Posted on 08/20/2007 10:30:08 PM PDT by Coleus
SOMETIMES tragic occurrences force us to stop and think – those are the moments that crystallize our perceptions of human relations. I found myself in such a state with the passing of a constituent, friend and fellow conservative who also happened to be gay. Our conversations convinced me that my beliefs in limited government can be shared across the chasms that liberals and conservatives perceive to separate us – ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation. That conclusion is not popular on either side of the left-right spectrum: Liberals don't believe gays should be conservative and conservatives don't believe gays can be conservative, especially when a radical left gay contingent dominates media attention and right-wing conformists place their own moral judgment before individual freedom.
The Republican Party claims to be a "Big Tent," and rightfully so, as the core conservative principles of the party revolve around individual liberty and a limited government that serves to protect that liberty. These ideas can help our party cut across lines of "group identity," because the idea of freedom is appealing to groups that lack the political clout necessary to keep government out of their pocketbooks and lives. Historically, gay Americans have struggled for the freedom to live their lives the way they choose in order to pursue happiness. This is the American Dream, the cornerstone of conservative thinking, and it is these principles that make the increasingly influential gay community the conservative movement's natural ally.
It may surprise some to learn that the very same conservative who refused to be coerced into performing civil union ceremonies by government believes gay voters should be conservative, yet this very instance points to our common ground – a commitment to the rights of the individual and opposition to the power of a collectivist state. The media like to portray conservatives as wild-eyed ideologues, which is unfair. Of the philosophies that have directed civilization, conservatism has resulted in the most liberty for people around the world. It is at the hands of the liberal welfare state that individualism is destroyed; thus the failure of communism, fascism and socialism in promoting a signature American entitlement – "the pursuit of happiness."
Americans take that phrase for granted, but the idea was culture-transforming. Happiness derives its meaning from the Middle English hap, meaning "chance" or "luck." It is the same root present in the words perhaps or happenstance. The idea present in the words "pursuit of happiness" is the notion that individuals can make their own happiness. Happiness is not purely a matter of luck, but a goal to be pursued in a free environment characterized by limited government. Our Founding Fathers held this truth to be so "self-evident" that they declared it was the indisputable right of all individuals to pursue happiness. With this belief, many members of the gay community have played a critical role in the conservative movement. Conservatives from Terry Dolan to Andrew Sullivan prove there has been no shortage of influential gay leadership. Arguably, their involvement is even greater in the conservative wing of the party than in the moderate middle.
Upper income brackets
Many gay adults are also in upper income brackets, making the issue of low taxes, which conservatives have staked their reputation on, an important one. The principles of limited government that keep Big Brother out of our personal lives must also keep him out of our pocketbooks. Liberal Democrats may not care what individuals do in their bedrooms, but they are already rattling their tax-hiking sabers to let us know they do care what individuals do with their money. Obstacles to achieving our real goal of reducing the size of government and limiting its ability to interfere in our lives must be torn down. Gays shouldn't expect government to foist acceptance of their lifestyle on others; religious conservatives shouldn't expect gays to abandon an integral part of their being.
Barry Goldwater once remarked that government cannot pass laws to "make people like each other." His words still ring true today. Labeling people "homophobes" or "bigots" if they refuse to accept the entire gay agenda creates political fractures that work against individual liberties and serve to keep gay voters in the Democratic Party's political ghetto. The Republican Party must reestablish its commitment to the rights of the individual while respecting the moral code of one subset and upholding the freedom of another. Quite a challenge, indeed. However, the Big Tent needn't become a kaleidoscope of political policies designed to appeal to a large crowd at the expense of sacrificing principles.
Rather, it must transcend mere politics by becoming a manifestation of the principles that culminated in our Declaration of Independence and attract those who share this vision. The principles that are the underpinning of conservatism will ultimately make room in the tent for a surprisingly wide range of membership.
