The Political Dodo

07/28/2026

07/25/2026

I’ve heard the question, “Would you rather be alone in the woods with a bear or a man?” It’s become a common discussion online, with many women using it to express their fears about violence from men.

I’ve also heard a similar question from some men: “Would you rather talk to a woman or a dog?” The point behind that question is to express frustration over emotional manipulation or mind games that some men say they’ve experienced in relationships.

The problem is that neither of these phrases actually solves anything. They don’t stop predators, manipulators, or abusers. Instead, they often alienate the very people who aren’t the problem.

The bad men who assault women don’t care about the “bear or man” debate. They’re not going to change because of a social media trend. Likewise, the women who manipulate, abuse, or exploit others aren’t going to stop because someone compares talking to women to talking to a dog.

Who does get affected? The good men and the good women.

Good men hear the first phrase and feel like they’re being viewed as potential threats simply because they’re men. Good women hear the second phrase and feel like they’re being stereotyped as manipulative simply because they’re women. In both cases, broad generalizations create more division than understanding.

The real issue isn’t men or women as groups. It’s the people who choose to harm others.

As a society, we should expect more from one another.

Men should hold abusive men accountable. Violence against women should never be tolerated, and men should be willing to speak up, intervene when it’s safe to do so, and support efforts to protect women and children.

Likewise ,women should be willing to call out abusive or manipulative behavior by other women. Emotional abuse, false accusations, manipulation, and exploitation can have devastating consequences for victims and should not be dismissed simply because the perpetrator is female.

This isn’t a call for vigilantism or violence. It’s a call for accountability. Communities, families, schools, workplaces, law enforcement, and the justice system all have a role to play in confronting abusive behavior. Friends should be willing to challenge friends. Families should be willing to confront family members. Society should stop making excuses for harmful behavior regardless of who commits it.

Instead of asking questions that encourage people to distrust an entire s*x, we should focus on identifying, confronting, and preventing the behavior of the individuals who actually cause the harm.
If our goal is to build trust between men and women, then we should stop treating entire groups as the problem and start holding the people who choose to abuse, manipulate, or victimize others accountable.

07/25/2026

There was a video circulating of a veteran who slapped a young man in the back of the head because the young man remained seated during the national anthem. I’ve seen people defend the veteran by saying the young man later apologized, bought the veteran a beer, and that the incident was simply an older man teaching respect and discipline.

Here’s how I see it.

Should parents teach their children to respect the flag and the national anthem? Absolutely. The flag represents our nation, the sacrifices made by those who served it, and the many good things this country has accomplished. I believe standing for the anthem is a sign of respect, and I personally stand every time I hear it.

However, one thing I’ve realized is that many people who passionately defend freedom sometimes forget that the flag also represents the freedom not to stand.

While I believe choosing to remain seated is disrespectful, I also believe people have the constitutional right to make that choice. The moment patriotism is forced, it stops being genuine. True patriotism should come from conviction, not fear, intimidation, or coercion.

Throughout history, authoritarian governments have demanded outward displays of loyalty from their citizens. Whether it was N**i Germany, the Soviet Union, or modern authoritarian states, people were expected to conform rather than choose freely. I’m not saying that people who slap someone for sitting during the anthem are N**is or communists. I’m simply pointing out a parallel governments that lack freedom often compel public displays of patriotism instead of allowing citizens the freedom to decide for themselves.

That’s why I believe we should encourage young people to love their country, respect the flag, and honor those who have served. But we should do so through education, example, not through threats, violence, or humiliation.

If someone stands because they’re afraid of being slapped, cursed at, or publicly shamed, that isn’t patriotism. It’s compliance.

A free nation should produce citizens who stand because they want to, not because they’re forced to.

07/25/2026

There are a lot of people who say racism within the white community is growing. Unfortunately, I think there is truth to that. What frustrates me, however, is that many of those same people ignore what I believe is also true: racism has increased in the Black community, the Hispanic community, the Asian community, and others as well. It has grown across the board.

The problem is that many conversations focus almost exclusively on white racism while overlooking prejudice in other communities. In my view, that doesn’t reduce racism it can make it worse.

