The War Between Liberals and Conservatives
Conservatives dislike change. They hold traditional views. "This is the way things have always been done, and this is the way they should remain" might be their motto. Liberals are more open-minded and forward thinkers. They look beyond the present moment. George Santayana's quote "Those who can't remember the past, are condemned to repeat it." could be their motto. They want to improve the quality of life, not just for themselves, but also for people worldwide. Their global concern isn't limited to earth's people. It extends to all living things. What is wrong with that? Is caring for people old-fashioned and out-of-date? The Conservative Liberal-bashers must be a little more forward-thinking than they realize if they want to change the basic human trait to nurture.
Without doing any research, I'd label Thomas Alva Edison a Liberal. Ditto, the Wright brothers and Alexander Graham Bell. Looking at the vast number of people that embrace cell phones, how many would like to go back to a world where there were no telephones. Henry Ford and other automotive pioneers weren't satisfied with the status quo. How many people who call themselves Conservatives would give up their SUV's and take a stage coach rather than fly? If only 2% of this country's population do not own a television, conservatives must be a bit more liberal than they think they are. Computers and the world wide web, anyone? In my lifetime, I've met people who think toilets and indoor plumbing was a bad thing. Now that's conservative! The modern conveniences were created by innovative or liberal thinkers. Without them we would still be using outhouses and you would not be reading this right now.
The US of A was formed by people who were not afraid of change. No telephones, electricity or airplanes when they sailed the vast ocean to start a new life. When the musicians got together to record, "We Are The World" they made a true statement. The USA is probably the only country on earth populated with people from every nation on the planet. We are the world. Relocating to another country is to embrace change, being open to new and different ways of doing things. This would make the first settlers appear to be quite liberal in their thinking. Likewise all the immigrants that followed them. Those who choose to do so did not like the way things were done back home and wanted to make changes. According to the accepted definitions, they were all Liberals.
Elementary school teachers taught me that the inhabitants of this land that we call the United States were not afraid of change either. They welcomed the new settlers, willing to share their knowledge and the land they called home. The history classes explained many of these Native Americans routinely packed up their tepees and moved due to weather conditions or to find better sources of food. At the same time they held to traditions passed down from their ancestors. This seems to be true of all the people that relocated to our country. We, the people, are a mixture of liberals and conservatives. For a brief, shining moment it seemed that citizens of the United States understood the meaning of the words, "united we stand and divided we fall". They were not at war with each other when those planes flew into New York cities World Trade Centers on September 11, 2001. It did not matter what political ideology they held to. I do miss the other Bush's "kinder and gentler America". Was that a conservative view or a liberal one? Did the early settlers and Native Americans sit down together in harmony and have that first feast of thanksgiving?
John F Kennedy, Jr. said, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." Liberals are often accused of being "bleeding hearts" overly sympathetic to the plight of the needy. The theme song for the "Archie Bunker" television series sums up the attitude Conservatives hold: "didn't need no welfare states, everybody pulled their weight". JFK was a Democrat, yet he espoused that same Conservative view. It is confusing. I considered myself a Democrat until I answered some questions and learned I hold more Republican views. At the same time I do not like the status quo. My vote is for a third party system, making me a Liberal. I believe citizens of the world need to become more civilized and do things different than the way they were done in the past. War is not the best way to solve differences. Might does not always make right. Embracing diversity, celebrating our alikeness, rather than spewing hatred at our differences may be a better way.
Call me "confused". One of my favorite quotes by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe is: "Give me the benefits of your convictions if you have any, but keep your doubts to yourself for I have enough of my own." My conviction is the war between Conservatives and Liberals has to end if we are to stand united as a country. Taking an internet quiz, "Are You a Conservative or a Liberal" ended my confusion. I scored smack dab in the middle exactly where former president Bill Clinton was placed. Not to start another war, I am convinced that is where all citizens of these United States of America need to be in order to form a more perfect union. We need to develop a perfect balance between liberalism and conservatism. Because if we do not stop our petty bickering, there may well be other people uniting to destroy the place we call home.
Author Note: This article was submitted for non-payment and does not reflect the views of Associated Content.
