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The paleos carry around with themselves a whiff of racism and anti-Semitism. Being an American is an idea -- a human idea. It is a beleif in the principles espoused in the Declaration, no more, no less. Those principles are not based on race or even on heritage, but on "inalienable rights." All human beings can be "American" by subscribing to the American ideals. The War in Iraq is based on the idea that freedom and human dignity belong to all, Iraqis included. Being an American is an appeal to "the better angels" of human nature. Everyone has felt the subtle seduction of feelings of racism, but those who are noble reject them. This is the idea that conservatives seek to "conserve." The paleos would seemingly turn those sublte seductions to racism into a virtue. Neo-cons may not always be right, but the seductions of the neo-cons must be resisted and relegated to the dustbin of history.

I myself am an individualist and do not identify with a group, race or nationality for my sense of identity or self esteem but I recognize that a very large numbers of people have this trait, it seems to be common in human nature. Being a cultural conservative is not unusual - it is or used to be natural instinct. I am not a paleocon and do not try to defend them as such but I understand where they are coming from even though I do not share the importance of some of their concerns.

Today we see America being Balkanized for a number of reasons. Foremost is that large numbers of the traditional majority no longer believe in the "cult" that the culture derived from and that goes from religion to the belief in individualism and liberty. We also see the dominance of leftist understandings overtaking the culture and this has enveloped the conservative movement. Where it is Politically Correct for every race and creed under the sun to be proud there is one race that can not be. It is not hard to understand that being demonized makes for sore feelings.

The reason why I care about the racist label being bandied about is because as a champion of liberty and believer in limited government I see a degree of common cause with paleocons and the tar and feathers applied to them sticks to those around them - the idea of Limited Government itself is getting tarred and discredited. The left has long claimed that America is a racist, no good paternalistic rotten nation and needs to be recreated. Today's right has adopted the leftist view. The left manipulates racial grievance and resentment to wage war against the political beliefs and traditions of the historical nation. The neocons understand it and warn against the old left on one hand then turn around and use this leftist tactic to push the traditional right leftwards. A fascinating thing to witness to say the least.