Birkenstocked Burkeans: Confessions of a granola conservative

National Review Online ^ | July 12, 2002 | Rod Dreher

[valkyrieanne]

I'm one too.

[NittanyLion]

I'm one too.

One what? Liberal who pretends to be conservative? Or broccoli eater. ;-)

[Black Agnes]

PING!

[concerned about politics]

"Ewgh, That sounds so lefty,"

Well, she does have a point. To be really conservative, grow your own veggies. It's cheeper.

[Alberta's Child]

I'm not a granola conservative, but based on my experience I've found that there is a difference between most "conservative" and most "liberal" vegetarians. The conservative is a vegetarian for the reasons that the author describes, while the liberal is a vegetarian because he or she wants to make a political statement.

Every time a conservative tells me he's a vegetarian, I'm genuinely surprised because they look like anyone else. Most liberals I've met who are vegetarians didn't even have to tell me that they were vegetarians -- I was able to spot them from a mile away because of their unhealthy appearance.

Slogan of the Alberta Beef Industry (from an anti-PETA campaign a few years back): "Save a Cow -- Eat a Vegetarian" LOL!

[concerned about politics]

Well, maybe. All I can tell you is that the crunchy-granola lefties are often right about little things that make life richer. Take food, for example.

Tofu.

[Rytwyng]

I'm one too... I never understood why being a religious and political conservative somehow meant you had to buy into the "yuppie" trip. I never saw a necessary connection. In fact, quite the reverse -- a simpler and more natural lifestyle seems more, well, conservative.

God, guns, and granola.....

[Senator Pardek]

Same here - save for the "anti-big business" tripe, I fit right in.

[Rytwyng]

let me clarify.... granola is okay, in moderation, but the free-range eggs and certified raw milk REALLY make the hippie diet superior. And don't forget Salatin-style grassfed beef..

[I_Love_My_Husband]

Count me in!

[SoDak]

I think the author is too hung up on the stereotypical vision of conservatism. Rural conservatives have been growing their own food, and showing a general disdain of suburbanism for many years. My family, though thoroughly conservative, practiced good land management because the land was our life. Polluted land does rural people no good. Groups associated with hunting, and 2nd amendment protection, such as Ducks Unlimited, have 'saved' more land in this country than the environmentalists.

[I_Love_My_Husband]

ping

[SoDak]

Not to mention the fact that vegetables from the garden in your backyard are incredibly superior to anything you can find in the produce section of supermarkets.

[TightSqueeze]

God, guns, and granola & Gas (excuse me)

[Rytwyng]

Groups associated with hunting, and 2nd amendment protection, such as Ducks Unlimited, have 'saved' more land in this country than the environmentalists.

True. In fact, the environmental movement was STARTED in the early 1900's by hunters and fishermen. The pagan socialists who hijacked it later, are loathe to admit this, but it's a matter of historical record.

[PeterPrinciple]

Quality food is not a liberal thing, it is the market system working.

[who knows what evil?]

Not to mention the fact that vegetables from the garden in your backyard are incredibly superior to anything you can find in the produce section of supermarkets.

No doubt about it. My garden has produced broccoli, spinach, lettuce, cabbage, radishes, peas, beets, and zucchini so far this year. Tomatoes, peppers (especially hot ones), brussels sprouts, corn, beans, watermelons, and cantaloupes are coming along real fast. ALL taste MUCH better than store produce. I even grind my own wheat for bread, even though I am considered a little to the right of Jerry Falwell and Attilla the Hun. Birkenstocks? No way...death before dishonor.

[Ditter]

Liberal ideas aren't ALL bad. I started wearing Birkenstocks when I discovered that wearing them kept my heel spur from hurting.

[Dixielander]

Thanks for your post. The article made for interesting reading. I ascertained from its content that I am an eclectic conservative.

[Atlas Sneezed]

A conservative doesn't care what you eat, nor try to convince you that you should adopt his choices.

Reminds me of the time in the checkout line the cretin in front of me couldn't reconcile in his tiny brain that someone might purchase both tofu and sausage.

I find most "organic produce" to be an overpriced scrawny version of the normal thing, just like the folks who prefer it.