[conservatism_IS_compassion]

A society cannot be free unless it is virtuous, and a society cannot be moral unless it is free. So although liberalism's goal of freedom and conservatism's aim of 'soulcraft' are often opposed, both ideals are improved by the other.

I would say, the two are nominally opposed, but in fact are two sides of the same coin - virtue isn't virtue unless it is freely chosen. That's D'nish d'Souza's formulation, in which he says that American women dress more provocatively than the burka-clad muslim woman - but since the muslim woman didn't have a choice in the matter, the American woman may actually be more modest than the muslim. Who can say how the muslim woman would dress if she wouldn't be whipped if she didn't wear a burka?

So American freedom gives more scope for virtue, just as it gives more scope for vice.

[WOSG]

dittos on your thoughts.