What's in a name?

I chose the name "The Confused Conservative" for my blog because of my confusion of the vitriol that is hurled at someone who is a conservative or Republican.  You see I am tired of hearing things about Republicans being uneducated, racist bigots and things of that nature.  Through a long and sometimes painful journey, I have become a pretty self aware person.  I am none of those things and yet I am a conservative.  I am not a religious fanatic (in fact, although brought up Catholic I have not practiced in 20 years) nor do I wish death on the poor or elderly but throughout the political season that is how I was labeled.  I find it absolutely hypocritical for people to say they are the ones that care about all of humanity and are the party of tolerance yet call half of the nation hateful names.  Political fireworks are common but never in my lifetime have I seen it grow to such a divisive state.  I believe this problem is on both sides and people of both parties are causing this divide.  There is so much to say, yet I am not even sure where to begin. 

So, why am I a conservative?

First, I believe in the principles our founding fathers used in establishing our great nation.  They intended that we be a Federation of States under a united federal government.  They knew what power does to people.  They built a system of checks and balances to ensure as best they could that no one area of our government could have absolute power.  They knew that each state through its own system of democratic government would know best what its citizens needed.  By creating a country that was a democratic capitalist society, they paved the way for an amazing future.  America is only 236 years old and in that time we have achieved so much!  I am not saying that America has not done wrong or unjust acts, we certainly have.  However, when you look around the world and you see where other countries are and with histories that make ours a tiny blip, how can you not be proud of being an American?  Those countries have plenty of wrongful acts and injustices in their pasts as well but none of them progressed past those towards healing and growth at the speed that the United States has. 

Second, I personally believe that life begins at conception.  This is something that I have thought about over and over in my mind.  You see, I found myself pregnant at age 20.  I was unmarried, in college and had a big future planned for myself.  Yet inside I knew that was a baby, a life that I needed to be responsible for one way or another.  For years I kept asking myself shouldn't women have the right to choose even though I felt differently and made a different choice?  I waivered and was uncertain of my own thoughts. However, it all became crystal clear to me; I was falling for the game and deflection.  I realized the real question that I needed to satisfy for myself was did I feel that fertilized egg was a life?  I had already answered that for myself a long time ago when I chose to have my son.  It is the very start of that baby's life, not just some lump of cells waiting for someone to make a decision yeah or nay for it continue.  It grows and grows.  So I feel honestly abortion is ending a life willingly.  Do I believe that abortion is supportable when the life of the mother is in danger or for incest or rape?  My answer is yes.  However, I feel that abortion has become a form of birth control and it is sad.  Due to a person's own lack of personal responsibility, they are ending a life.  People argue, why should an unwanted baby be born into this world?  My answer to that is that there is no unwanted baby in this world when there are thousands of people out there who want babies and can't have them.  These people pay thousands upon thousands of dollars to adopt them, many times from other countries.  Again, I just feel that it has become our own inconvenience and selfishness that has won out. 

Third, I believe in equality for all.  I believe that equality can be actualized in no greater place than the United States.  In our country, anyone can work hard and realize their dreams. 

These are just some of the thoughts and principles I have that make me a conservative.  I have so many more thoughts but I am going to end here for tonight. 

First Blogging Adventure Mission

Let me start by saying that I am new to all of this but felt compelled to venture into this new realm.  Not sure if anyone will find this interesting but for me it is a much needed cathartic release.  I am going to use this as a tool to dive into my political beliefs and points of view.  This is not meant to convince any other person of believing or thinking anything other than what they currently do.  I have been feeling for some time frustrated, hurt and confused about how others view conservatives and the Republican Party.  I need to have some sort of outlet to express with thought and intelligence how I feel about things in our political system, our political parties and the state of the county in general.  I just ask, in reading this, that you respect that this is how I feel and that these feelings are not derived lightly or flippantly but rather with much thought and research.   I find it very hard today to really find the truth about much of what is happening in our nation. Those that feel that any media outlet is providing us with the complete truth about anything I feel are sadly mistaken.