Seperate From the Herd
Via Andrew Sullivan, an interesting tidbit on Nietzsche and his influence on conservatives - the premise being that Nietzsche's emphasis on personal responsibility for creating a moral framework and worldview independent of religion (taking responsibility for your actions, rather than blaming them on others) is a conservative trait. I've always been troubled by this argument, and surely there are many liberals who are willing to blame "society" for the actions of an individual, but so too are there many conservatives who would blame God, or Satan, for actions, and require those religious constructs for any manne of morality. For example, those who believe that posting the Ten Commandments in schools will somehow help children act in a moral way, rather than giving children the tools to reason morality for themselves, as Frederich would have argued.
Still, it's compelling, and contains other links to other conservatives and their thoughts on the subject.
Incidentally, on the verbage of conservatism, I'm realizing that the moniker does not accurately describe the current administration, or even the current state of "right-wing" politics in the United States. I've used the term "neo-con" before, a somewhat derisive label, to describe them. I wonder if those of us on the left, who are attempting to advocate for personal responsibility and other non-stereotypically-liberal ideas, shouldn't create our own verbage to begin retaking of politics. Put simply, if the good aspects that make up conservative thought can be railroaded by the Neo-Cons, then perhaps the bad sterotypes that make up "liberal" thought in the public consciousness can become a new label, too.
1 comment:
I hate Andrew Sullivan. Nevertheless, I think it's interesting how the Republicans have managed to make conservatism synoymous with patriotism, liberty, and so on, but have actually managed to gain power by not acting conversative. Nobody's seemed to notice, however.
On another subject, I was talking to a friend the other night about the ERA, and how we both still believe there's a need for it. But I wondered if it wouldn't fair better if it was called something else. The name may call too mind too much negativity. So maybe we need a word other than "liberal," but one that still means liberal. You know, sort of like how the current administration calls themselves " compassionate conservatives" because it sounds better than, say, "fascist nutjobs." That sort of thing.
Okay, I'm done rambling in your blog, now.
-Angela
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