|
|
8/30/2004
The Philosophical Conservative
I am a young, black woman. My political and social values are rooted in a Judeo-Christian ethic that's been long established before we had petty political affliatory labels.
I'm steadfast on a number of hot issues a few of them being abortion, gay marriage, stem-cell research, and lop-sided sex education. I'm pro-family, pro-education, and pro-personal responsibility.
While I don't believe morality can be legislated, I believe licenciousness and lawlessness can.
I can always argue the practical side of an issue, but when the rubber meets the road, my sole accountability on any number of issues is to God and Him alone.
Based on those few personal attributes, our society deems me "conservative". In this day and blameful age however, believing that a person should pay back their own self-inflicted parking ticket is grounds for being labeled "fiscally conservative". Understand, that "conservative" is a label I'm more than proud to wear (despite the many Capitol Hill fools who've given it a bad reputation). I've even been told on occasion that I dress conservatively and I take that as a compliment as well. So there should be no doubt that I "embrace" my conservative label in all its fullness and wonderful glory.
All of that said, I have my days when I think I am tired of being a "conservative". If being a conservative means that all I do is have a form answer for abortion, affirmative-action, abstinence education, illegal immigration, and homosexual marriage, then count me out. As my friend says, Ambra isn't about drinking the "Conservative Kool-Aid". This is about using your brain. If I wanted to regurgitate the GOP agenda (no matter how poorly eloquent), I certainly wouldn't need my brain to do so. Thankfully, the GOP has constituents who know how to do both.
When it comes down to it, I think I am more of a "Philosophical Conservative" than I am an "Ideological Conservative". I have zero interest in debating issues that the two opposing parties have already plainly sided on. Sure I have an opinion, but really it's not anything anyone hasn't already heard regurgitated in some way, shape, or form. It might be lightly battered in youthfulness, with a tinge of hip-hop and a side of sarcasm, but it's the same, old, tired arguments conservatives have been making for years. I can however, point people in the direction of some very wise and succinct conservative smarty-pants who write all the time about the stuff most people want to read about.
What I am interested in is how conservative thought plays into our daily lives. What does it look like in the home? What does it look like in education? In music? On the campus?
I am of the persuasion that a conservative worldview is far more important than conservative policy. The average Joe really could really care less about whether Matt and Steve should have the right to fake marriage or how balanced the budget is. But if Joe can see how philosophy can enhance his family life, he just might take a listen.
Thus far, I have found that what I just stated bothers people more than the fact that I don't call myself a Republican. I'm not into all these titles and whatnot. Once people hear certain things, they think they have you pegged and if there's one thing that will never happen to me, it's pegging. Try me and I will resist you like a fish out of water.
Conservatism is a direction, not a destination. I'm on my way, but I don't think anyone's arrived. So please, let's stop acting like we have.
posted by ambra at 8/30/2004 01:00:33 AM | link to this entry |
|
|
|
|
|
