Consider “freedom” to be right-wing shorthand for “license for well-off straight-seeming white men who can say the right words about Jesus to do as they please,

Consider “freedom” to be right-wing shorthand for “license for well-off straight-seeming white men who can say the right words about Jesus to do as they please,” and that cognitive dissonance will be eased. I grew up Southern Baptist in semi-rural Texas. People wondered why I didn’t date in high school… my focus was on GTFO Central Texas. At the time, I silently fumed about my younger brother being allowed to stay out later than I had at the same age, despite my excellent grades and good behavior and his troublemaking and scraping by in school, but now I kind of appreciate it: the virtue my parents were protecting was inextricably linked to my freedom.