You always remember your first time
You always remember your first time
Your first time fighting back against the woke in the real world, that is.
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Tonight, I was writing about something I’ve been challenged by for a while. And while most of the essay didn’t feel great to write, but there was one highlight.
It gave me the opportunity to go through my old IG posts and find this one.
This is a picture from the first time I ever fought back against the woke left in the real world. Up until this point, it had all been online, mostly on Instagram and Facebook. We all have to start somewhere.
I was at the year’s largest knitting event, Vogue Knitting Live, and I was about to wear my My Speech Free Again hat into the marketplace on the second day of the event.
I had waited until the second day because I knew there was a very real possibility they would kick me out for wearing that hat around and I wanted to get all my workshops in (sorry!!!).
I was so nervous.
Until I saw this picture tonight, I didn’t realize how much I’ve grown on my own journey of being immersed in this woke stuff for three solid years. Today, walking through that exhibit hall wearing that hat would be a walk in the park. I would love it, the joy of triggering those leftist nazis who want to censor speech.
But back then, I was very nervous. I remember feeling so self-conscious as I walked through the exhibit hall, like everyone was staring at me. I walked slowly, trying to act normal but feeling so out of place.
There were a lot of exhibitors at the event that were totally into social justice. I had already gone to many of the booths on the previous day (when I was still in civilian garb) and so I had a good sense of who was there and where I would probably have problems. As I approached the first one, the same saleswoman I had seen the previous day who had been delightful (Neighborhood Fibre Company, I remember it because I got the prettiest blue yarn that I ended up knitting into one of my favorite shawls) was all of a sudden scowling and rude.
This is the first time I had ever experienced that in person, and it was jarring. I didn’t do anything wrong, so why did I feel like I did?
And then someone started filming me! I kid you not, I was spinning a ball of yarn wearing my hat (I wanted to start a shawl on the way home with the yarn I had just purchased) and this guy came up, stood right in front of me, took out his phone, and just started filming me. I still have no idea what happened with that footage.
But I came back to the room that night and I felt amazing. Beyond some nasty looks and attitudes, it had gone great. I felt exhilarated! Like I had really made the point I had wanted to make in the way I wanted to make it.
Freedom of speech has always been my most sacred value. When I was a teenager, I wanted to go to law school and become a first amendment lawyer. But then, when I got older, it didn’t seem like we needed that anymore so I changed directions.
I really thought we had more or less accepted free speech as a society.
I don’t know if we’ve regressed, or if it was always the way it is now and I just didn't notice.
Regardless, it felt amazing to stand up for speech and I was really proud of myself for doing it.
And I knew I wanted to keep doing it. So I did.
I’m telling you this story because I know many of you are afraid of doing things like this in the real world, and I know it can be difficult to work up the courage to do it.
I wasn’t always like what I am now. That came after three years of doing this every day. But it wasn’t always like that. And if I can do it, you can too. I’m nothing special.
I’m grateful I had this reminder of my first time tonight. I think I had forgotten, and sometimes I’m sure I make it seem like it’s so easy to speak up without realizing that I have the benefit of an awful lot of practice. It’s good to be reminded how nerve-wracking it is.
But it’s worth it. And every time you do it, it will get a little bit easier.
Leave a comment and tell us about your first time.
Fight back against the woke and support my work
I believe the woke - on the left and the right - are an existential threat to our values as Americans. Some of them know it, most of them are just useful innocents. Regardless, fighting back against this woke cultural revolution is my full-time job. I’m dedicated to exposing the woke ideology in our country, helping people to understand what’s going on, and providing spaces for non-woke people to connect, support each other, and plan ways to fight back.
Here’s how you can help.
I was thrown out of Liberty Union Party for refusing to endorse lies. I insisted that Kyle Rittenhouse acted in self-defense. I engaged in online discussions concerning puberty blockers and the erosion of Women's Sports.
I have quite some stories to tell about the anarcho/Marxist "movement" in VT and its links elsewhere.
My first go-round was in 1981 when I was junior in high school. In English class we were assigned to write letters to local businesses to ask them to pass our school levy. I asked if I could write a letter against passing, and was told no. When I got home I wrote to the local newspaper and said these letters were required and there was an inherent conflict of interest. Before school the next day I got two phone calls of support from local businesses, but at school I was a pariah. A couple students told me they agreed when no one was looking. Only my beloved Chemistry teacher treated me the same (He lived his Christian faith, I was agnostic at best at the time. Best example ever) When I asked to leave a year early and go to trade school with transferring credits so I could graduate, they were overjoyed to get rid of me. This is nothing new. They also taught us how to get abortions without our parents finding out and that birth control and sexual activity were standard with no negative consequences. We learned that 10% of our fellow students were gay. Good times.