I'm a Conservative, Not a Republican

I don't consider myself a Republican.

I am a registered "unenrolled" voter--in Massachusetts we don't have "independents." As I get older (and perhaps wiser), I find myself voting for fewer Democrats and for more Republicans. But, I am hardly a Party Voter. By that I mean, I don't automatically vote for a Republican in an election because he/she must have a similar philisophy to me.

You see, to me that's the rub.

Parties don't really have a philisophy. They may claim to have one, but I don't think they really do. Or, can. They're in the business of getting elected. Elected officials have to serve their consitutents, who often are quite diverse and who often have incompatible views and wishes.

I don't envy politicians who must confront this problem each day. Now, don't misunderstand me, I don't really like how most handle this challenge. In fact, I think most of them end up whoring for whoever shouts the loudest and pays them the most in contributions or votes.

What am I then? I think I'm a Conservative. And, in this day and age, despite the overheated rhetoric from the Left, a Conservative isn't a bigot, a racist, a homophobe, anti-immigration, and religious zealot. No. In fact, while I'm sure some who these labels apply to (for real), agree with some of the views held by Conservatives, they don't represent the vision and philisophy of a Conservative. (And, I have news for you, there are just as many in the Liberal camp who those labels apply to as well. It doesn't define their philosophy either.)

What do I mean by Conservative? Well, to me, a Conservative is one who can view the world with a bit of historical perspective. A Conservative is one who has the ability to take an idea that has become many's "conventional wisdom" and critically evaluate it. A Conservative is one who realizes that the passage of time and the notion of "progress" might not necessarily go hand in hand.

What am I talking about. When I was younger, there was such a thing as right and wrong. When I was younger, schools tought us match, english, history, science, and related disciplines. When I was younger, children dressed-up when they should, were tought manners, were punished when they did wrong, and were part of a family and a family's traditions. When I was younger, children were allowed to be children and to learn from the mistakes children made.

Saying "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance should not hurt a reasonable person. Saying "Merry Christmas" should not hurt a reasonable person. A man's holding a door open for a woman should not hurt a reasonable person. Officially defining a marriage as between one man and one woman (while providing similar benefits to others) should not hurt a reasonable person. Having the words "In God We Trust" on our currency should not hurt a reasonable person. And, the list could continue...

Is "should not hurt a reasonable person" the best standard. Maybe not. But, how about looking at the benefit of the traditions? You see, it seems that this part of the argument is never discussed.

What is the benefit for our traditions and customs? Human continuity. Historical linkage. We are descendants of a great past. A past to be revered. A past without mistakes, injustices and shame? Of course not. Our past has many dark moments, but the light is far brighter and significant.

Human beings are, of course, human. As humans, we will always make mistakes. What makes us different than many other creatures, is that we can reason. We can recognize our mistakes nad learn from them. We can (and should) always try to make things better and to leave the world and our nation better off than when we found it.

But, don't forget, sometimes our "solutions" are mistakes themselves. Sometimes, our "mistakes" aren't actually mistakes at all, they just look that way at the time. So, I urge perspective and critical thought. Don't assume that all of our old ways are wrong. Many were not. In fact, they were the product of thousands of years of human development.

Aren't we quite arrogant to assume that we must know best since we live today?

There was a healthy reassessment of our society and culture in the '60's. Young people were empowered and were able to take some responsibility for themselves. Those aren't bad things.

What they did with it and what has come to pass since, however, isn't necessarily progress. It seems that it became fashionable to question everything and to believe that there was always a better, newer way to do things. To believe as gospel, that the ways of our ancesters was primitive and could not possible be best.

What I see, is a growing realization that many of the customs, practices, lessons, and values that our nation once stood for, might not be so bad afterall. There is a growing realization that the alternative view isn't progress at all, but rather a bizarre and once-unimaginable caricature of a philosophy.

An American philosophy that is fundamentally un-American can never succeed. You see, for most of us, America is a great country. Not perfect, but on-balance, the most perfect in a couple of hundred years.

Don't you wonder why so many millions have always wanted to come here and make it there home? Is there anything wrong with wanting to keep it so?