r/walkaway • u/2FingersBerben Redpilled • Jul 18 '18
Ask Me Anything (AMA) I'm Vanessa Berben, I decided to #WalkAway from the Democratic Party this year, Ask Me Anything...
I'm a former entertainment journalist who became a mental health advocate over three years ago. I voted for Bernie Sanders in the primaries and Hillary Clinton in the general election. Since then I've come to see the extreme rhetoric from the Democratic Party towards opposing viewpoints as going against the First Amendment, a right I've held dear my entire life. I tried to talk to my friends about it and was shut down, then I saw my friends become increasingly violent and unhinged. I stopped speaking up because I was afraid of the personal consequences.
When I saw Brandon Straka's original #WalkAway video, I was inspired. Here was someone who had the courage I lacked, he was willing to risk the backlash from his friends and family by publicly outing himself as someone who still believes in freedom of thought. Somehow that's become a radical notion lately, but because of his courage I decided to announce to my friends and family that I was walking away from the Democratic Party. I never expected my own story to go viral. I am a real person, I'm not a Russian bot, and you are welcome to Ask Me Anything you'd like about my journey walking away from the Democratic Party.
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u/Clatsop Jul 19 '18
Can you be more specific about what rhetoric caused you to walk away?
Any of that rhetoric from Democratic Party leadership?
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u/2FingersBerben Jul 19 '18
As far as rhetoric, it was the constant trumpeting that they're the party of inclusion while simultaneously shunning anyone who isn't pro-late-term-abortion, pro-unlimited welfare, pro-open borders, etc. This open mocking of anyone that didn't think and agree with every single thing they promoted, it is the opposite of inclusion but they refuse to look at that. Additionally, the constant victim narrative being played out to the minority community is shameful. Joe Biden telling a group of people that they're going to be put back in chains?? WTF??
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u/BushidoBrowne Jul 19 '18
So are you walking away from the party or the ideology.
It’s one thing to walk away from the party, it’s another to walk away from certain stances like pro choice, gay marriage, etc...
Are you just leaving the party or are you just completely changing the values that most people on the democratic side identify with?
Are you pro gun, pro wall, pro unregulated business, etc...?
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u/2FingersBerben Jul 19 '18
I am walking away from the party, but not walking toward another party or label. Some of my views have changed, but I'm still pro-choice, still pro-gay-everything, but as a woman I believe I have the right to protect myself and I have the right to choose to do so with a gun. I live in a world where half the population is bigger than me, I don't see anything wrong with responsible people protecting themselves. I am not pro-wall but I'm pro-working-immigration-policies. The current ones don't work but open borders aren't the answer. I'm still a defender of animals and the environment, I still care about the poor, the homeless, and the hungry. I just don't identify with any of the parties as they are right now, everything is so divided.
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u/monkeiboi Jul 19 '18
Do you classify yourself under ANY political party now?
How has this affected your social group in a predominantly liberal area like D.C.? (Sorry, i had to google who you were)
Do you fear publicly outing yourself as an enemy to liberal culture?
What would you say is the most direct way that conservatives and moderates can reach into the minds of still rational liberals and make them understand that their overall rhetoric has become insane?
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u/2FingersBerben Jul 19 '18
No, totally avoiding labels at this point. I expected my "friends" on Facebook to react the way they have, but didn't know how the people I see every day were going to react. The theatre world is heavily liberal-leaning, but so far my friends have been amazing, they pride themselves on a spirit of inclusion so I've been getting some hugs IRL and it's been great.
I don't know what to suggest to appeal to other liberals, I'm trying myself. I'd say stay calm, don't take the bait, don't get angry, just keep trying to show them facts, keep encouraging them to think for themselves, and when and if they do finally break away, celebrate it and foster it rather than insult them for coming around so late. Better late than never, just be patient with us.
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u/doofface99 Jul 19 '18 edited Jul 24 '18
Do you have a favorite WalkAway story from somebody else that you found to be inspiring?
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u/2FingersBerben Jul 19 '18
Brandon Straka's was the one that shook me up and got me to stop being afraid to speak out. He echoed so many of my thoughts, it was the wake up call I'd been waiting for. It was the only one I watched before posting my own but since then I've been blessed to see many through YT and the FB group. If you have a chance I would check out Brandon Tatum's as well, his message is incredible.
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u/frankfoo Jul 19 '18
Would you rather fight 1 horse sized duck, or 100 duck sized horses?
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u/2FingersBerben Jul 19 '18
I would pick the 100 duck sized horses, but then I would win them all over with sugar cubes and cuddles and we would be best friends.
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u/Logan_Viking Jul 19 '18
Asking the real questions! On that note, u/2FingersBerben who would win, a sword with a gun or a gun with a sword?
Also what are your favorite foods and music artists?
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u/2FingersBerben Jul 19 '18
Gun with sword, no contest. Favorite foods? I love to cook, I make amazing tacos and enchiladas and I will put cauliflower in almost everything I make. My musical tastes kind of die after the 90s, I love Nirvana, tool, NIN, and I'm obsessed with music from the 80s and old, grainy punk rock, Elvis, Sinatra, I'll stop now. Good question!
