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A New Conservatism part 2
Several years ago, I went through some “stuff.” Once things had calmed down, I got a tattoo on my upper arm. It’s a phoenix coming out of fire. It is a deeply personal reminder that I am not who I was, and that if I ever hit a point that
Several years ago, I went through some “stuff.” Once things had calmed down, I got a tattoo on my upper arm. It’s a phoenix coming out of fire. It is a deeply personal reminder that I am not who I was, and that if I ever hit a point that
I don’t like who I am, I can burn myself down and rise again.
I feel like Conservatism is on the edge of bursting into flames. The question is: is it going to be razed like a conquered city or will it raise out of the fire like a phoenix?
I feel like Conservatism is on the edge of bursting into flames. The question is: is it going to be razed like a conquered city or will it raise out of the fire like a phoenix?
As I look around, I see Conservatism as weak as it ever has been. The people touted for years as our standard bearers have turned tail and run. Instead of fighting for the future of America, they’ve decided to line their wallet with dollars.
On the other side, I see people blindly declare anything and everything that the president does as conservative, no matter how far from conservative principles it may be. There seems to be no middle ground voice for Conservatism.
*sniff* Is that smoke I smell? Is it from a torch from an invading army? Or from self-immolation so a new creature can be born?
To be fair, when I say “new”, I am not saying we should jettison conservative principles for other principles,
To be fair, when I say “new”, I am not saying we should jettison conservative principles for other principles,
nor am I trying to take a policy and mush it like Play-doh to fit a narrative. I simply think it is time we re-establish in our hearts what Conservatism is and then re-examine policies that we have held.
This will require some introspection on our part,
This will require some introspection on our part,
and we might not like what we see. Nevertheless, if we are hoping a phoenix rises out of the ashes, we must confront ourselves. Luckily for us, many conservatives have started this process before now.
A perfect example is gay marriage.
A perfect example is gay marriage.
For many conservatives, the opposition to gay marriage is religious. The Bible said that marriage is between a man and a woman. The problem is that, despite America’s roots being tied to the Bible, we are not a theocracy.
We are a democratic republic that has equality under the law AS the law. Any religious objection to a law that allows gay marriage is not a valid objection outside the church or individual that holds that objection; they cannot be forced to participate against their will.
Legally, though, there was no valid argument for two consenting adults to enter into a contract between themselves and filed with the state.
Many of us fought with ourselves and others, trying to rectify our religious moral stance with the conservative principle of individualism
Many of us fought with ourselves and others, trying to rectify our religious moral stance with the conservative principle of individualism
And in the end, we changed. Even conservative Christians I know now have little problem with gay marriage as long as they and their religious institution are free from obligation to violate their conscience by participating.
This internal struggle is what we all need to face, individually and as a group. We all need to question ourselves and amongst ourselves what Conservative principles look like in action. What policies do we hold tight to our chest that we really should be letting go of?
What beliefs and arguments do we have that, when held up to Conservatism, aren’t based in Conservatism but our personal pre-conceived notions and biases?
Because, as I look around, I see Conservatism ready to be stronger than ever before.
Because, as I look around, I see Conservatism ready to be stronger than ever before.
We have an absolutely HUGE tent. Conservatism used to be a political ideology held openly mostly by white Christian straight people. Today, there are conservatives of every race. Many Blacks identify with conservative principles more closely than liberal principles.
Many Latinos have very conservative views. We have LGBT conservatives. Atheists, Catholic, Protestant, Muslim. You name it, there is someone that fits in our tent.
The problem is we outsourced our evangelism of Conservatism to people who were unworthy of our trust, and in turn,
The problem is we outsourced our evangelism of Conservatism to people who were unworthy of our trust, and in turn,
they created a small tent with strict entrance policies, making people who would otherwise agree with our principles feel unwelcome. TruCon made Conservatism feel like there was only one acceptable group, and we accepted their explanations without question.
I mean, these are really smart people saying why weed is bad and the police are always good. Who are we to question them?
In our thoughtlessness, we cut off minority communities that need the bedrock of Conservatism.
In our thoughtlessness, we cut off minority communities that need the bedrock of Conservatism.
We have left the black communities at the mercy of the progressive policies which created a school-to-prison pipeline. We complain when the black community votes for the Democrats but we aren’t in there giving them someone to vote for.
It’s no wonder we get blamed even when we haven’t done anything. We aren’t there to defend ourselves.
This needs to end. Now. Today. Our Conservatism tent is big enough for everyone with conservative principles. But that means, we need to re-examine some things.
This needs to end. Now. Today. Our Conservatism tent is big enough for everyone with conservative principles. But that means, we need to re-examine some things.
So when I talk about a New Conservatism, I am not talking about twisting our principles to fit things that don’t fit. I’m talking about a new, purposeful push to accept people and ideas that might be different than we are used to.
I’m talking about listening to people who reach their Conservatism through a different path than we did. I’m talking about reaching out to people who are conservative but just don’t know it yet.
Conservatism is dying. The smoke is going to get thick very soon.
Conservatism is dying. The smoke is going to get thick very soon.
Is Conservatism a city? Or is it a phoenix?
The choice is yours.
The choice is yours.
If you missed part 1 https://twitter.com/lone_rides/status/1288563982958309377
