Posted by
Tim on Monday, September 07, 2009 7:18:22 PM
This blog looks to examine the question of whether we need to explain ourselves better to the undecided. By this, I DON'T mean putting the proper spin or twist on our beliefs - like the left does. Rather, I would argue that we need to clarify our beliefs. Some of what we believe is so obvious to us that we may forget that it is NOT obvious to others. As a result, we miscommunicate what we really mean.
Here are some examples:
Capitalism: If we are not careful, we can make it appear that we regard capitalism itself as a "virtue" (like justice and honesty) and, thus, a fundamental "good" in the moral sense. What this fails to state is something that we assume - capitalism must be linked to a decent morality or else it CAN be subject to abuse. If we appear to defend capitalism for its "own" sake (as opposed to defending the moral and honest USE of capitalism), we are sending a message that is subject to misinterpretation.
The Language Game: The left has so badly and so frequently abused the meaning of language itself that this issue doesn't get into our discussion as much as it needs to - because we all know about the game. But, if we are to argue with the undecided, we need to reconsider this issue and explain to the undecided what is obvious to us.
Subjective Morality: Most normal Americans naturally regard basic morality as an absolute, objective thing. In this, they are in agreement with conservatism. But most of the undecided do not really understand the corrosive nature of moral relativism and never bother to note that the same folks who classify healthcare, the environment and "torture" as pressing moral matters are also the ones who tell folks that they "cannot legislate morality" and that "there is no right or wrong, only different opinions".
My question at this point is whether there is interest in a more detailed examination of questions like these? I have a lot of background in college level education and made a number of observations about how people think and how it is related to a misunderstanding of conservative vs. liberal beliefs.
I really believe that we are at a critical juncture and would be happy to share my thoughts on these issues if there is any interest in the topics because I DO strongly believe that these are critical yet underexamined issues. Any comments would be appreciated.