Dear disaffected liberal
You are committed to principles, but find those who share your partisan stripes don't always share those principles.
Dear disaffected liberal,
For years, I tried to work with the woke members of your political coalition. I built bridges and took their grievances seriously. I know you have made similar efforts.
Ultimately, what I learned is that many (not all) woke liberals will change their principles and values whenever it's politically or financially beneficial to do so. And many (not all) woke liberals will try to ruin the careers of people who don't change with them. Because, if you don't change, you become an inconvenient reminder of their own lack of conviction.
I'm sure you can relate. You are committed to principles, but find those who share your partisan stripes don't always share those principles.
Of course, it's natural to question if you can trust somebody who today wants to cancel you for beliefs he or she also held five years ago. Why should any of us accept being insulted and demeaned by the portion of activists, journalists and academics who try to move the window every few months on what's acceptable to think or say?
For those who do not fit this description, but still identify as liberal, I hope to work with you. I am a conservative, but I believe there are many good things we can do together for our country. Whenever our paths cross, I look forward to finding common ground.
Still, I also hope you understand why many of your fellow citizens have become very cautious when dealing with individuals on the political left, and any fake conservatives who do the bidding of the political left.
Wherever you land on the political spectrum, my ask is that you help to build a community of people who believe that debate and dialogue are good. Genuine conversation is good.
If you feel what I'm saying, please keep up the good fight in whatever ways you can. God bless.
Thanks Jamil, all the best on March 22/24, wish I could be there. My 2¢; more than savvy marketing (although conservatives could take some lessons on that topic, no doubt), or being too preoccupied by the latest daily political dust-ups, conservatives need to put forward a vision that can rebuild Canada’s foundation and inspires confidence, engagement, and trust across the spectrum (allowing for the fact there’s no convincing some). Working for posterity has to be core to our mission. I look forward to hearing what comes from CS&FN conference and have high expectations so don’t disappoint 😉. FYI I considered myself hovering around the political center until I read ‘Conservatism A Rediscovery’ (Yoram Hazony). Here I realized the grassroots, distributed (tribal) nature of conservatism is a feature, not a bug as our friends on the Left and MSM would have us believe. Needs some interpretation to put a 🇨🇦 stamp on it but I highly recommend.
Too few people with any grasp of history to even understand that now. The young people from the past that were aligned with the old ACLU and speaking truth to power are gone. The new generation has their brains marinated in safetism and DEI are useful idiots in ushering forth a censorial autocratic regime.