I write this to the people of America, and I readily admit that as I am writing this I am beyond the point of irritation and confusion. I have now entered the realm of annoyance and defiance. I would like to make it clear that I love my country, but right now I’m finding it really hard to accept the state of our government. More specifically, I feel the party system in America has failed in its design to serve our people and instead its only real achievement is in the polarization of hearts and minds.

I was raised Republican. I came from a family of eight who believed in hard work and making an honest living. Capitalism was the key to success, and Ronald Reagan was the hero of our country. Talk radio was a morning ritual. I could quote Glen Beck, Rush Limbaugh and Dave Ramsey without even knowing a single pop, country or hip-hop song or artist. I wouldn’t trade my childhood for anything in the world, but no longer do I believe that party lines, beliefs and leaders should have the same influence in our lives.

Right now a very clear line is drawn when it comes to parties. More than ever both sides of the issue are labeled as radically as their constituents, and the effect of this is that more and more people are radicalizing their beliefs to match their party. This is the fault of the party system in America - the leaders of our parties have to either radicalize or generalize their beliefs in order to gain enough support to remain in power. They bring under their wings the racist, the fascist, the communist, the extremist, the legalistic and the zealot, but in doing so they minimize and alter the majority of their followers such as the hard working, peaceful, generous, and honest people of America. People do not like to be overlooked or forgotten, and in these times of political upheaval, the good and brave people find themselves among the angry and radical in protests and rallies. No longer can people look at their neighbors and their friends without also feeling that in some way they are also the enemy because their beliefs are different.

I sit here sad and disheartened because of this foulness we have come to accept. This is not the country our history tells us that it is. This is not a country of inclusion, acceptance, strength and refuge. Our parties should not be proud of it and they should not accept it, and in the same light neither should the people of America accept our long unacceptable and corrupt party system. Our parties no longer speak for the people they serve, and they are no longer serving the country as a whole.

I find it funny that our country boasts of its freedom, but within its parties, it gives very little room for free thinking. It’s either one way or another, and its time that we realize that we can have it any way we want. Don’t change your beliefs to match any standard. Make your beliefs match what you believe upholds the traits of justice, acceptance, unity, strength, and meekness. This is what will bring our country together. Differences in opinion will still exist, but foundational bonds will still exist.

I no longer feel confident identifying myself as a Republican, or in support or affiliation with many leaders today, but I dread the day that polarization causes me to be ashamed to be an American.