Why I became a conservative

The New Criterion, Vol 21, No. 6 ^ | February 2003 | Roger Scruton

[newheart]

I was brought up at a time when half the English people voted Conservative at national elections and almost all English intellectuals regarded the term "conservative" as a term of abuse. To be a conservative, I was told, was to be on the side of age against youth, the past against the future, authority against innovation, the "structures" against spontaneity and life. It was enough to understand this, to recognize that one had no choice, as a free-thinking intellectual, save to reject conservatism. The choice remaining was between reform and revolution. Do we improve society bit by bit, or do we rub it out and start again? On the whole my contemporaries favored the second option, and it was when witnessing what this meant, in May 1968 in Paris, that I discovered my vocation.

[newheart]

Scruton, a formidable thinker himself, discusses at length the influence of Edmund Burke on his journey from young liberal to mature conservative. It is a fairly long read but full of gems like these:

"The abstract, unreal freedom of the liberal intellect was really nothing more than childish disobedience, amplified into anarchy."

And I came to see that Burke's account of the Revolution [French] was not merely a piece of contemporary history. It was like Milton's account of Paradise Lost—an exploration of a region of the human psyche: a region that lies always ready to be visited, but from which return is by way of a miracle, to a world whose beauty is thereafter tainted by the memories of Hell. To put it very simply, I had been granted a vision of Satan and his work—the very same vision that had shaken Burke to the depths of his being. And I at last recognized the positive aspect of Burke's philosophy as a response to that vision, as a description of the best that human beings can hope for, and as the sole and sufficient vindication of our life on earth.

[newheart]

Apologies. I did not check the “excerpt only” box. Here is the link: http://www.storialibera.it/attualita/occidente/roger_scruton/articolo.php?id=2163&titolo=Why%20I%20became%20a%20conservative

[newheart]

One other point. For you Kindle/iPad users, Burke’s Reflections on the Revolution in France is available for a mere $0.99 here:
http://www.amazon.com/Reflections-Revolution-France-Edmund-Burke/dp/1619491974/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1370203743&sr=8-3&keywords=edmund+burke

[Baynative]

I became a conservative because I was lured into being a liberal in college and listening to their philosophy drove me up the wall. I came to the conclusion that one group of liberals had no center or direction in their lives and would believe in anything and follow anyone that gave them purpose and a sense of belonging.

The other smaller group were arrogant and manipulative and simply used the liberal talking points and agenda of organizing or controlling people to assume power and enrich themselves in one way or another.

In a conversation with one of the organizers I met who was a mover in the campaign to get marijuana legalization on the ballot he confided, "I'd never smoke that crap, I've got more important ideas that these people and their votes can help me with." I think he was planning on a career similar to John Kerry and John McCain - use the movement and it's connections to marry up and then get elected and become a life time leach.

[txnativegop]

In American colleges, Burke is touted as the father of modern conservatism with an emphasis on the more religious aspects of the ideology.

In short, he is denigrated as something evil.

[JimRed]

To be a conservative, I was told, was to be on the side of age against youth, the past against the future, authority against innovation, the "structures" against spontaneity and life.

And you believed them. They are pretty effective liars.

[newheart]

They are pretty effective liars.

They are. But then it is perfectly natural for the young to be on the side of the young. I certainly was. My own experience was less profound than Scruton's but, having been in college in the early 70s I largely fell into the counter-cultural mindset until I noticed that they really had no substitute for what they were seeking to destroy.

[KC Burke]

Burke in Reflections.. and in his other writings and speaches is the touchstone of conservative thought.

The word did not exist as applied to political thought until it was coined to discuss his positions and describe his thought and that of those allied with him.

[newheart]

The other smaller group were arrogant and manipulative and simply used the liberal talking points and agenda of organizing or controlling people to assume power and enrich themselves in one way or another.

John Kerry is a good example. Self-disclosure: In my own pre-conservative era I marched in DC in 1971. I remembering seeing Kerry in his role as a leader in the VVAW and was surprised to find that he already had a coterie of "protectors" around him that would keep the hoi polloi away. It is never about the people or Fraternité. It is always about power.

[TexasTransplant]

I never “Became” a Conservative ... during the Clarence Thomas hearings I simply “Discovered” I was.

TT

[newheart]

I simply “Discovered” I was

One of the lucky ones. ;-)

[newheart]

The word did not exist as applied to political thought until it was coined to discuss his positions

By a guy who invented a particularly good steak if I recall. (Chateaubriand).

[ottbmare]

I love Scruton. He’s a hero in some of his near-solitary fights for what is true, good, and beautiful.

[newheart]

I love Scruton.

Then, if you are on Twitter, you will love@Scruton_Quotes. Couple of great zingers a day.

[VRW Conspirator]

I became a conservative because...

Bump. I became a conservative because of my upbringing, my free choice, my intellect and most of all, Christian conversion.

[sauropod]

.

[Slyfox]

I became a conservative because I was lured into being a liberal in college and listening to their philosophy drove me up the wall.

Same here. I didn't know what I was but I knew for dang sure I was not like them.

Thank God for Ronald Reagan!

[Hayride]

Although politics was never discussed in my house, I do remember watching Archer Bunker as a kid and absolutely hating Meathead. I guess you could say I was a natural. :)

[Alaska Wolf]

I was born with a Conservative spoon in my mouth.

[wardaddy]

Being a counter culture sort in early 70s south was libertarian....anti establishment....pro environment
... pro pot and punani

Soft...very soft on black stuff

But not like progressivism today

No abortion...gay marriage....gun confiscation...fembot Megan Kelly type crap.....denigration of Dixie......racial religious and gender political correctness and so forth

Conservative was Goldwater and Magnus and Bill

Living in NYC being around snotty smug northern libs who thought they were so much better than me did it for me

Plus living abroad

Watching Rhodesia collapse and having friends there

From about 23 on I have just gotten more culturally right wing and iconoclastic southern and western civil oriented

Even as my world fades from view....