Something to think about over the weekend
It is Homecoming week at SMU, meaning that I will be in Dallas for the next three days emceeing a variety show tonight and tomorrow night and finishing my announcing duties Saturday at the big game.
Before I leave, I offer a few thoughts that could lead to much discussion. There has previously been some discussion here about how the conservative movement ain't what it used to be, and I want to continue that discussion. It occurred to me this morning that in the past, "liberalism" drifted into being too idealistic while ignoring some practical realities (and some would claim that this is still true). In the past, it seemed to me that the conservative movement was trying to be more realistic. Now, it seems that "conservatives"--or more to the point, the neoconservatives who are in power--have chosen to embrace ideology and idealism at the cost of considering practical realities.
Before I leave, I offer a few thoughts that could lead to much discussion. There has previously been some discussion here about how the conservative movement ain't what it used to be, and I want to continue that discussion. It occurred to me this morning that in the past, "liberalism" drifted into being too idealistic while ignoring some practical realities (and some would claim that this is still true). In the past, it seemed to me that the conservative movement was trying to be more realistic. Now, it seems that "conservatives"--or more to the point, the neoconservatives who are in power--have chosen to embrace ideology and idealism at the cost of considering practical realities.
posted by WCharles @ 11/03/2005 01:16:00 PM
5 Comments:
OK, here's a couple thoughts that come immediately to mind. The conservative movement has changed primarily because the religious right is becoming more involved with the political process. Yes, Jerry Falwell "baptised" the religious right into the political process with his Moral Majority, but many of us did not quite trust Falwell nor did we have the desire to become political. Politics was always considered to be a dirty business and something a good Christian should not get involved in. Becoming political was seen as compromising our standards.
Second thought, up until this generation the morality that society displayed publicly was more "christian" in character. Though the United States was never a Christian nation, Christians felt at home here. With the increased secularization of society resulting in what was considered abnormal behavior becoming accepted as mere alternative lifestyles, Christians have become more defensive. The Religious Right was the silent majority and they have been awakened. Their goal would be to return society to normalcy as they see it which requires them to become more activist.
Here's another theory, somewhat related to the above comments, but more theological. The increased secularization of society has spilled over to churches, both those in the fundamentalist and evangelical camps, resulting in more liberal methods of worship. The liberalization of church life has emboldened the once conservative silent majority to become more politically active. Political activism has resulted in a more ideological conservative religious right.
I am still worn out from my activities from Wednesday through yesterday, and I am still suffering from tired head, but I will say that 1) your theories address issues I had not thought of, and 2) they make sense.
My initial thoughts were prompted by a discussion on "The Glenn Mitchell Show" regarding the Bush administration's mission of spreading democracy across the world, particularly in the Middle East. I remembered my reaction before the war when I first heard one of the Bushies opine that a war in Iraq would ultimately protect Israel because democracy would rapidly spread through the Middle East. I was stunned at what I considered then--and consider now--to be the utter delusion behind that idea.
My point is that I was looking at this "idealism/realism" switch in terms of policy matters that are not of the types you address. So, while your theories do not really address my concerns, you have shown me other possibilities.
And now I am going to pose a question that really might be better left to our future discussion about the separation of church and state...
Does any religious group's increasing involvement in politics get that group more involved in wordly--as opposed to spiritually--matters?
And notice that I said "any" religious group.
Right now I think this is a question to which there is no definitive answer.
I just threw some ideas out there figuring I'd tie it all together later. I realized you were speaking from the standpoint of conservative politicians being more ideological. And that is the road I was headed down. First of all you have more people from the religious right getting involved in politics because they do not like the direction the country has been taking. They are becoming more politically astute and are trying to turn the country in a different direction when it comes to social issues - abortion, gay rights, etc. Secondly, since the religious right is flexing its political muscle more than in the past, conservative leaders are taking notice. Bush was elected by virtue of the more conservative elements of the Republican Party. He is concerned about losing his political base, therefore a more activist approach. Where do you think the democracy - Israeli connection came in? From the Religious Right who strongly supports Israel.
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