I'm Not a Big Fan of Fandom (But Still Might Be Called a Fan of Matt Walsh)

I think I just may be in love with Matt Walsh.

Okay, okay - so it'd be more definitionally-appropriate to say "I'm in love with Matt Walsh's writing" than "I am in love with Matt Walsh." Or, rather, "I'm a big fan of Matt Walsh's writing." (I don't even know the guy, for goodness' sake! Besides, he's happily married. And he has two adorable children, who might just have a fighting chance to win "Most Adorable Kids in the World" title. I was screaming as I flipped thru facebook photos of his babies. Yes, I have this tendency to shriek when I see ADORABLE infants.)

To say "I'm a big fan of Matt Walsh's writing" can just be a mere statement of enthusiasm, and that's what I mean it as. Sometimes when we use the word "fan" or "fandom," it often strikes me as making out a mere human to be a superhero, bordering on idol worship. You know, excessively lauding another human being, quoting everything they say, following their every move. Whether it be athletes, a movie stars, preachers or politicians, we're pretty good at deifying human beings. So, I'm not wishing to add my own personal mini-icon to the mix. I hope that I can be an enthusiast for someone's contribution, without any unnecessary pedestal-raising.

But I have been ingesting his writing in mass quantities here lately.

(If his writing were donuts, I'd be obese or at least, dangerously ill and hospitalized, by day three of intake.)

How can I be unappreciative?  I find him to be a witty guy, who has some fairly intelligent things to say. He's unabashedly pro-life, pro-homeschool, pro-marriage, and he thinks men should be manly and take responsibility to raise their own children. He takes subjects sensitive, politically-correct people are afraid to touch, head-on, leaving nothing and no one (the government, the abortion industry, feminism, the foolish side of American culture) unscathed. Granted, he's young (read: he can come across as a bit arrogant and cocky) and his writing style (understandably) isn't fully matured yet, like some of the fifty-something bloggers I also enjoy. Yet, he still manages to be wonderfully, richly sarcastic. Oh, the soft spot I have for irony. He was, after all, the guy who, a couple years ago, nearly convinced me to stop supporting Ron Paul, because of his superior reasoning. (Okay, I take it back; I just re-watched the video - I do love this guy!) But, I have to say, I am amazed. Amazed that someone my age (twenty-seven) is not only married, but has two kids, is making a living doing something he loves (writing a blog) and also has managed to find the right perspective on so many things. (Maybe that's because he never went to college! Gasp!) Hey, in our culture, those are all achievements that are rarely seen at such a young age. (Well, to be fair, a lot of twenty-seven year olds have had children. Without having done any of the other three things.)

I think it's great that he has taken the road less traveled. I hope his story, and his writing, can encourage others to do the same.