If you're willing to hear me out, let me tell you a personal story.
Back in 2015, I met a very beautiful and wonderful woman that I thought I would marry someday. We seriously hit it off like never before - our first date was something like 20 hours long and that was just from us talking with each other. We just fell so in sync with one another. She had some philosophies I disagreed with, but I'm a pretty "live and let live" type of guy - she can think however she wants to think and I feel I'm owed the same pleasure. Well, eventually as I began watching more and more of the political circus that was going on seemingly everywhere, I began to (quite literally to my own amazement) find myself agreeing more and more with this guy named "Donald Trump". He had a funny way of saying a lot of stuff and certainly had a knack for phrasing things poorly at some of the worst times, but when I started listening to the underlying message and paying more genuine attention to what he was really trying to express, I found myself standing more and more behind him. Before I knew it, I was donating to his campaign (something I've never done before). Then I started buying some of the campaign gear because - for the first time - there was someone in the political arena that I genuinely agreed with. But there was my girlfriend - a person I deeply loved and had only been getting more and more serious with. And I had learned from past conversations and random comments that she absolutely hated this man and, likewise, could never understand why someone would support him. So I more or less hid my support. I didn't lie to her, but I didn't wear the shirt around her or bring up topics around her that I knew would lead to that conversation. Until one day she near point blank asked me who I supported and, not wanting to lie, I told her directly that I supported Donald Trump and planned to vote for him. She was clearly shell shocked and at first thought I was joking, but when she realized I was serious she began grilling me on different issues, trying to find a "gotcha" question or moment. Trust me when I say this, I had done my homework and felt very well versed in many of the key issues facing the 2016 election. So with each question, I replied with a respectful answer and made sure the reasoning was solid. I was trying to walk a fine line of not get her anymore angry but also stand my ground and be honest with my personal philosophy. For awhile, she overlooked it and we "worked past it". Trump was eventually elected and for a few years we kept together while she occasionally did what I call "hunting for an argument" - she'd throw out random jabs or insults attempting to stir the pot or ask me a question she already knew my answer to. For example, she asked me how I felt about his handling of North Korea when he warned that he would rain fire and fury down on them if they did something. I responded that I think showing that you will fight back is a strong move and one that is necessary when engaging in tense moments like that (and a commonly utilized thing by many past presidents); she couldn't believe my answer and replied that she was "going to throw up" - I never rubbed it in her face when he met with Un for peace talks only a short while later. Anyway, this one sided harassment went on for awhile until eventually - much like you - I was given the ultimatum. I was naturally very sad about this, I had invested several years of my life with this person, but realized that if she was this controlling with differing political opinions, how would she treat our children? Would she attempt to control every aspect of my life? Where would she finally tolerate something that's different from herself? So I took it as a sign that she wasn't the one for me, that I needed someone more open minded and less controlling, and we went out separate ways.
Fast forward to today, and my life is a million times better. I have the love of a wonderful girl that openly accepts my beliefs and is genuinely interested in real discussions rather than arguments. My family loves her more than my ex, and I never have a nagging feeling in the back of my head that maybe I'm just selling myself out because I don't want to lose my girlfriend.
Don't let her control you, it won't end at who you decide to vote for. Best of luck, friend. Glad to be riding the Trump Train alongside ya. Feel free to PM me if you ever need to talk.
If you're willing to hear me out, let me tell you a personal story.
Back in 2015, I met a very beautiful and wonderful woman that I thought I would marry someday. We seriously hit it off like never before - our first date was something like 20 hours long and that was just from us talking with each other. We just fell so in sync with one another. She had some philosophies I disagreed with, but I'm a pretty "live and let live" type of guy - she can think however she wants to think and I feel I'm owed the same pleasure. Well, eventually as I began watching more and more of the political circus that was going on seemingly everywhere, I began to (quite literally to my own amazement) find myself agreeing more and more with this guy named "Donald Trump". He had a funny way of saying a lot of stuff and certainly had a knack for phrasing things poorly at some of the worst times, but when I started listening to the underlying message and paying more genuine attention to what he was really trying to express, I found myself standing more and more behind him. Before I knew it, I was donating to his campaign (something I've never done before). Then I started buying some of the campaign gear because - for the first time - there was someone in the political arena that I genuinely agreed with. But there was my girlfriend - a person I deeply loved and had only been getting more and more serious with. And I had learned from past conversations and random comments that she absolutely hated this man and, likewise, could never understand why someone would support him. So I more or less hid my support. I didn't lie to her, but I didn't wear the shirt around her or bring up topics around her that I knew would lead to that conversation. Until one day she near point blank asked me who I supported and, not wanting to lie, I told her directly that I supported Donald Trump and planned to vote for him. She was clearly shell shocked and at first thought I was joking, but when she realized I was serious she began grilling me on different issues, trying to find a "gotcha" question or moment. Trust me when I say this, I had done my homework and felt very well versed in many of the key issues facing the 2016 election. So with each question, I replied with a respectful answer and made sure the reasoning was solid. I was trying to walk a fine line of not get her anymore angry but also stand my ground and be honest with my personal philosophy. For awhile, she overlooked it and we "worked past it". Trump was eventually elected and for a few years we kept together while she occasionally did what I call "hunting for an argument" - she'd throw out random jabs or insults attempting to stir the pot or ask me a question she already knew my answer to. For example, she asked me how I felt about his handling of North Korea when he warned that he would rain fire and fury down on them if they did something. I responded that I think showing that you will fight back is a strong move and one that is necessary when engaging in tense moments like that (and a commonly utilized thing by many past presidents); she couldn't believe my answer and replied that she was "going to throw up" - I never rubbed it in her face when he met with Un for peace talks only a short while later. Anyway, this one sided harassment went on for awhile until eventually - much like you - I was given the ultimatum. I was naturally very sad about this, I had invested several years of my life with this person, but realized that if she was this controlling with differing political opinions, how would she treat our children? Would she attempt to control every aspect of my life? Where would she finally tolerate something that's different from herself? So I took it as a sign that she wasn't the one for me, that I needed someone more open minded and less controlling, and we went out separate ways.
Fast forward to today, and my life is a million times better. I have the love of a wonderful girl that openly accepts my beliefs and is genuinely interested in real discussions rather than arguments. My family loves her more than my ex, and I never have a nagging feeling in the back of my head that maybe I'm just selling myself out because I don't want to lose my girlfriend.
Don't let her control you, it won't end at who you decide to vote for. Best of luck, friend. Glad to be riding the Trump Train alongside ya. Feel free to PM me if you ever need to talk.