Us vs. Them

Too often people use an argument that could basically be boiled down to Us vs. Them. It basically comes down to something like the following.

• We don't like that X is happening.
• Group A seems to be affected most by X
• Group B is less affected by X because of circumstance Y
• Group B must be responsible for X because of circumstance Y
• Group B Causes X
• A is in direct opposition to B
• B wants to keep X happening to A
• Us vs. Them

The problem with this is that correlation does not necessarily mean causation. Just because situations are related, does not automatically mean that one causes the other. There are also a number of effects of this Us Vs. Them mentality.

Lack of personal Responsibility: (If I can blame somebody else, it's not my fault)

• It's so much easier to find somebody else to blame for my problems than to look to myself for a solution. If somebody else is responsible for my problems then should should I expect that somebody else will be responsible for my solutions? The problem with this is that the only person who we can truly control is ourselves. We cannot control our circumstances, but we can control our response to them. We have complete control over every word and action that comes from us. We choose, how we react to circumstances. If we try to expect, coerce, or force the solutions to our problems from others, we our setting ourselves up for disappointment. Over time, this disappointment grows and begins to gain a life of it's own. It so consumes us, that we are no longer to look honestly at ourselves for a possible solution. We become blinded to the possibility that we might be able to change our own circumstances. We become reliant upon circumstances, which soon leads to a slavery to circumstances.
  

The Assumption that "they" will always be there.

• This is a hard one. If we have staked our lives on what "they" do, then what happens if "they" go away?
  

Perpetuation of the differences.

• Sometimes the emphasis on the differences will actually serve to make the differences greater.
  

Now let's look at what can happen if we remove the "us vs. them" paradigm.

• Hope

Our Duty

So the previous post had a list of definitions from various sources on "conservative" and one source of the root word "conserve." If we strip it away from the political usage in order to understand how the political usage began I see a few key definitions that stand out to me.

Conservative:

• Adhering to traditional values and Ideals.
• Disposed to preserve and keep existing conditions, institutions, etc., or to restore traditional ones, and to limit change.
• Cautiously moderate or purposefully low: a conservative estimate.
  

Conserve: *

• To protect from loss or harm
• To use carefully or sparingly, avoiding waste.
  

Given these definitions, I put forth that as a conservative, it is our duty to

• Learn from our past>The Good. Tranditions and institutions and existing ideals have developed over time for a reason. Often through repeated trial and error. With respect to the test of time, traditional ways should be given the benefit of the doubt.
• Learn from our past> The Bad. We can't, however, assume that just because it's the way things have always been done does NOT mean that it is good, right, or the best. So we should be able to look honestly and critically on tradition. The good, right, and the best, will stand up to criticism.
• Protect and Preserve. We should be protectors of our society. As we find what is right and good, we should protect that with everything that we have within ourselves.
• Be careful with change. Change can be good, but it can be bad as well. I do not advocate that we resist change at all costs, but rather be careful.
  

On Definitions

Let's define the word "conservative."

Conservative: From Meriam Webster

• ¹con·ser·va·tive
• Pronunciation: \kən-ˈsər-və-tiv\
• Function: adjective
• Date: 14th century

1 : preservative
2 a : of or relating to a philosophy of conservatism b capitalized : of or constituting a political party professing the principles of conservatism: as (1) : of or constituting a party of the United Kingdom advocating support of established institutions (2) : progressive conservative
3 a : tending or disposed to maintain existing views, conditions, or institutions : traditional b : marked by moderation or caution conservative estimate> c : marked by or relating to traditional norms of taste, elegance, style, or manners
4 : of, relating to, or practicing Conservative Judaism

Conservative: from Thefreedictionary
con·ser·va·tive (kn-sûrv-tv)

adj.

1. Favoring traditional views and values; tending to oppose change.

2. Traditional or restrained in style: a conservative dark suit.

3. Moderate; cautious: a conservative estimate.

4.

a. Of or relating to the political philosophy of conservatism.

b. Belonging to a conservative party, group, or movement.

5. Conservative Of or belonging to the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom or the Progressive Conservative Party in Canada.

6. Conservative Of or adhering to Conservative Judaism.

7. Tending to conserve; preservative: the conservative use of natural resources.

n.

1. One favoring traditional views and values.

2. A supporter of political conservatism.

3. Conservative A member or supporter of the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom or the Progressive Conservative Party in Canada.

4. Archaic A preservative agent or principle.

con⋅serv⋅a⋅tive

  /kənˈsɜrvətɪv/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [kuhn-sur-vuh-tiv] Show IPA

Use conservative in a Sentence

–adjective

1.	disposed to preserve existing conditions, institutions, etc., or to restore traditional ones, and to limit change.

2.	cautiously moderate or purposefully low: a conservative estimate.

3.	traditional in style or manner; avoiding novelty or showiness: conservative suit.

4.	(often initial capital letter) of or pertaining to the Conservative party.

5.	(initial capital letter) of, pertaining to, or characteristic of Conservative Jews or Conservative Judaism.

6.	having the power or tendency to conserve; preservative.

7.	Mathematics. (of a vector or vector function) having curl equal to zero; irrotational; lamellar.

–noun

8.	a person who is conservative in principles, actions, habits, etc.

9.	a supporter of conservative political policies.

10.	(initial capital letter) a member of a conservative political party, esp. the Conservative party in Great Britain.

11.	a preservative.

---

Origin:
1350–1400; < class="ital-inline">conservātīvus, equiv. to L conservāt(us) (see conservation ) + -īvus -ive; r. ME conservatif < MF < class="luna-Img" src="http://cache.lexico.com/dictionary/graphics/luna/thinsp.png" alt="" border="0">

Related forms:

con⋅serv⋅a⋅tive⋅ly, adverb

con⋅serv⋅a⋅tive⋅ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To conservative

con·ser·va·tive (kən-sûr'və-tĭv) adj. Favoring traditional views and values; tending to oppose change. Traditional or restrained in style: a conservative dark suit. Moderate; cautious: a conservative estimate. Of or relating to the political philosophy of conservatism. Belonging to a conservative party, group, or movement. Conservative Of or belonging to the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom or the Progressive Conservative Party in Canada. Conservative Of or adhering to Conservative Judaism. Tending to conserve; preservative: the conservative use of natural resources. n. One favoring traditional views and values. A supporter of political conservatism. Conservative A member or supporter of the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom or the Progressive Conservative Party in Canada. Archaic A preservative agent or principle. con·ser'va·tive·ly adv., con·ser'va·tive·ness n.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

con·serve (kn-sûrv)

v. con·served, con·serv·ing, con·serves

v.tr.1.

a. To protect from loss or harm; preserve: calls to conserve our national heritage in the face of bewildering change.

b. To use carefully or sparingly, avoiding waste

Have A Clear Voice

WE have a need in this country to have a clear voice. For too long, those who would be considered conservatives have been misunderstood and maligned to be the "bad guys" those who would deny freedom, try to oppress the underdog and the working class, discriminate against those who are different. Promote those who are in power and no others.

Well, it is time to clear our voice, and restate our beliefs. It is my firm conviction that many people who oppose "conservative ideals" would, in fact, be drawn to them if they understood what they are and why they are. So... No more stereotypes. No more misunderstanding. Let's remove the noise and make ourselves clear.