determine our future and fate! Just like palm readers and fortune tellers.

I answered all the questions and both results said that I am more Republican than Democrat. Is it weird that I was a little disappointed at those results? I know that I have some liberal views and I'm not a true "right wing" or "left wing" anything. In fact, I don't even like chicken wings, so there you go.

But my mind can't help but wander and ask further questions.... Should I be a Republican? After all, that is what bleeds deep within my southern, conservative family roots? The same way that my parents, aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents say things like "I'm fixin' to do this" and "I'm fixin' to do that." (Which means that they are going to complete a task, by the way).

Should we be what we were born into? Ooh, I'm getting deep here and not really meaning to be.....

But if you were born a Christian, a Jew, a Muslim, is that then what you're destined to be? I often wonder things like this. I just read that Judy Blume book and the main character Margaret Simon's grandparents say that she doesn't "get to choose her religion, she had to accept what she was born into".

Wow! That's a big statement! Do you agree with that? I don't. That is one thing I can honestly say that I don't feel "middle of the road" about. I believe you can take what you've been born into, use that knowledge and experience and decide if that's the right life and the right decision for you. You can be whatever you want to be. We have choices.

With that being said though, I'm still not any closer to finding out what "side" I'm on both politically and religiously. I go back and forth on things like taxes, immigration, health care, abortion, and much more. If it comes down to it, I could make a choice. But I really like hearing views from opposing sides on these topics. I can always, somehow see it from both angles. So, I'll just keep listening, reading, being open minded (because I choose to) and then hopefully figure it out.

No one can tell me what's right. I just have to know it when it hits me over the head - either via that protestor rock or that group high-five that missed my hand and knocked me out cold instead.

I've been conversing with a few friends today - my very Democratic friends and my very Republican friends. Some happen to be Christians and some happen to be Atheists too. They tell me not to think so much and not to discredit my opinions simply because they're moderate. After all, and to quote one of them, people like me "help keep the peace for all the trouble makers (like her) in this world."

Thanks Erin! Glad I can help out! In the mean time, I'll just sit up on this fence with my half-chicken/half-cop uniform until I decide what side I want to be on. (And I will try to do more reading and make an informed opinion for myself). Unless my mom calls and tells me she is fixin' to serve me shrimp stew, potato salad and lemon cake.

(Hey, everybody has their price!)