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| Man and Woman contemplating the Moon by Caspar David Friedrich |
I see people calling themselves conservative (and others running away from being called so) without having thought through the very meaning of the word.
What is a conservative? A conservative is an individual who favours traditional values.
Which are the traditional values? Traditional values can be quickly summarised by three conservative principles: God, Family, Nation.
Abiding to this set of principles means, among many things, respecting authority (the Creator, the parent, the President/PM); so, to hear that a pseudo-conservative called the POTUS a "retard" in a cowardly fashion (i.e. via twitter) makes me wonder how many more people out there claim being conservative without actually being one. Coward, rude, pseudo-intelligent opportunists should be ashamed of calling themselves conservative. Being a true conservative means being devoted to conservative principles which include respect, compassion (as per the spiritual teachings) and order. If an individual can't find space in himself to abide by these very simple rules then please refer to the Anarchists.
Conservatism can walk alongside Change
For instance, technology brought us computers, smartphones; it has improved our health; it has improved our entertainment; it has increased the speed of communication; it has brought the world together. Civil Rights have led humans to accept and respect those who have a different gender, a different basal level of melanogenesis and of those who have a different sexual orientation. Moral evolution has opened way to freedom and to exercise the "Live and let live" principle.
All of these changes do not have to eradicate the basic principles of conservatism (God, Family, Nation), au contraire, they can irradicate them if people realise how.
Conservatism: Rightist or Leftist?
If a leftist believes in God, respects the institution of family and is patriotic; is he not a conservative? He is.
If a rightist believes in God, disrespects the institution of family (although in public pretends to respect it) and serves not the interests of the nation (although appears to be patriotic); is he a conservative? No, he is not.
If a leftist/rightist "doesn't believe" in God (but believes in a Higher Creative Power or in Humanity [in other words: God]), respects and lives for his family and, loves his country; is he not a conservative? He is.
In politics, saying that one is conservative means little in terms of specifying on which side of the political aisle one sits.
A conservative right winger abides to the conservative principles while accepting social hierarchy and inequalities (arising from traditional social differences and from competition in market economies [forecast by religious books, e.g. "For the poor shall never cease out of the land; therefore I command thee, saying: 'Thou shalt surely open thy hand unto thy poor and needy brother, in thy land." - Deut. 15:11]).
A conservative left winger abides to the conservative principles while rejecting social hierarchy and inequalities (stemming this rejection from religion defending that we are all the same under G-d and promoting charity "For the poor shall never cease out of the land; therefore I command you, saying: 'You shall surely open your hand unto your poor and needy brother, in your land." - Deut. 15:11).
Saying merely that one is a conservative means very little indeed...
Comments
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Dissecting Society™ welcomes all sorts of comments, as we are strong advocates of freedom of speech; however, we reserve the right to delete Troll Activity; libellous and offensive comments (e.g. racist and anti-Semitic) plus those with excessive foul language. This blog does not view vulgarity as being protected by the right to free speech. Cheers
Olá Maxiavelli!
ReplyDeleteThis post reminded me of our former PM António Guterres: he is a deeply devoted Catholic, he seems to have deep family values and he is quite patriotic (in his own way) yet he is a socialist who because of charity squandered national funds by distributing them under the form of subsidies, grants whatever they call it these days. Because of his spiritual values he tried to end inequality in the worst possible way.
This being said, yes he was a conservative leftist.
Another hit, girl!
Tchau
Olá Celeste :D!
DeleteThat is an outstanding example indeed. Thank you *bowing*.
"This being said, yes he was a conservative leftist."
Yes, he was.
"Another hit, girl!"
Thanks :D.
Celeste, thank you ever so much for your outstanding comment :D.
Cheers
"Saying merely that one is a conservative means very little indeed.." I think the same could be said of liberals. Where I live in America, people are brainwashed in to believing that conservatives have a lower IQ, and that they just aren't "enlightened". So we have many "liberals" who follow their chosen party blindly because they are afraid of being labeled as conservative. But many of them, if you were to really press the issue and discuss the true consequences of liberal politics, would agree that they really aren't as liberal as they had thought.
ReplyDeleteHi D! :D
Delete"I think the same could be said of liberals. Where I live in America, people are brainwashed in to believing that conservatives have a lower IQ, and that they just aren't "enlightened"."
There may be conservative liberals if they abide by the 3 conservative principles but politically speaking are leftists - I know, it is a bit difficult to find these, but they actually exist (in Portugal, we have many).
Really? Here is a bit the opposite: conservatives (of the right wing and some of the left) are usually associated with the upper class and the high middle-class; therefore they are more educated, more cultivated, more intellectually enlightened; whereas leftists (your liberals) are usually associated with the poor and the low middle-class; and often its elite (non-conservative leftists and rich people) is considered narrow-minded intellectual because the knowledge they seek is almost always related to their leftist ideology. They are blinded by it.
"So we have many "liberals" who follow their chosen party blindly because they are afraid of being labeled as conservative."
And the opposite also occurs - you have "conservatives" who are afraid of being labelled as leftists because their family or social circle doesn't view it with good eyes and yet, they actually believe in the ideology. It's another paradox.
"But many of them, if you were to really press the issue and discuss the true consequences of liberal politics, would agree that they really aren't as liberal as they had thought."
LOL I have had that experience: debating with a so-called communist/sometimes socialist (depending on the weather) I realised that leftists are indeed confused: they want to enjoy the benefits of market economies but at the same time they get lost in their nonsensical ideology. One more paradox.
D, thank you ever so much for your outstanding comment :D.
