Don't Call Me Punk!

Not sure why this has been bothering me but for some reason it's making my skin crawl.

I was watching a video of the Daily Show when they interviewed Michael Graves. It was an embed on a some site and the comments were nuts. They sent me over the edge. Mr. Graves is a know conservative punk. Several of the people on the aforementioned site were saying that a "conservative punk" is BS like a "liberal redneck."

What?! Really? Wow.

Having lived in the southern US much of my life, this is nuts. I've met many redneck liberals and conservative punks. I have a liberal redneck sister, a conservative punk husband, and I've even got a hippy libertarian father! (Although I have to say I don't think my sister is a redneck, some people might. She's definitely got "southern belle" tendency at least. But for my argument, it works.)

To call some one with their own independent beliefs BS is the antithesis of punk. Now please understand, this is just my opinion. I feel you and everyone is entitled to their own opinions and the expression of them whether I agree with it or not. And that is in my opinion "punk."

I've been "punk" before I knew what it was. How? By doing what I want, believing what I find to be truth, taking responsibility for it, and feeling that others should be free to do the same.

I'm so tired of "punk" being a music genre, a fashion, a trend, a fad. I've found articles on "how to be punk" and many of them start with "fashion." Really? Clothes make your personality? Wait, what? I might need a new wardrobe.

"Punk" is a way of life. And not necessarily one lead in opposition to social mores, with rampant drug use, and a mohawk. It's doing what make you happy, not apologizing for it, and taking responsibility for it. It's about being independent in thought and lifestyle.

If for you, listening to loud trendy music, wearing skinny jeans, and having emo/scene hair is what makes you happy, that's "punk." If for someone else it's living in a trailer with 7 kids, watching NASCAR makes them happy, that's "punk" too. And if it's being a stay at home mom for me, that's "punk" too. As long as you accept what makes other happy too.

It's not about what you do or how you look or what you believe. It's about doing and believing what makes you happy regardless of what other think. It's not about hurting people, it's about accepting people. Conservative, liberal, Republican, Democrat, rich, poor, male, female,... what ever!

So yes, you can have be "conservative punk" or a "liberal redneck." And if you don't believe that, then you don't know punk. And if that's "punk", then don't call me punk!