This past week at the Grand Sierra Hotel in Reno, Nevada, the Liberty Political Action Conference (LPAC) was held.  It was a weekend full of great libertarians speaking about what's really going on in America today.

A conference like this is a treat for most libertarians.  As Matt Hawes, Vice President of Campaign for Liberty, put it in his introductory speech for Ron Paul's campaign manager John Tate,  "It's a time of rest and relaxation among like minded people."  And it truly felt that way.  It was a chance for liberty minded people to listen, learn, and speak about topics that matter to them; topics that may often cause uncomfortable opposition from friends, family, mainstream media, and the political class at large. 

There are a few liberty-minded politicians that have the courage and strength to speak about their beliefs, and fight for the rights of the American people everyday.  Whether they are in front of a cheering crowd of supporters, or amidst fellow politicians who often view them as a little off in the head for believing in the Constitution, they are strong and true in the what they believe, and I admire them for that. 

Yet, most of us are not politicians, and we can sometimes feel that it's not our place to speak about liberty with confidence.  We might feel unsure of ourselves, feel that we haven't read enough to assert our opinions fully, or feel embarrassed about engaging in political discussions, especially when our own idea of what is right and wrong differs from the status quo. 

I know I have often felt this way.  After all, who am I to speak my opinion?  Who am I to change people's minds?

It's fear that has held me back from getting involved, from asking questions, and from writing about topics that really matter to me, and should matter to all Americans.  It is a fear of speaking out against the status quo.

Despite this fear, the speakers at LPAC inspired me to no longer just think about freedom, but to speak about freedom, through both writing and conversing with fellow students, whether our beliefs align or not. 

Who am I to speak out?  I am an American with a voice that I can no longer afford to keep suppressed.  Speak your mind, and to hell with the status quo.  It's boring anyway.