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u/WarOfTheFanboys Jul 19 '18
As a mental health advocate, what do you think of the so-called Trump Derangement Syndrome? What should sufferers do?
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u/2FingersBerben Jul 19 '18
It's real! I can actually tell you as a crisis hotline counselor that I have taken more TDS calls than I care to mention. They are worked up, they are scared. The best thing that anyone can do for themselves is step away from mainstream media. Start looking for information elsewhere, find alternative news sources of course, but most importantly - find people that disagree with you and actually have a conversation with them. Not a shouting match, not a virtue signaling tirade, but really stop and make the commitment to stay calm and listen, you will be surprised how much you have in common with someone if you listen to them with an open mind.
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u/MagaMan001142 Jul 19 '18 edited Jul 19 '18
Edit: sorry for the long comment. I just love discussing these types of things. Just watched your video as well. If you don't mind me asking, how old are you? I'm 23 myself.
I'm curious... So you just left recently? It sounds like you were always a free thinker, and not stuck to one party.
Liberals once claimed to be the party that WAS Not inclusive. They claimed to be pro freedom, free thinkers, and tolerant of those who are different.
I've realized that's not even close these days... Seriously, democrats such as Joe Biden openly and publicly say we "need less old white men".
Some people see nothing wrong with that statement. But a liberal that claims to not be racist or biased would say that: first off, it's racist... Then it's ageism.
Martin Luther King Jr was a spot on man. Judge each individual for their character and actions. Don't judge people for their skin color or even age.
As a republican myself, I'd gladly vote for a gay black man, so long as they share the same political ideology that I believe will be practical and logical. I don't care about any appearances. Just proposed ideas.
The main reason I really can't think about being Democrat in anyway at all is that the party currently will not hear others out. They scream over others. They kick them out of public places. They ban them from speaking...
Like you mentioned, I cannot and will not ever support a political party that openly censors of bans other opinions (they call it hate speech, even though it is not).
As a republican (not in every thought, and I dislike MANY of them) I will always allow differing opinions to come to the table. Screw censorship and banning free speech. We see these types of things on social media and the internet in general, as silicon Valley is leftists. We see it on college campuses, as higher education is commonly leftist, and intolerant of those who are not.
I am not intolerant of others. It is okay to be Democrat. But democrats lately have been attempting to dehumanize Trump supporters. The media encourages the hatred for me. People want to dent my car. And even kill me... And that is terrible.
I am called racist, sexist, misogynistic, homophobic, and a bigot. I'm absolutely NONE of those things.
We need open conversations, cooperation, and calm civility. Not censorship. Not harassment like Maxine wants... Not violence. Not burning down cities... Not yelling in the street with a megaphone with vagina hats.
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u/2FingersBerben Jul 19 '18
I'm in my 30s, let's leave it at that, lol. But you are correct, I have always been a free thinker and I always thought that meant I was a Democrat. I don't identify with any labels right now, I'm just trying to keep an open mind. I'm half white, half hispanic, my mother is currently married to a black man so my little brother is also mixed. I have older siblings that are half Vietnamese and in-laws from Israel. I come from a VERY diverse racial/ethnic background but ever since I came out as leaving the left I've also been called a racist, as well as a coward and a traitor.
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u/Logan_Viking Jul 19 '18
In your first video you mentioned you align with conservatives on some things like being for boarder security/legal immigration and your 2nd amendment right to protect yourself, but I think you said you agree with other more liberal policies.
I'm curious about your opinions on economic policy. You mentioned being a Bernie supporter; was that simply because you saw him as someone to shake up the establishment and fight Washington corruption, or do you actually agree with socialism?
Do you believe there's a big racism problem in America, or do you think that's overblown by Democrats just trying to stir things up to advance their own agendas?
On a more personal note, how are things with your family? I know you mentioned in your 2nd video that you're repairing your relationship with your brother. I hope things are good on that end.
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u/2FingersBerben Jul 19 '18
I think that was the best way to put it, I thought he'd shake up the establishment but I no longer believe that's the case. I still support welfare but on a much more limited scale. I still believe that anyone too sick, old, or disabled to work should be helped. But I struggle with my tax dollars helping able-bodied people that could be working. I absolutely believe that racism is being used as a wedge to divide us, the effects this has had on minority communities has been generationally detrimental.
Thank you for asking, we are good and are planning a visit this fall!
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u/Waffle_Bat Jul 19 '18
What was the first thing that clicked with you that things were not quite right? That first something you became aware of but initially brushed off.
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u/2FingersBerben Jul 19 '18
The first seed was planted when I watched "The Red Pill" by Cassie Jaye. It was the first time I'd thought about a lot of the points she brings up but I still didn't want to believe there was a conspiracy of disinformation going on all around me.
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u/jam11249 Jul 19 '18
You told us what you have walked away from. What are you walking towards?