When people are constantly told they are responsible for what others did generations ago, or that they are inherently racist, privileged, or simply “colonizers” because of the color of their skin, some begin to grow resentful. That resentment can turn into hatred, and in some cases, even racism.

At the same time, if people are repeatedly told that they are perpetual victims, that another race is their enemy, or that all of their struggles are caused by people of another race, that message can also breed resentment. Some people begin to view others through the lens of race instead of as individuals, and that can also lead to prejudice and racism.

If the goal is to reduce racism, then we should reject messages that encourage people to see one another primarily as racial groups. Ironically, some of the same voices who argue against physical border walls seem to be building emotional and social walls between Americans of different races.

Some will respond by saying that America has done terrible things in its past. I agree. Our country has made serious mistakes, and we should acknowledge them honestly and learn from them. But America has also accomplished remarkable things. We shouldn’t allow our past failures to blind us to the good that has also been done. We should acknowledge the bad, celebrate the good, and build a better future from both.

Personally, I think one of the best ways to reduce racism is to stop making race our primary identity. If someone asks me who I am, my first response isn’t, “I’m a white man.” My first response is, “I’m a Texan.” I know Black Texans who would answer the same way. Their first identity isn’t their race it’s that they’re Texans.

The more we see ourselves as members of the same community, the same state, or the same nation, rather than as separate racial groups living beside one another, the easier it becomes to treat each other as neighbors instead of opponents.

Racism won’t disappear overnight, and it probably will never vanish completely. But I believe it can decline if we stop judging people by the sins of the past, stop assigning guilt or victimhood based on skin color, and start treating people as individuals rather than representatives of a race.

06/20/2026

One thing I’ve noticed in American politics is that many people don’t actually support free expression as a principle they support it when their side is doing it.

During the NFL anthem protests, many on the left defended the players’ right to protest, while many on the right argued that employees should follow company rules and keep politics out of sports.

Now, during Pride events, some religious players express their beliefs and suddenly many of those same arguments have switched sides. The people who once defended protest are saying athletes should just comply with the company’s message, while the people who once opposed protest are defending it.

To me, that shows the problem isn’t really the protest itself. The problem is that too many Americans have become loyal to tribes rather than principles.

The players who wrote Bible verses on their caps could have chosen a far more confrontational approach. Instead, they chose a passage from Genesis about God’s covenant with Noah and the rainbow. Whether you agree with their beliefs or not, that is a peaceful expression of faith.

The bigger question is whether Americans still believe in freedom of conscience. Can someone respectfully disagree with a popular social movement without being treated as hateful? Can someone participate in society without being required to affirm every political, religious, or cultural message being promoted around them?

I support the right of LGBTQ people to live openly and safely. I also support the right of Christians, Muslims, Jews, atheists, and everyone else to express their beliefs. A free society doesn’t require agreement. It requires mutual tolerance.

What worries me is that our politics increasingly demands conformity. Too often the message from both the left and the right is: “Support our cause, repeat our slogans, or you’re the enemy.”

That’s not pluralism. That’s tribalism.

America works best when people with different beliefs can live side by side, disagree openly, and still respect each other’s rights. The moment we start demanding ideological conformity, we’ve lost something important.

06/20/2026

I have no issue with MLB holding Pride Night. Organizations have the right to support causes they believe in, and fans have the right to support or oppose those causes.

My concern is when players are expected to wear or promote messages that conflict with their sincerely held religious beliefs. Freedom of expression should apply to everyone, not just those whose views are currently popular.

As a Christian, I do not agree with the LGBTQ lifestyle. At the same time, I recognize that many people do not agree with my faith. In a free society, neither side should be forced to affirm the beliefs of the other.

I would oppose forcing an atheist to wear a cross just as much as I would oppose forcing a Christian to wear a symbol or message that violates his conscience.

Real tolerance is not demanding agreement. It is allowing people with different beliefs to live, work, and interact respectfully without coercion.

America has always been strongest when it protects the rights of people on all sides of a debate, not just those whose views are favored at the moment.