Reestablishing a commitment
In memory of the fine gentleman who inspired this article, I will reestablish my commitment to understanding and the core principles of conservative thought that I believe will best serve our future. My friend fought a tragic inner battle that tormented him to suicide. No one will ever understand the emotional turmoil that destroyed his life. The demons that haunted him and drove him to such a dark and lonely end also know no ethnic, gender or sexual-orientation boundaries. The boundaries of infinity are large enough and eternity long enough for all of us.
So let the values that we share, as mutual as those terrible instances of suffering that each of us can encounter, allow us all to strive for happiness during our brief stay on Earth. Thanks, buddy, see you in a better place. Steve Lonegan, a Republican, is mayor of Bogota.
Equal protection of the law doesn’t apply to private citizens, only to the state. You might just as well argue that “equal protection” means the government must redistribute wealth until we all have the same amount of money.
Are there laws prohibiting discrimination against people who are sexually aroused by chains and gags? I don’t think so. Why not? Because there’s no fashionable lobby, with lots of money and mainstream media backing, pushing for such laws.
In other words, the government practices discrimination when it passes anti-discrimination laws.
You’re wrong. It isn’t settled law in most states. The federal open housing law doesn’t apply to homosexuals. Ditto for the state laws in most states.
I do have to run but don't blow this out of proportion -- I'm only talking about public accommodations. I would never support such government-mandated laws that applied elsewhere.
I meant to say with the exception to homosexuals -- all the rest is settled law and not in danger of any repeal.
I appreciate your willingness to debate this politely.
Thanks. Same to you. I’m more of a less taxes, strong defense kind of conservative. I realize and respect that people have strong moral objections to homosexuality.
Amen.
Hotels, restaurants, libraries, public pools, etc. shouldn’t.
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How about public schools? By your logic they should be required to allow homosexual clubs and activities even if the school board and voters are against it.
I hear you with hotels and trains (personally, I think capitalism does a fine job of getting rid of that sort of discrimination now that jim crow is gone . . . money is money). The problem comes when that legal precedent is applied to gay clubs in school while excluding Christian ones, requiring sex education that is on equal terms for heterosexual and homosexual sex, speech codes that make stating Christian beliefs an offense . . . it all ties together. I do not think the anti-discrimination laws are needed anymore and are doing more harm than good. Yet they are expanding (as all law and bureaucracy does).
Jim Crow is gone . . . laws getting rid of Jim Crow should be gone too.
While the GOP would be foolish to be openly hostile, opening wide the arms of the Party and actively promoting the homosexual agenda would drive OUT the social conservative (who are approximately 20% of the base).
So they would bring in 2% and drive out 20%.
Ummm...because they aren't welcome?
You canceled the books? I don’t think she was advocating this but just discussing the topic.
You have it nailed. Let them live in their world of hate for authority, God’s laws,and small government. More is never enough for the left.
I have great plans for these clowns. Walk point.
In equating libertarians with “progressives”, you reveal yourself to be either ignorant or dishonest.
I will take particular exception to this statement. It is a poison pill.
The most important reason that Conservatism works is it's fight to preserve the Judeo-Christian ethic. It is and must be the root of American life, as it contains the definition of the Creator from whom our freedoms flow.
To attack that root is to assure our doom.
It is upon that foundation that our morality is based, and it is what makes us good- Only a good people can be free, as only a good people can live with limited governance.
It is the overabundance of laws to govern behavior that is not good, the attempt to govern lawlessness and immorality that leads to overt governmental power, and inevitably to the corruption thereof.
-Bruce
The correct answer can only be that the landlord has the right to discriminate against anyone for any reason that suits his fancy. It is his property, it is his right.
Yes, but these liberal leftists are not exclusionary in the method of deceptive operation. There are plenty on the supposed RIGHT side claiming the same sameness only doing it 'better'.
Yes indeed and it has become the so called mainstream or centrists ideology that the majority of Americans have been seduced into taking that path to utopia. So those centrist have joined the liberals with the sneer and jeer calling those that are actually rule of law conservatives 'purists' or hate mongers.
Better-dressed candidates, for one. ;-P
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