They're used in opposition but then also they're used to mean things that aren't what the words actually mean.
Most people, I think, see themselves as small-c conservative. Their approach to buying cars or investing what little they have to invest or whatever is small-c conservative. This kind of conservatism used to have a more meaningful overlap with political conservatism, but today that's simply not the case.
Meanwhile, I think that for young people today, the "conservative" approach to dealing with people they encounter is to follow the golden rule: treat others as you would wish to be treated. Support for, say, gay marriage... I think that's increasingly a small-c conservative value. "Just let people be who they are" isn't radical thought!
Admittedly a lot of my thinking comes out of an understanding of a what would be called a liberal protestant tradition, a "God don't make no junk" mentality toward others. But I don't see this as "liberal" relative to some other position that's "conservative". I see this as perfectly middle of the road, solidly American, etc. I see the "conservative" positions as intolerant and cruel, and I don't think we should associate small-c conservatism with cruelty!
Hmmm, good point about liberal/conservative. The terms are just getting to be too polar opposite. I'm going to try to stop using those terms too.
They're used in opposition but then also they're used to mean things that aren't what the words actually mean.
Most people, I think, see themselves as small-c conservative. Their approach to buying cars or investing what little they have to invest or whatever is small-c conservative. This kind of conservatism used to have a more meaningful overlap with political conservatism, but today that's simply not the case.
Meanwhile, I think that for young people today, the "conservative" approach to dealing with people they encounter is to follow the golden rule: treat others as you would wish to be treated. Support for, say, gay marriage... I think that's increasingly a small-c conservative value. "Just let people be who they are" isn't radical thought!
Admittedly a lot of my thinking comes out of an understanding of a what would be called a liberal protestant tradition, a "God don't make no junk" mentality toward others. But I don't see this as "liberal" relative to some other position that's "conservative". I see this as perfectly middle of the road, solidly American, etc. I see the "conservative" positions as intolerant and cruel, and I don't think we should associate small-c conservatism with cruelty!
Love it. I want that tshirt too.