Cheers
Indeed, very well said. Conservative or modern is just a way of life or the way we see it and like to interpret just to give space to our own beliefs and views. In some ways those who are passive, laid back, shy, introvert, wearing traditional clothes and believes in old world values tend to be labelled as conservatives and the active, extroverts are tend to be wrongly labelled as the modern. So indeed its a paradox and in a way we label it by how we ourselves want to view others and the impact they have in our lives.
ReplyDeleteHi Kalyan :D!
Delete"Indeed, very well said."
Thank you *bowing*.
"Conservative or modern is just a way of life or the way we see it and like to interpret just to give space to our own beliefs and views."
Well said. Indeed it is that only.
"So indeed its a paradox and in a way we label it by how we ourselves want to view others and the impact they have in our lives."
True.
Kalyan, thank you ever so much for your outstanding comment :D.
Cheers
Hi Max, I first read your comments on the IDF blog and was impressed by how articulate are, so I checked out your FB page, then your Blog. You have a great gift. As an American I'm glad you called ann coulter out on her disrespect. She has a mean streak. Like glenn, sean and rush. Nasty and not helping the problems.
ReplyDeleteI consider myself Morally conservative and socially liberal. Nonjudgemental. Like Jesus I agree the needs of the people are holy. Many people are in dire circumstances due to predatory capitalism. Ethical capitalism would bring much relief.
I've bookmarked this blog, keep up the quality work
Kind Regards
Hi Jeffrey :D!
DeleteWelcome!
"Max, I first read your comments on the IDF blog and was impressed by how articulate are, so I checked out your FB page, then your Blog. You have a great gift."
Yes, I remember you of course :D. It is truly great to see you here. Thank you so much for your generosity *bowing*.
"As an American I'm glad you called ann coulter out on her disrespect. She has a mean streak. Like glenn, sean and rush. Nasty and not helping the problems."
I was shocked when she defended her lack of respect on Piers Morgan's show with extremely poor arguments; she should've been humble and apologise.
I believe you are right.
"I consider myself Morally conservative and socially liberal. Nonjudgemental. Like Jesus I agree the needs of the people are holy. Many people are in dire circumstances due to predatory capitalism. Ethical capitalism would bring much relief."
I understand where you are coming from. I too favour ethical capitalism and I am a conservative right winger (although a modern one).
"I've bookmarked this blog, keep up the quality work"
Thank you and it is a honour to have you here with us; it really is. I will.
And Jeffrey, thank you ever so much for your comment :D.
Cheers
Hmmm. So a Conservative should not make a Liberal use of inflammatory language?
ReplyDeleteHi looney, read Maxs' Post, the maligner is a psuedo-conservative. People have free-will, that said, well tempered language is more powerful than puerile and salacious slurs.
DeleteKind Regards
Jeffrey, I was agreeing with Max's point about Conservatives and language in my usual awkward sort of way. But do you think a more sophisticated kind of insult ... the one where people think they have been complemented for five minutes before they realize the implications of the statement ... is any less blameworthy?
DeleteNo
DeleteHi Looney :D!
Delete"Hmmm. So a Conservative should not make a Liberal use of inflammatory language?"
LOL well, there is inflammatory language and inflammatory language: it is all about how one makes use of words.
I remember when President Bush was in office there were some nasty stuff being said about him as well - I didn't like it then and I still do not like it now. One may not agree with the Commander-in-Chief's policies but respect is still in order.
Looney, thank you ever so much for your comment :D.
Cheers
I totally agree with all your points of view Max!
ReplyDeleteWhat books do you read? You have a very rich idea of many things about the realities of life.
You're a keen observer of many things.
You talk of things fairly and without prejudice. You are admirable in your rebuttals.
No gobbledygook views!
I learn a lot from your posts! Have a great day Max!
btw, i am a conservative in the right sense *winks*!!!
Hi Amity :D!
Delete"What books do you read? You have a very rich idea of many things about the realities of life. You're a keen observer of many things."
Probably the same books you do, darling :). Thank you for having observed that *bowing*.
"You talk of things fairly and without prejudice. You are admirable in your rebuttals.
No gobbledygook views!"
I try. And your kindness is also admirable.
"I learn a lot from your posts!"
I am glad you do because I learn a lot from you as well.
"btw, i am a conservative in the right sense *winks*!!!"
lol And I hope you use your conservatism in a positive fashion ;).
Amity, thank you ever so much for your comment :D.
Cheers
Max, most leftists are not conservative but some are, true. Most rightists are conservative but some are not, and that is also true. I heard an absurd thing recently: a right winger saying that he is an atheist - what do you think about this one?
ReplyDeleteI am a right wing conservative and I am bloody proud of it. Of course, some people call me fascist but what do they know? Like you say, many use words without knowing their true meaning. About Ann Coulter: she is an idiot, pardon my cowardly French!
Hi Ana :D!
Delete"I heard an absurd thing recently: a right winger saying that he is an atheist - what do you think about this one?"
Well, I haven't met one yet. I must confess it is not usual. I don't think I can comment much on this because I would have to talk to the individual to see what kind of atheist he is (you know I don't believe in atheism because people always believe in something but refuse to call it God, when in the end of the day it is all about Him no matter what).
"I am a right wing conservative and I am bloody proud of it. Of course, some people call me fascist but what do they know? Like you say, many use words without knowing their true meaning."
You should be proud. LOL LOL do they? Well, I have been called a socialist in disguise, right here in this blog so...
"About Ann Coulter: she is an idiot, pardon my cowardly French!"
LOL LOL LOL you are quite pardoned *nodding*...you slay me.
Ana, thank you ever so much for your comment :D.
Cheers
Morale de l'histoire... ce n'est pas l'étiquette qui compte, mais l'éthique.
ReplyDeleteBises tendres
Bonjour, Sérénité :D!
DeleteExactement; tu as tout compris.
Ma chère, merci bien pour ton commentaire :D.
Bises