In the current election season, I would be remiss in not calling
attention to a promising notion that has gone unnoticed between the
rain and midterms. Motivated by recent events, I hesitantly express
my obloquy towards my supposed political allies.
Fashioned after the queer community’s celebration of
National Coming Out Week, The Bruin Republicans followed suit with
their own Conservative Culture Week, including a Conservative
Coming Out Day. At face value, this may seem like a cruel parody of
the serious process of disclosing one’s sexuality. Revealing
one’s political persuasion is a valid experience, equally
challenging as sharing one’s sexual preference, especially in
inhospitable geographical and political climates.
My fellow Bruin Republicans missed a prime opportunity to
reverse a historical trend on the UCLA campus and initiate a
serious intellectual dialogue.
Conservative Culture Week should have been a time to share and
explore what conservatism is and means. (I question if conservatism
has a “culture,” but let’s shelve that discussion
for another time.)
Many, I daresay, are not well-read in conservatism and are not
cognisant of the various types of conservatisms that exist. This
week was a perfect chance to engage the minds of those unacquainted
with conservative ideologies.
Having a Flag Day, offering Kerry waffles, honoring our military
troops abroad, and even parading a pachyderm up and down Bruin Walk
are not examples of celebrating conservatism. Such acts only
demonstrate the resolve of political party affiliation and rallying
campaign support, failing to address the theme as suggested by the
satirical title of this week’s festivities. I am afraid the
message and philosophy conservatism, and what it means to be
conservative, was lost both to the Bruin Republicans and to those
passing through campus.
Such frivolous exhibitions lend credence to the ill repute the
Bruin Republicans earned and demonstrate an insensitivity toward
persons who are actively pursuing self-discovery.
Although, for myself, I have always been “out” as
conservative, I have experienced still the pain of being the queer
person among people who are unsympathetic to my disposition. They
condemn what they do not understand. By being conservative,
sometimes I must apologize before my acquaintances from the queer
community, from my African brothers and sisters, and from those
with whom I share like-minded apolitical interests.
I almost abide their intolerance. Out of disinterest, most truly
do not understand conservatism. Ignosat Deus sibi nam eorum
ignarorum. (Let God forgive them for their ignorance.) What is most
distressing is the display of ignorance of conservatism on the part
of the Bruin Republicans.
Charging the opposition for their positions on matters of state
and economic affairs is part of the course of playing politics and
is to be expected.
Debating legislative issues and foreign policies is an
acceptable form of political discussion but not a proper exercise
in philosophical discourse.
It is all well enough to practice conservatism in politics, but
if any intellectual reform or enlightenment is to come out of
labeling something conservative, then it must operate at the
scholastic level.
As academics, we must read, exchange ideas, and talk. Save the
speeches, the rallies and the protests for campaigns and elections.
Let us conserve conservatism for the domain of philosophical
activity and not misuse the term as a rogue agent.
The responsible act of promoting conservatism is sharing the
philosophy. As Goethe wrote, “To act is easy; to think is
hard.”
Ross is a second-year graduate student in mathematics. He is
also the editor of Nommo, a student newsmagazine that is a part of
ASUCLA Student Media ““ the Daily Bruin’s
publisher.