I would prefer to go back to my usual blogging style, I have lots of cute, blog appropriate fodder to use, but I'm too caught up in the politics right now.
In case it wasn't clear, I am actually not an expert on politics. (No! You gasp. Say not so!) I'm a newby and also one afraid of conflict. This makes my relationship with conservatism a rocky one. I look longingly over the fence into the liberal side and wish for their social acceptable stances, their mutually assured support systems, how everything is like an echo chamber that catches up their beliefs and values and bounces it around, from news outlets to pop culture to moral relativism, which is like everyone in a circle nodding their heads and saying gravely, "I can respect that," whatever it happens to be.
Oh, and Jon Stewart. I really envy them Jon Stewart, he's so darn likeable.
Growing up conservative was like living through something from Tolkien, where all the Elves are leaving Middle Earth, robed and lamenting, the glories of past days never to return. The country, I absorbed, was going to the dogs. Only a few of the faithful remained, to fight a losing battle against the hordes of mortal men and orcs. We were Rome, on the cusp of the Fall.
I've gone through several changes in thinking since then, naturally. There was the stage where I debated fiercely and was a total nerd. There was the stage where I pretended not to be conservative. I was a jelly fish, adapting fluidly to my environment, listening to the liberals all around me-friends all-and nodding my head, being part of the morally relativistic support circle-"I can totally respect that."
And there there's today. I quote from an article I read this morning at RealClearPolitics:
"A terrible thing happened to America on Sunday, March 21, 2010.
The country took its biggest step ever down a road diametrically opposed to its original intent of keeping the state small so that the individual can be free and great.
Therefore, in this unprecedented crisis of values, this is what needs to be done:
1. Know and teach America's core values.
We got to this point solely because over the past few generations, Americans have forgotten the values that have made America distinctive and great. Even the "Greatest Generation" failed to communicate them.
In a nutshell, they are what I call the American Trinity: "In God we trust," "Liberty" and "E Pluribus Unum." The left has successfully made war on all three -- substituting secularism for God and religion in as much of American life as possible; substituting equality (of result) for liberty; and multiculturalism is the opposite of "E Pluribus Unum."
2. Recognize that we are fighting the left, not liberals.
Conservatives and centrists are no longer fighting liberals. We are fighting the left.
Liberalism believed in American exceptionalism; the left not only does not believe in it, the left opposes it. President Obama, when asked if he believes in American exceptionalism, replied, "I believe in American exceptionalism, just as I suspect that the Brits believe in British exceptionalism, and the Greeks believe in Greek exceptionalism."
Liberalism believed in creating wealth; the left is interested in redistributing it.
Liberalism believed in a strong defense. The left believes in cutting defense and a strong United Nations.
3. Democrats should be referred to as Social Democrats.
This is not meant to be cute, let alone as a slur. But calling Democrats Social Democrats is an effective way of reminding Americans that there is no longer any difference between what is now known as the Democratic Party and the Social Democratic parties of Europe. When the Democratic Party returns to its roots as a liberal, not a left-wing, party, we will happily resume calling the party by its original name. However, since no Democrat can cite a significant difference between the Democratic Party and the SD parties, there is no good reason not to use the more accurate nomenclature.
7. Acknowledge that we are in a non-violent civil war.
I write the words "civil war" with an ache in my heart. But we are in one.
Thank God this civil war is non-violent. But the fact is that the left and the rest of the country share almost no values. The American value system and the leftist value system are irreconcilable. If the left wins, America's values lose. If American values prevail, the left loses.
After Sunday's vote, for the first time in American history, one could no longer confidently believe that the American system will prevail. And if we don't fight for it, we don't deserve it."
-It's a Civil War: What We Do Now, by Dennis Prager
I love the clarity in this article. This cultural civil war is no longer between liberal and conservative, it's between the Left and the independents, conservatives and traditional liberals on the other. It's a battle for the soul of America.
I have come late to the party, I suspect many others as well. But I agree with him: if we don't fight for our country, through education, and participation, we don't deserve to keep the Republic that was handed down to us and we will most surely lose it.
I can no longer sit in the comfortable, morally relativistic seat, nodding my head and listening in. Between the Left's vision of America and my own, where I stand with the Founders of this country, there is no common ground. I can respect their passion, their own sense of patriotism, but it's either their government or my liberty.
Or, in the words of Patrick Henry, which he said on this very day in 1775. This is not the whole speach. Read the whole thing.
"No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the House. But different men often see the same subject in different lights; and, therefore, I hope that it will not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen, if, entertaining as I do opinions of a character very opposite to theirs, I shall speak forth my sentiments freely and without reserve.
"This is no time for ceremony. The question before the House is one of awful moment to this country. For my own part I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery; and in proportion to the magnitude of the subject ought to be the freedom of the debate. It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country. Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty towards the majesty of heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings."
"The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery!"
"Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!"
-Patrick Henry, March 23rd, 1775
