Conservativism and Morality (Cathryn Crawford)

The Washington Dispatch ^ | November 7, 2003 | Cathryn Crawford

[Scenic Sounds]

Cathryn Crawford’s Latest!

[Cathryn Crawford]

Ping! If you want on or off this list, let me know.

And a special thank you to CyberCowboy777. :-)

[ClintonBeGone]

Conservatives have a strong belief that societies that are governed by people who are in turn governed by a strong moral compass are, in fact, better societies. They believe that a good government, a legitimate government, is one that is based on the conservative principles of justice, honesty, and honor.

Brilliant point.

[joesnuffy]

Words to live by...
Sure would like to hear these kinds of thoughts from my own children ,nieces and nephews
What a neat kid and joy to her folks..

[Cheapskate]

Lord, we need another Goldwater ping!

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!

[jmc813]

Excellent article.

[Dan from Michigan]

Think Bill Bennett

Or Tim Hutchinson.

[EdReform]

Bump & Ping

[EdReform]

Add me to your ping list, please!

[KC Burke]

Russell Kirk, who many count among the 3 or 4 revitalizers of twentieth century conservatism, says in his Ten Conservative Principles chapter of The Politics of Prudence the following about his first of those ten principles:

First, the conservative believes there exists an enduring moral order. That order is made for man, and man is made for it: human nature is a constant, and moral truths are permenant.

This word order signifies harmony. There are two aspects or types of order: the inner order of the soul, and the outer order of the commonwealth. Twentyfive centuries ago, Plato taught this doctrine , but even the educated nowadays find it difficult to understand. The problem of order has been the principle concern of conservatives ever since conservative has become a term of politics.

Our twentieth century world has experienced the hideous consequences of the collapse of belief in a moral order. Like the atrocities and disasters of Greece in the fifth century before Christ, the ruin of great nations in our century shows us the pit into which fall societies that mistake clever self-interest, or ingenious social controls, for pleasing alternatives to an oldfangled moral order.

It has been said by liberal intellectuals, that the conservative believes all social questions, at heart, to be questions of private morality. Properly understood, this statement is quite true. A society in which men and women are governed by belief in an enduring moral order, by a strong sense of right and wrong, by personal convictions about justice and honor, will be a good society -- whatever political machinery it may utilize, while a society in which men and women are morally adrift, ignorant of norms, and intent chiefly upon gratification of appetites, will be a bad society -- no matter how many people vote and no matter how liberal its formal constitution may be.

So, you see, you are in the grand tradition with your observations.

[Killborn]

Conservatism and Morality are one and the same. There is no separation.

[Scenic Sounds]

Conservatism and Morality are one and the same. There is no separation.

Do you believe that one can be a moral liberal?

[semaj]

Thanks for the post.

[ClearCase_guy]

Do you believe that one can be a moral liberal?

I would say that a moral Liberal is a Liberal who believes the following:

Abortion is wrong.
Disarming crime victims is wrong.
Homosexual sex is wrong.
Redistribution of wealth from producers to parasites is wrong.

Find me a moral Liberal. You can't.

[patton]

What do you know about it, anyway? ;)

[Wright is right!]

Very well-written piece, Cathryn. Only one minor writing nit.

Don't say "in closing." Just close the piece with your strongest summation. "In closing" subliminally instructs the reader to stop paying attention - precisely at the one moment you want their full concentration.

In fact, the way you wrote the piece, you could just remove those two words and it would still make perfect sense.

Man, I LOVE talent! Keep up the great work.

Michael

[Scenic Sounds]

Find me a moral Liberal. You can't.

How long are you gonna give me to find one? ;-)

[Cathryn Crawford]

Thank you. I'll keep that in mind next week.

I need as many tips as I can get. :-)

[patton]

What do you think, guys - are we moral?