Stefano Gelano

Call me Steve. I'm proud of my working class, blue-collar roots. To put myself through college, I worked for the labor movement when I was just 18 and the experience of the struggle changed my life perspective forever.

More often than not -- and I believe that the media is partly to blame for this -- people are often pigeonholed into labels that can be sorted into neat little categories. For example, one is either a:

Progressive or Conservative

Capitalist or a Socialist

Left leaning or Right wing

This often poses a problem of individual preferences. Personally, I believe that being a liberal or a progressive allows me the freedom to accept certain diametrically opposed views. It was Aristotle who felt that the mark of an educated mind is to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.

I'm an atheist with a natural skepticisim and disdain for superstition, pseudo-science and religion, yes, but it doesn't mean I can't have friends with deeply cherished religious beliefs of varying denomonations, as long as they don't try foist their beliefs on me or persuade me to join them.

I believe that certain programs rooted in socialist principles benefit society, but I also believe that a society cannot function in the absence of a free market, which is one of the cornerstones of capitalism.

I'm a left-wing progressive and believe in a big government that can respond to the needs of the people particularly the poor and those who can't help themselves, or intervene against abusive businesses, but I also believe in certain right wing causes, such as protecting the rights of peaceful, properly trained law-abiding citizens to own guns.

I listen to all kinds of music but I love classic rock, 80s music, The Smiths and U2.

While I think America is really really awesome, I love all things British and French -- food, culture, the history and of course the people.

In response to increasing natural disasters that have affected my country, the Philippines, I've begun to advocate survivalism, disaster and emergency preparedness as a way of life.

I'd love to hear from you! Feel free to Tweet or Message me on Facebook, even if it's just to say "hello!"