Posted by
Satya on Wednesday, May 20, 2009 11:36:35 AM
The news is filled with stories of the conservatives attempt to come together, to unite. From within the conservative movement we have some who say that we must hold fast to what they consider traditional conservative values in order to be able to continue forward. We also have a group of people who implore that the conservative movement needs to embrace more moderate principals as a way to entice more independents to join. These two groups spend much time denigrating each other, to the absolute delight of the left. They are watching us tear ourselves apart and loving every minute of it.
What does it mean to be a traditional conservative? I have always believed that being a conservative means that I have strong family values, I believe in personal responsibility, in small government, in individual liberties. I respect the Constitution. I know that the United States is a constitutional republic and not a democracy. I believe in the strength of capitalism. As of late, however, I am beginning to believe that being a traditional conservative also means that I must be a Christian, that I must believe that since the Founding Fathers were Christian then when I read the Constitution I cannot read it as is but I must keep in mind Biblical principles to help me "interpret" it. Is this because the mainstream media is attempting to drive a wedge between conservatives who identify themselves as Christians and those of us who do not? Certainly that is a big part of it. If the media can manufacture the image of the Big Bad Christian Far Right then they can do a lot to alienate those people who do not identify with Christianity. Unfortunately, there is more to this division.
The conservative movement is quite certainly fracturing. We have come to a point where we must define conservative principles with decisiveness so that we can move on and attempt to re-unite. Can those people who hold fast to their principles based on faith and those who hold fast to principles not based on faith come together? And what exactly are those principles? Can the Republican Party include those people who may lean towards Libertarianism without letting go of core principles? And will that inclusion make the conservative movement stronger, or will it destroy it? For a long time I have thought that it will not be possible to be able to include such varied types of people under one Party. I am hoping that I am wrong, since I believe that unification is the only way to defeat the left.