I think it’s the most cowardly cop-out anyone can pull in politics to say that anyone who disagrees with you is just “closed-minded.” And that’s what I have been accused of. What makes my accuser all the more cowardly was her decision to insult me in front of a large group when I wasn’t even present to defend myself. The way she handled this situation has made me lose a great deal of respect for her, and I want to take this opportunity to set a few things straight.

My loyal insider at my old high school reported to me today that in the middle of a Social Studies class, both he and I were said to be “so closed-minded when it comes to politics” (now, I don’t want to be immature, so I’ll just say this was Some Anonymous Mouth. We’ll call her S.A.M. for short). While SAM has every right to disagree with me, I think it’s pretty lame to bring up my name post-graduation when I’m a) not in the room and b) not even in the building. My insider calmly said, under the piercing stares of everyone else in the room, that she was mistaken.

The truth is, we are both very open, accepting people. I think it’s detestable that SAM says, just because I have strong convictions and logical arguments that don’t line up with her own emotion-driven politics, that I’m cemented against everything else. If someone were to approach me with a solid reason as to why my beliefs were wrong, I would listen to it, digest it, and consider rethinking my stance. The thing is, no one has ever done this. In all this time that I’ve been writing this stuff and posting these rants, not a single intelligent person has ever shown me why I should consider a party switch. Two or three people have tried, and while I do hear their arguments out, I am always able to find further justification for my initial position that, in my head, trumps theirs.

Do not stoop so low as to ignore my arguments and those of half of your country in saying that we’re all just blind. It’s so incredibly patronizing and superior for you to rule out all contrary thought as ignorant and closed-minded, and it has no positive effect whatsoever on those you’re arguing against. Not to mention your enormous hypocrisy. If you'd like to regain any sort of decent standing in my book, I invite you to come to be with a thought-out, well-presented case that either defends your statement about my closed-mindedness or convinces me that you have any idea whatsoever that you know what you're talking about in this whole politics game.

Thanks for the low-blow. You’re a pal, SAM.