Thank you for your thoughtful reply, Black Elk.
Disagree though I may with Barry Goldwater on social issues, an atheist, Karl Hess, who later became an anarchist-left libertarian, wrote BMG's acceptance speech as to the 1964 nomination. We do well to always remember its closing words and to adopt them to our own causes:
"I will fight and I know you will too until our cause has inspired the world and shown the way to a tomorrow worthy of all our yesterdays."
In fact, it is well worth the time to read the entire speech and to read other works of Karl Hess, a very interesting and principled man (not always our principles) who died all too young when his great heart failed.
Pray for the souls of Karl Hess and Barry Goldwater just in case either has an eternal chance.
God bless each of you and all of yours.