My #WalkAway Story Series is a bigger and more long term project for A Lady of Reason, and it’s all about YOU! This is your big chance at getting your voice heard and your own story out there! For many closeted conservatives, afraid for our livelihood, social networks, family connections, even physical safety now, being stuck in the closet can be extremely isolating and it’s easy to feel like it’s you against the world sometimes! I certainly feel that way! By sharing our stories collectively, I hope to give a voice to you, my dear readers and followers here on WordPress and Social Media, to show each other camaraderie and that in fact, we’re NOT alone, just in the shadows. Well folks, it’s time to come out of the shadows and into the light! The “silent majority” is at least half of our nation, so you’re not truly alone. Come and hear others, and add your own voice, your own story to the mix, of what it’s like being a conservative in an increasingly Leftist country! Send me an e-mail at aladyofreason@outlook.com or direct message me at @aladyofreason1 on Twitter to add YOUR story!!! 🙂 I’ll send you the standard question list, or you can just write it free form as a narrative…

This next #walkaway story comes from a Twitter follower who chose to go under the pseudonym “Cautious Conservative”. He has found the bravery to speak out and make the “silent majority” a little less silent 🙂 As a white, middle aged, Christian man, he is in one of the last groups left that’s socially acceptable to spew racism, sexism, vitriol, ageism, and religious intolerance towards. I commend him for speaking out, as unlike some conservatives, he has about zero “privilege” to use to speak out in his identities! Though it may seem like the world is against you, many many are right alongside you! This is his #WalkAway story:

When did you become conservative? If you were ever liberal, what made you walk away?

I was “raised” in a blue-dog democrat family (in rural Alabama) and thought Jimmy Carter was God’s gift to America when I was in High School. {Hardly “liberal” but not conservative.} Then, I went off to Auburn University, one of the most conservative public universities in the country, learned the value of hard work and taking care of myself, and my views evolved. There wasn’t a watershed moment, although the Iranian hostage release to Reagan was close.

Do you feel at all afraid to be openly conservative? If so, how do you cope with being closeted?

Yep. I was raised in the South, worked for almost 30 years in the federal government. I learned to keep my best thoughts to myself *not* because it was politically-incorrect but because it was the law. But, it wasn’t very hard because almost every person I knew regardless of gender or race agreed on the most important issues, even though some voted differently. (Granted, Obama changed the definition of “what we could agree on” and made things much, much harder out in the wild.) Just three years ago, I retired and moved to Colorado for a new job. Objective folks may say Colorado is “a purple state” but Denver-metro and Boulder County are the real thing. I have had some people totally “unfurl” to me (on the job) because they assume everyone is like them. Raised in the South, I am quiet and reserved — so, I manage and I cope. There are just a few folks here that are “woke” to the South (to borrow a phrase) — when I first arrived, a few older guys that understood the South asked me around about questions like, “So, obviously you are Baptist — what else can you tell me about yourself?” Sort of a safe test, that I would confirm or deny and pretty much reveal my beliefs and politics. Typically, I’d just say something like “My mother taught Sunday School in a rural Baptist Church for 50 years but my granny was Church of God (which, if they truly know the South, make Baptists look like Catholics).” From there, we develop secret handshakes, codes, and ciphers (grin).

What advice to you have for other conservatives afraid to speak out?

Look, as a straight, white, conservative, middle-aged, Christian man, it isn’t about fear. It is about peace. I am angry as hell about the Christine Blasey Ford falderal. But, God save me if I dare say anything about it. #MeToo is very real, young lady. If someone like me questions Ford’s motives or integrity, I am admitting to be a sexist (if not a closet rapist). I have one very dear friend here at the office, a guy raised in Louisiana, as liberal as all get-out, but we seldom converse about politics; however, I strayed and mentioned to him my complete frustration with Senator DiFi making a mockery of the confirmation process. He lost his mind and was screaming at me about Merrick Garland (Obama’s lame-duck nomination). Yeah, don’t do it, boys. Just mind your business and vote every November. What I do try to do is read news from across the aisle, more so than from my own camp. (I try to watch ZERO televised “news” because it is thoughtless drivel regardless of the side.) READ. Sun Tzu said it this way, “If you (truly) know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.” Finally, I’d say pick your battles.

Thank you so much! Your wisdom is awesome and much needed! I’m honored you took the time to share your wonderful story and advice with the world! Feel free to come again and write a guest post, or comment, here on A Lady of Reason. It’s nice to know allies are out there, and we must all speak out for each other! They may force us into the closet at times, but we will always find ways to step out! 🙂