For the record, Republican doesn’t equal “Moral” or “Righteous”
Published: June 02, 2009
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Throughout the course of my brief time as a writer, I've generally been able to pin "opponents" by brand. There's the "You're Too Young to Know Anything So Go Back and Finish College First" brand of people. There's also the "I Think You're an Uncle Tom, Coon, Sell-out Because You Talked Bad About Jesse Jackson And it Rubbed Me the Wrong Way" brand of people. Lastly, there's my personal favorite: the "I'm An Atheist and A Democrat and I Think You're Stooopid" brand of people. I am quite familiar with all these schools of thought. However, just when you think you're on top of your game, a new brand emerges. Well, somewhat new to me at least. Earlier this summer, I was introduced to what appears to be the most dangerous of all the brands of opposition: the "I'm a Republican and Am Therefore by Default Righteous and Moral" people. Boy does this one open up a can of worms. These people are dangerous because they are deceived.
For whatever reason (personal attachment perhaps), quite a few individuals have taken umbrage with the fact that A) I am not a Republican and B) I refuse to believe that the sun shines out of the Republican Party’s posterior. That said, I feel the need to make something clear: being a Republican does not equate to righteousness or morality any more than being a member of a particular denomination makes someone a follower of Jesus Christ. Republicans are not the saviors of the world; they’re not even the saviors of the government. They are a political party capable of wrongdoing like anyone else.
What’s more disturbing to me is our society’s definition of “Conservatism”. Look, I don’t pretend to be an expert on these things, but the face of Conservatism in America is in my most humble opinion, sketchy. I say this because from one person to the next, there are a zillion different brands of what it means to profess “Conservative values”. It’s almost cringe-worthy.
These days, people should be apprehensive about calling themselves any political title with all the poor and confusing representations out there for the naked eye to see.
Take the case of noted homosexual author Andrew Sullivan, whose sexual orientation I point out only because it appears that his entire identity and framework for thinking is wrapped up in it (which is only to be expected). Sullivan has long been touted as a prominent Conservative writer or what I call the “Gay hope of the Right”. The “Right” of course, seems to hold on to him with a death grip while simultaneously transmitting the subliminal signal of, “Hey look, you can be a conservative and be gay too so like us please like us, we’re not homophobic, really we’re not!” And yet, on just about every social issue, Mr. Sullivan and I contend.
Recently, I read one of Sullivan’s articles in which he pins Pixar’s latest flick “The Incredibles” as too conservative. Apparently, the mother and father figure family representation is just too preachy. Which leads me to the next question of what exactly is everyone trying to “conserve” these days? Conserve what? Conserve who? If I may utilize one of my favorite phrases known to the late nineties, “Bump that.” Some of the individuals who claim themselves to be Conservatives are not interested in conserving much of anything let alone traditional values.
Enter this whole idea of people being “socially liberal” and “fiscally conservative”. Whatever. I’m not going to get into how much that bothers me because I realize that people are entitled to think and believe whatever they want to. But I will say this: I’m so tired of everyone defining their identity by a political ideology. Throughout my life, I’ve made a fairly good effort not to allow myself to succumb to the pressure of conforming to other peoples’ beliefs about what’s right for this country.
I’m tired of the high and mighty attitude that accompanies the Republican Party wherein there too is evil and wickedness and improper motives. It bothers me that on any given day, I can read the words of people who profess to be “Conservative” or “Republican” and want to hurl. Yes, hurl. Because well, I am being reminded of the painful reality that the existence of political parties has given birth to a collective false sense of righteousness that God never intended.
So I’m sorry to all of those who are irritated that I won’t worship at the altar of the Republican Party. A political party or ideology will never get my worship (nor should it). Republicans certainly are a sacred cow these days. For the record, Conservative does not equal Republican, nor vice versa. Unfortunately, the idea of what it means to be “Conservative” is up for extensive debate and equating any of these things to morality or righteousness will ultimately be to our demise.
Quite frankly, it’s all getting a little disgusting.
Ambra Nykol is a columnist for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Soundpolitics.com, Seaspot magazine and Modestly Yours. She owns and blogs at nykola.com where she's been bothering people since 1981.
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