Sometimes you just have to call it how you see it

[Mythsaje]

I received a myspace friend request from an aspiring author the other day and it took me two days to come up with a suitable reply. I thought this might be of interest to my fellow DUers because of the context. And I'm sure it'll offend more than a few of you all. Then again, I'm okay with that.

Here was the message I sent to him today. I have yet to receive a reply.



I got your friend request and I've been contemplating it since. I am by nature supportive of other writers, since its been my great dream to not only be an author myself, but to mentor others in the art and craft of writing whenever possible.

That said, I would like to point out that we are on quite different sides of the political spectrum--though, I daresay, not necessarily opposite sides. We might even find we agree on a few things.

However, I consider political conservatism the epitome of greed, selfishness, and at odds with any notion of social, legal, or political justice. It serves the powerful and scorns the powerless and does so with no apology. What has been done to the country in the name of conservatism in the past few years is nothing short of criminal--in more ways than one. A government small enough to "drown in the bathtub" is of no use to anyone except as a prop to support the insupportable, a rubber stamp device to allow those with money to make all the decisions for their benefit alone and leave those who labor without to deal with the fallout.

I also am no great respecter of religion, in any form. I do not, however, have any greater respect for atheism, believe it or not. I distrust any group that believes they understand the ultimate nature of the universe better than any other. Science is the best tool for exploring it, but it is but yet the early efforts of half-blind monkeys trying to scramble out of a dark hole of ignorance. It is simply the best tool available to us.

I hold no specific opinion on the existence of God and his/her/its nature or interests. All mythologies are equal in my eyes, crafty stories to explain things that could not be explained at the time. The handed-down religion of a bunch of war-like desert nomads is not, to me, of any particular moral value. Quite the opposite, particularly with regards to the Old Testament. The teachings of Christ are another matter, but I certainly see them as being in direct opposition to everything conservatism stands for and thus those who use his name to push that particular agenda are more akin to those who had him put to death than his devoted servants.

I do, on the other hand, respect the service you've given to this country. I am not one of those for whom all things are painted in black or white. The "road to hell," as they say, may be paved with good intentions, but I happen to believe good intentions do count for something in the end. I cannot judge you because I don't know you, but I do consider your associations carefully.

I send you this not because I'm going to deny the friendship, but so you know who you're associating yourself with, however obliquely. I am an unabashed agnostic liberal with strong opinions who has more than once been compared to Mark Twain. At various times I have been very political, and I'm sure I will be again. I think electing McCain to the Presidency will doom this country and plunge us even more in debt to our greatest socio-political competitor and likely do nothing to deflect the threat of religious extremists from the Middle East.

China will most likely be the next great super-power, and I believe that conservatism, through the application of its narrow viewpoints and appalling lack of foresight, will hasten the day that we are driven under its heel. Economically it's already happening. No one has ever been able to defeat China without becoming China.

Fair warning. I am not the kind of person you're likely to choose as a friend in real life. You may want to consider this fact.

[Buzz Clik]

1. Your concept of conservative is pretty narrow.

I also cringe at the concept of being unable to have friends on the right.

[Mythsaje]

2. I do have friends on the right...

I'm not all that far left. But those who claim conservatism with pride without acknowledging where it falls down are not likely to find much sympathy here. I don't give a rat's ass about social conservatism--I will not pander to other peoples' prejudices. And economic conservatism is a bankrupt philosophy in more ways than one.]

Anyone who can look back at the legacy of the last eight to ten years without flinching isn't thinking clearly.

[tomp]

5. cringe away.

i can't tolerate them.

[Buzz Clik]

11. Unless you stay in your house all day long, you undoubtedly have conservative acquaintances.

Many of these people will not share with you their political views. If you found out that they were conservative in their politics, would you immediately terminate your relationship with them?

If you found that a liberal friend of yours embraced a classically conservative approach on some issue (maybe abortion or welfare or immigration), would you find it impossible to continue your friendship?

I find this level of intolerance to be petty and short sighted. It's no different than refusing to befriend African-Americans, not hiring "Messicans", or disowning a child who comes out as gay.

[tomp]

12. i'm principled, not ungracious.

and don't lump racism, and homophobia together with political intolerance. what little point you had gets totally lost in such aspersions.

i have no problem with "conservatism" in what i think of as its most general sense, i.e.,, that we need to preserve (conserve) some aspect of tradition (i think of this in a sort of evolutionary sense). without respect for where we've come from we have no ground to stand on. but this type of conservatism MUST be blended with at least equal amounts of progressivism otherwise we stagnate. the corollary of this is that we must reject what hasn't worked. political conservatism in america has, quite decidedly NOT worked. it is as much an abomination in practice as many people think of communism as an abomination in practice. to the extent that conservatives are anti-communist (socialist), for example, i am anti-conservative.

how i deal with such people in practice involves some level of "tolerance". my father-in-law have agreed not to talk politics, for my wife/his daughter's sake. i know there are people around me at work who are "conservative" (read: politically backward, wrong, and malevolent) and i "tolerate" them, but they are not my friends.

[notalemming]

3. You said your piece pretty well, with not much equivocation.

It does seem that you've expressed a touch of internal conflict ("not...black or white..." vs. "conservatism the epitome of greed, selfishness, and at odds with any notion of social, legal, or political justice" which sounds pretty much black) but it's understandable given the nebulous reality of the supposedly opposite political camps these days and the rapidity with which they swap positions on multitudes of "minor" points.

There's nothing intrinsically wrong with conservatism (or communism for that matter)...as long as it is practiced equally by all participants...which of course it never was and never will be. Any government must be beholden to either a) a few or b) all. There are no other possibilities.

I wanted to say more on this but a local emergency has just come up and my attendance is required. Back later, perhaps.

[lonestarnot]

4. Hope everything is ok

[notalemming]

10. I'm on call with the local volunteer fire department. Right about this time of year

when temperatures drop into the 40s, people bring out (or go buy) space heaters which have not only the ability to warm the air, also the ability to set fire to drapes, curtains, blankets and other flammable products that are allowed to come in contact with them. This dangerous juxtaposition of items all too often results in the destruction of a human habitat...as it did this evening. We usually aren't able to save houses because it just takes too many minutes to muster the necessary resources. :-(

[Poseidan]

9. well.......

At this point, conservatism and liberalism are mostly bullshit. The words are used as flags rather than legitimate government functions. When it suits a politician, they advocate something like 'conservatism' while actually advocating liberalism (anti-abortion, anti-gay-marriage, pro-domestic-spying, anti-drugs, pro-big-military, pro-state-religion - all acts of government intervention, expansion, increase, or opening).

Both parties practice this stigmatism, either out of ignorance or deliberation. It is how campaigning works today. Like fighting a war... you gain as many allies as you need, or you can possibly muster, aligning them all under the same 'flag'.

[bertman]

6. Honest, clearly and concisely written. A fair warning in all respects. If I had a myspace

page I'd want to be your friend. But I don't have one and have no desire for one. No offense intended.

I particularly like "the early efforts of half-blind monkeys trying to scramble out of a dark hole of ignorance." I've never heard a better description of humankind's need for religion.

[Mythsaje]

7. No offense taken....

It's a promotional necessity.

[spoony]

8. ...dude...it's myspace...

I don't think an add request really warranted a treatise. You haven't received a reply because the person probably didn't read it.