You know you're an independent when:

You know you're an independent when:
This blog and post is not about 25 year old guys living in their parent's basement. That is another conversation about independent living and is best left for another day. This is about being an independent thinker. Here is my list of seven signs that reveal an independent. Read on. I would love your comments.

1. You think for yourself.

2. You look at many sides of an issue before you come to a conclusion.

3. You actually read and research issues rather than take people's word for it.

4. You neither hold to nor support any 'party platform' in their entirety.

5. You internally (and sometimes externally) mock those who become aggressive and use person attacks rather than actually know what they are talking about.

6. No matter your background, you are willing to look, listen, and be loving to anyone and everyone, not because they deserve it or because you have to be politically correct, but because it is the right thing to do.

7. You actually read the initiatives in your voter pamphlet rather than just the pro and con position. (You do read the pros and cons, don't you?)


1. You think for yourself.
Self expression after reflection is an art and a responsibility. We are all a product of our backgrounds, be they family, faith, education, culture, and geography. Yet to simply take everything at face value is not only naive, but irresponsible. It also in my opinion is going to be the downfall of our country unless we find some thinkers sometime soon. Here is a great article on thinking for yourself. http://www.ndt-ed.org/TeachingResources/ClassroomTips/Independent_Thinking.htm

2. You look at many sides of an issue before you come to a conclusion.
No matter what any journalist, newscaster, minister, politician, or grocer says - everyone speaks from a bias. It takes an intentional effort to listen to many views before settling on a position. In many cases each person brings an 'aspect' of the whole to the table of discussion. Only a very narrow minded, possibly frightened individual would plow through life without any attempt to listen to other views.
Here are a great tips on how to see other views: http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTED_07.htm

3. You actually read and research issues rather than take people's word for it.
In the LA times there was a terrific article on the lost art of reading by David L. Ulin. http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/arts/la-ca-reading9-2009aug09,0,4905017.story.
It speaks of the need to slow down and contemplate which reading offers. And though he juxtapositions reading literature against blogs and tweets, he drives home my point for the read to read, research, and reflect on issues. The act of reading does wonders for each of us as individuals. How much more important is it to study issues that shape and change society. John Ralston Saul said, "The better the citizenry as a whole are educated, the wider and more sensible public participation, debate and social mobility will be...Highly sophisticated Élites are the easiest and least original thing a society can produce. The most difficult and the most valuable is a well-educated populace."

4. You neither hold to nor support any 'party platform' in their entirety.
"You will eat everything on your plate!" I heard this early on in my life. After I rebelled and sat at the table for hours in a power struggle, my mom budged and wisely moved to the position of at least try everything once. Sagely advice. No one can simply love everything that is brought before you. You might hold to a majority of a parties views, but to buy in completely because you disagree, or more strongly, despise the "other" party is foolish and probably dangerous to our countries future. Come on, you know you are more independent than you let on. Let it out! Be free! Run towards the light! Can't we all find away to break the two party thievery that has become our American political landscape?
This site gives a fair pro and con assessment of the two party system. You know how I feel. http://www.idebate.org/debatabase/topic_details.php?topicID=231

5. You internally (and sometimes externally) mock those who become aggressive and use person attacks rather than actually know what they are talking about.
This is my biggest pet peeve! We saw this when Clinton was in office and when Bush Jr. as well. In fact when it comes to politics, it's easy to condemn a person in office and anyone who actually voted for a person out of frustration rather than see positives and negatives. For the Republicans and many religious right, Clinton could not have done anything correct because he had affairs, and had some shady campaign finance tricks. For the Democrats and liberal lefties, the mention of G. W. is pure profanity and elicits tirades that go beyond reason. Sure the man got some things wrong like WMD's, but didn't everyone? And he didn't come through on immigration, nor would he listen to any other position on anything, which is a recipe for error, but he is not the anti-Christ people. It would be great to have a conversation with lefties and righties without them showing their ignorance by simply going red in the face, shutting off their minds, and puking all over me. "Can't we all just get along?" -"Jerks!"
Take a peak at this: I can't believe I'm linking the Huffington Post but this stuff ticks me off, and for the record, I was not a McCain guy. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/donna-fish/erratic-and-angry-politic_b_132644.html

6. No matter your background, you are willing to look, listen, and be loving to anyone and everyone, not because they deserve it or because you have to be politically correct, but because it is the right thing to do.
Martin Luther King Jr. said that the most segregated hour of the week was Sunday at 11:00 AM and the most segregated school was Sunday School. He was right. Even forty plus years later this is true. The complacency of the Church and leaders of churches must shift if they truly want to resemble the Christ they say is their 'Master'. One might look at the Book of Revelation to see the nature of the people around the throne. "...a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the lamb." You better get used to the idea of other races and nationalities worshipping with you - sounds like you may be doing for a while. I recently read an article in Time Magazine from Dec. 29th, 2009 that addresses this issue and the steps some are taking to change it. Bill Hybels should be applauded. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1950943,00.html
And what of Arabs, Muslims, Hindus, Jews, Buddhists, Christians, Catholics, Protestants, liberals, conservatives, Republicans, Democrats, gays, lesbians, etc.? You add to the list. Love is not an option! Look! Listen! Love! You don't have to agree, but you do have to care.

7. You actually read the initiatives in your voter pamphlet rather than just the pro and con position.
I live in Washington State. It is a wonderful place to come from. We have a West Coast mindset and so are pretty easy going as a rule. The state votes Democrat even though more than half the state (geographically speaking) votes Republican. Seattle, Tacoma and the Metro region carries the vote due to populace.
Recently, our state voted in favor of domestic partnerships. I have always felt that all citizens should have equal rights. I am a pro marriage guy who is in favor of civil unions. The term domestic partner does not put me off. I was disturbed by the language throughout the pamphlet that gave the entire reading of the new law. It stated repeatedly that anywhere is stated marriage one could replace the term with domestic partners, and that terms like husband and wife could not be seen as gender specific. It burned me up. They could have written a law that gave all rights to all people without revising the meaning of marriage. Let me tell you - my marriage is made up of a man (me) and a woman (my wife) and there is no gender ambiguity at all.
But I know that many did not read that. Many who are pro domestic partnership and civil unions just jumped on it and voted for it without reading it. And so a bad law with good intent is passed. To the right I say, civil rights are for all. To the left I say, pro marriage is not anti-gay. Stop the hate and stop the lies.
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2009-10/Pdf/Bills/Senate%20Passed%20Legislature/5688-S2.PL.pdf