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Where is our answer to Hollywood? Where is our answer to the post-modern literary/arts establishment? Why do we always complain about the tripe they put out, and yet fail to put out anything better? Why are we playing by *their* rules, toadying up to their producers, studio executives, galleries, music critics, etc.?

The only way to win the culture war is to actually FIGHT one--and not merely by protesting what is there now, but by superseding and replacing it. *We* conservatives have the scholarship, *we* have the vision, *we* have the timeless values that will be here long after the idiocies of the modern era have passed beyond memory. Then by all means, let's DEVELOP them.

I am sick and tired of hearing conservatives complain about what's out there artistically. Are we mice, and not men? Are we complainers, and not doers? Are we destined to become a movement of crotchety old men, forever condemning, and never constructing? Have we become post-modernists and nihilists ourselves?

If we don't band together on this, the liberals and their feckless "art" will win by default. Cry havoc, conservative artists... and let slip the dogs of war.

It is a sad fact of modern conservatism that while we have plenty of cultural critics, we seem to have so few cultural contributors. You can't banish the darkness from a room--you have to bring in the light.

Actually, I think there are plenty of potential contributors out there. Many of them have been through the wringer trying to get their work accepted in journals, shows, books, etc. I'm sure many of them are just plain disillusioned by rejection and feel that perhaps their work isn't 'sexy' enough to make it in this cultural morass in which we find ourselves. Better to keep their work to themselves than risk ridicule and rejection at the hands of our cultural elites.

That's where we come in. We build a network of people that appreciate literature and art that have positive messages, embrace American traditions and values, and generally celebrate that which is good, honorable, holy, and beautiful. Contrast this to what's being foisted upon us: the ugly, the repulsive, the meaningless, the sacrilegious. Seems like a no-brainer to me...

I am sick and tired of hearing conservatives complain about what's out there artistically. Are we mice, and not men? Are we complainers, and not doers?

Good questions. I've made several posts nearly identical to yours over the years. While I agree with you in nearly every particular, let me make a few comments.

Liberals control virtually the entire academic, media, bureaucratic and cultural apparatus. They saw years ago the immense power to be had by controlling the agenda for the entire culture. They also love to burrow into soft, high-paying jobs at taxpayer expense, where they can make rubber rules. I'll never forget my amazement when I made a transition from employment in the private sector to a university environment. My-oh-my, what a difference! There were all sorts of nice benefits but I quickly realized the taxpayers were getting screwed -- and still are.

If conservatives try to function in that culture it's pretty much a lost cause. They will be censored, trivialized and scorned. Conservatives are motivated by bottom-line profits. If they see a chance to generate them, as Rupert Murdoch did with Fox News, they'll risk the money necessary to set up an entirely new conservative-friendly structure. (And it may be that Murdoch will be an inspiration to other "angels" to finance similar enterprises -- I sincerely hope so). But can you imagine trying to get a conservative script acccepted by Disney or any of the other reigning Hollywood studios?

On the positive side, conservative books are having a good run on the best-seller lists right now, and a climate is slowly being created where it isn't instant social death to utter a conservative thought in public. But we have a long way to go and I join you in urging young people to seek careers in the arts, education and government where they, too, can influence the national agenda -- and prospects for their own futures.