Hug a Conservative
Fiscal responsibility, keeping government out of our personal lives, and other conservative ideas have always been appealing to me. And it may be a cliché, but some of my best friends are conservatives. Many of my family members are conservatives. Apparently half the voters in America are conservatives.
As a progressive I have always felt that conservative participation in government has traditionally kept the wackiest of the liberals in check. I have personally always found the majority of progressives and conservatives are capable of discussing problems, comparing ideas and reaching intelligent compromises that allow everyone involved to maintain their self identity and their dignity.
Then the Neo-Cons took center stage in American politics, this breed of power-hungry corporate sycophants that think big companies should have more rights and opportunity than individual citizens. The Neo-Conservatives do not actually believe in core conservative ideals, but they have co-opted the language of conservatives in order to manipulate half the voters. They used huge corporate media, corporate money, and corporate power to invade other countries (making money for defense and oil corporations), to create the largest increase in the federal government since World War II (Homeland Security), to reduce personal freedom (the so-called “patriot act”), to imprison and torture individuals without trial (Guantanamo Bay Cuba), and to create the largest deficit in U.S. history ($477+ billion and climbing). And they have used this corporate power to cover their actions when they can and to lie about them when they can’t be hidden entirely.
Liberals and Progressives have been aware for a long time of the lies and hypocrisy these Neo-Conservatives have been using to cover up their true motivations and actions. But many grass-roots conservatives and Republicans are just now starting to realize how horribly they have been used by the Neo-Cons. True Conservatives are just beginning to see the ugly consequences of allowing Neo-Con leaders to act in their name. Conservatives are just beginning to see how their best ideals have been used as a shield to conceal the true violence being done to the world, to the constitution, to the environment… The hard truth is that the very Conservative voters who gave power to the Neo-Cons have been used, abused and raped by those they trusted. The hard truth is that Conservative voters have enabled and empowered this abusive treatment.
Please hug a conservative. They may still be angry. They may be in denial. But eventually they will be ready to move on and build a new life. Progressives have at least had the cold consolation that we have struggled and fought. We did not just let these criminals rape us. We shouted and screamed and fought as well as we could. But the conservatives went along with the abuse. They professed their love for these abusive leaders. Hug a conservative for they carry not only the scars of abuse but the guilt of having enabled and assisted in their own degradation.
Hug a Conservative. Let them know that Progressives care about them. Let them know that Progressives want to help them. Progressives look forward to having honest debates with honest Conservatives once again. Progressives look forward to reaching intelligent compromises with intelligent Conservatives once again. Progressives look forward to building a more honest and compassionate America where every citizen is afforded rights, dignity and opportunity.
Hug a Conservative. They have become trapped in a bad relationship, and they have been treated badly. When Conservatives return to their core values, they will begin to heal.
---- XXXOOO----
Republicans Against Bush
http://repagainstbush.meetup.com/
Conservatives Against Big Government
http://www.publicchristian.com/module-pagesetter-viewpub-tid-2-pid-64.phtml
The Conservative Case Against George W. Bush
http://www.republicansforhumility.com/divgov.html
As a progressive I have always felt that conservative participation in government has traditionally kept the wackiest of the liberals in check. I have personally always found the majority of progressives and conservatives are capable of discussing problems, comparing ideas and reaching intelligent compromises that allow everyone involved to maintain their self identity and their dignity.
Then the Neo-Cons took center stage in American politics, this breed of power-hungry corporate sycophants that think big companies should have more rights and opportunity than individual citizens. The Neo-Conservatives do not actually believe in core conservative ideals, but they have co-opted the language of conservatives in order to manipulate half the voters. They used huge corporate media, corporate money, and corporate power to invade other countries (making money for defense and oil corporations), to create the largest increase in the federal government since World War II (Homeland Security), to reduce personal freedom (the so-called “patriot act”), to imprison and torture individuals without trial (Guantanamo Bay Cuba), and to create the largest deficit in U.S. history ($477+ billion and climbing). And they have used this corporate power to cover their actions when they can and to lie about them when they can’t be hidden entirely.
Liberals and Progressives have been aware for a long time of the lies and hypocrisy these Neo-Conservatives have been using to cover up their true motivations and actions. But many grass-roots conservatives and Republicans are just now starting to realize how horribly they have been used by the Neo-Cons. True Conservatives are just beginning to see the ugly consequences of allowing Neo-Con leaders to act in their name. Conservatives are just beginning to see how their best ideals have been used as a shield to conceal the true violence being done to the world, to the constitution, to the environment… The hard truth is that the very Conservative voters who gave power to the Neo-Cons have been used, abused and raped by those they trusted. The hard truth is that Conservative voters have enabled and empowered this abusive treatment.
Please hug a conservative. They may still be angry. They may be in denial. But eventually they will be ready to move on and build a new life. Progressives have at least had the cold consolation that we have struggled and fought. We did not just let these criminals rape us. We shouted and screamed and fought as well as we could. But the conservatives went along with the abuse. They professed their love for these abusive leaders. Hug a conservative for they carry not only the scars of abuse but the guilt of having enabled and assisted in their own degradation.
Hug a Conservative. Let them know that Progressives care about them. Let them know that Progressives want to help them. Progressives look forward to having honest debates with honest Conservatives once again. Progressives look forward to reaching intelligent compromises with intelligent Conservatives once again. Progressives look forward to building a more honest and compassionate America where every citizen is afforded rights, dignity and opportunity.
Hug a Conservative. They have become trapped in a bad relationship, and they have been treated badly. When Conservatives return to their core values, they will begin to heal.
---- XXXOOO----
Republicans Against Bush
http://repagainstbush.meetup.com/
Conservatives Against Big Government
http://www.publicchristian.com/module-pagesetter-viewpub-tid-2-pid-64.phtml
The Conservative Case Against George W. Bush
http://www.republicansforhumility.com/divgov.html
posted by Jay Larsen at 11:09 AM
2 Comments:
Not every conservative was blind to the negative aspects of a Bush presidency. In fact the converse is true. Some of us are acutely aware that there are MANY facets to any political candidate and one must choose which issues carry the highest priority.
Right now, the rights of anti-american extremists and money grabbing political actions are less of a concern than the certain ruin that threatens our society as a result of internal moral decay. Our nation is only as strong as our families, and the liberal/progressive agenda either discounts or even ridicules this very real threat. Whether or not they want to admit it, moral decay has preceded the downfall of the great societies in our world's history.
And thank you for the hug.
Steve G.
Thanks for the comments Steve.
I think it is a fine thing to have ethical and moral priorities. And strong families is a great first priority.
But how well has President Bush addressed your moral priorities since the election? The evidence seems to suggest that he used these issues to get your vote, but has no intention of working on them now.
I think my first ethical and moral priority has to be truth. If we cannot honestly speak the truth to one another we have no chance of building stronger families, communities, companies or governments.
I think Progressives and Conservatives need to do a better job of telling the truth and demanding the truth from others.
Hugs all around. This is a good start.
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