Published by Alyce Rocco
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31 Comments
Post a CommentMs. Ross: This was not a literal article. At the time I wrote it, I was trying to show the silliness of blasting others with labels. Bombed miserably.
Way off on true Conservatism. Real conservatives believe in the Rule of Law, which is that our Constitution stands according to what it says, using the common useage language contained within it, unless amended as also proscribed within the Constitution itself. Each branch has certain functions, and they are accountable to the people. The state ratification process was included so that it would be the people who "approved" any and all further amendments to it, in order to protect freedoms. That hasn't been done. We know have a U.N. dictated government, global government, if you will, through the Council of Foreign Relations and Federal Reserve (and abridgement also undertaken without the people's consent). Bush was a liberal, in every definition, he so liberally construed it, he threw it out.
I love the picture of the dogs playing tug o' war that accompanies this article. Looks like a greyhound and a rottweiler. I think I know which would be the liberal and which the conservative ;P
Interesting article. Even more interesting too see the level and length of comments simply using the terms "liberal" or "conservative" spawns.
Justice: If you look at comments, Slasher down below insists my Mother was not a Republican, and she did indeed vote Republican. Why would a stranger try to insist my mother did not vote Republican? The Iraqi females I communicate with tell me a much different story than Slasher tells me about life in Iraq under Saddam rule. "you think too much of yourself, my little elitist" are the types of comments that typically come from the right, not the left.
Is PETA a liberal group or are they an extremists group? It has been a long time since I wrote this article and I might reread it someday. It's intent was simply: MAKE LOVE NOT WAR. I have truly never heard anyone say "you are a commie, hippie, bleeding-heart, liberal, leftie " about Conservatives or Republicans. I have seen "The Liberal Plot To Destroy Christianity". What plot? Because I am a Code Pink, pro-peace activist I get these labels thrown at me all the time. I doubt that any Liberal would be a member of the KKK or Neo-Nazi type groups.
I like this article, but must point out that alot of people who classify themselves as Liberals can be every bit as mean as Conservatives. PETA is a Liberal group, and look at their track record of psycological terrorism and violence they use to advance their agenda. The truth is, Normal People are conservative on some issues, and liberal on other issues. The only folks who lean all the way to the Left or the Right are the fringe extremists who have taken over everything. These Radicals and Reactionaries are the ones warring with each other, and it is the Moderates like us who gat caught in the crossfire!
I wrote this article to point out, also quoting a better speaker than myself "we are more alike than we are different". If we want to win ball games it is best to work together not have liberals doing their thing over there on the left and conservatives doing their own thing over there on the right. You disagree and want to slash the ones on the left. Fine. That also means that one on the left can slash you. Life and time are too precious to waste on arguements and killing. You learn that stuff when you watch loved ones die young.
Read a Billy Crystal book that made me sad thinking about when my own brother died from a brain tumor. Like I always say, "here comes that tsunami wave, we all be running". In the words of a new great orator, loosely quoted "We are not a liberal America, we are not a Conservative America, we are the United States of America. We are not Red States and Blue states we are the United States of America." I think I may have mentioned I am a moderate right smack dab in the middle and that, truly is the best place to be. Extremists that will not bend cause wars. My black friend from Texas tells me a different story about the joys of Texas as does my white lady friend. Everyone sees stuff through their own lenses. You like a Divided States of America, that is your right. I want peace, that is my right.
You see, here is the difference between you and me. I look for the best case scenarios, and lefties look at doom and gloom. Since you had to bring into the picture "negros" not being able to drink from the same fountain. It was the GOP that signed into law the civil rights act, while gore's father and other southern democrats like robert KKK byrd who was the grand poohbaah at the time fought tooth and nail aainst it. As a final thought as I wont hold you up about this anymore. Don't lump free thinking inovators with liberal thought. These are 2 seperate arenas. One is a free thinking and boundryless thought process in how to improve life for mankind, the other, well the other is how to lower standards to level playing fields for all, while stifling growth and drive. Look at CA,MA,RI,NY,NJ, over taxed over regulated, Look at TX,FL,NM,AZ,UT, lower taxes, more opportunity, cheaper cost of living, better schools.