The Nature of American Conservatism #5
This series of blogs is based upon William Bennett and John Cribb’s new book, America the Strong: Conservative Ideas to Spark the Next Generation.
They suggest that the key features of Conservatism are easily remembered using the acronym “FLINT”. This word stands for:
F=Free Enterprise
L=Limited Government
I=Individual Liberty
N=National Defense
T=Traditional Values
“N” stands for National Defense.
American conservatism has always advocated a strong, very strong, national defense.
What makes sense to me, for an entire nation, also makes perfect sense at the individual level.
I was a big and kind-hearted child on my grade school play ground. Though I did not understand it at the time, it was not long before several school yard bully’s set their sights on the big easy-going target that I was.
I complained to my parents about the situation and was told to walk away, tell the teacher and not get into trouble at school. That was their duty and I tried those tactics to no avail.
My dad who had experience as a boxer bought me some wights and taught me how to lift them safely and productively. He also bought us some boxing gloves, and he taught me the fine art of pugalism.
He did so admonishing me to never start a fight, but be prepared to protect yourself if aggressed against.
My confidence grew.
My Uncle Dean visited and taught me some judo and jujitsu self-defense moves.
I will never forget the day that I walked straight onto the playground and over to where the boys liked play and rough-house play. I told the bully’s that if they would like to fight me they should to “bring it on”.
One tormentor took me up on my offer and, though no real harm was done, I physically taught him a lesson for all to see.
That was the end of all such troubles for me. “The word was-out” on the big nice-guy…”don’t try to bully or intimidate, Tommy”.
I never bullied other kids, but later I did stepped-in on a couple of occasions to protect some who who were being bullied by others.
The same principles are at play on the world playground, among Nation States.
This should be plain to see for those who are not trying to subvert America’s great conservative traditions of individual liberty.
The “wisdom of the ages” is seldom wrong: As the wise old saying goes: “If you want peace, prepare for war“, or, “Si vis pacem, para bellum” from Flavius Vegetius Renatus circa 375 AD .
Of course our bright, well-read and world history-savvy Founding Fathers knew this and they built this prescription for survival into America’s Constitution: A document that is quintessentially CONSERVATIVE in philosophy.
From William Bennett and John Cribb’s new book come the following quotes:
“God grants liberty only to those who love it, and are always ready to guard and defend it”, Daniel Webster (Kindle Loc. 2184).
“Among the many objects to which a wise and free people find it necessary to direct their attention, that of providing for their safety seems to be the first”, (Kindle Loc. 2190).
Please read the following short article documenting America’s recent failure to properly fund our military and provide for our National Defense.
This at a time of dramatically increasing Islamic war against America, Isrial, and the whole of Western Civilization; as well as startling increases in China’s and Russia’s militancy against the Western interests.
http://townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2011/11/21/founding_fathers_defense_is_the_governments_job
Please vote accordingly.
V. Thomas Mawhinney, 11/5/15
Cultural Survival Skills 