Last night at 7:30 I knew who I was going to post today because Taylor Swift did something that moved me. I am an American. I am quite proud of that fact. I am a product and citizen of the great experiment formed by a group of people driven by humanist enlightenment thought and the end point of a legacy of ever expanding liberalism. The ideas that all men are created equal. There have been missteps along the way but I genuinely believe the world is a better place because of it. Much of Western history since has been driven by Enlightenment ideals and the idea of man’s right to self determination. That has been under attack in recent years in a way I thought I would never see again. I remember the fall of communism and the collective sigh of relief. Authoritarianism wasn’t extinguished completely but we were moving that way. Things have gotten ugly. Not just in my country but around the world as we have seen people seem to genuinely consider that perhaps Democracy is not that important. It is. My country has done things I am not proud of. Things that frighten me. I staunchly believe it is not who we are. I believe most Americans are good people. But I believe our talk is dominated by the insincere. People who are maliciously willing to tear us and our values apart to enrich themselves. War is good for the wallet, especially when it’s ideological. I have long been critical of Taylor Swift for saying nothing. I know many will congratulate her for taking a stance they agree with. I agree with everything she said. I am impressed she took a stance period. I think it is important to speak your convictions to drown out those who don’t even believe most of what they say but know someone will. I am certain there is already a gnashing of the teeth out there because it’s the world we live in now. But it doesn’t have to be and Taylor’s post was excellent at demonstrating this. She might have given the most apolitical political endorsement I have ever seen. Parties were not mentioned. Simply the issues she finds important and why she finds them important. Statements, that at least in public, everyone endorses. Respect and dignity for our fellow man, no matter what he looks like, what gender her or she is, what sexual orientation. That no one should suffer because they were not born into a preapproved group. Then she asked people to educate themselves and vote their convictions. This is all I want and all I can ask of anyone. I know some people only want to see their side endorsed or their side encouraged. I don’t mind if someone disagrees. Someone who genuinely wants what is right and is voting by their convictions can be reasonable. They can be talked to. They can be convinced. I grew up in a world where gay marriage wasn’t even a term. If it had been the 13 year old me probably would have been against it. Certainly my parents would have been. They are not anymore. Because for all their flaws as people they are not evil. Discussion, enlightenment. It has changed views. It’s a long game but voting matters. Learning who you are voting for and what matters is important. I was thrilled to see Taylor Swift had taken a stance because it is important that she spoke to her convictions whatever they are. I am thrilled at the way she asked people to vote, the way she encouraged them to think. It gives me hope and it’s a wonderful thing. It has been said that the present state of this country does not represent who we really are as a people. It is time we prove it. Today I want to fuck Taylor Swift.