Are conservatives in the closet?
Graphic courtesy of Vox
October 28, 2019
The words “Liberal” and “Conservative” are very divisive currently, as the world runs on assumptions and preconceived notions. Part of this divisiveness is the comes from the current political climate, part from ignorance, and a major part from fear. Fear can take several forms and its most common manifestation is hatred. So, when I came to the United States as a student at a predominantly progressive Liberal Arts College, I was quickly taken by the “closeted” conservatives on campus.
Rhodes College has a student Republican group, but what caught my attention were a group of people who felt that they had to be “liberal” to fit in. What they could not hide from a resilient observer was their unspoken disagreements to some of the viewpoints brought up, some of it pertaining to the Pro-Life Movement, Gun Control, taxes, or other issues.
Around the world, it has been acknowledged that students, the future of the globe, are key to ideological and political conversations. We are “new and fresh” with a different take on issues. For a democracy to run smoothly, diversity of opinion at the student level is not just important, it is imperative. So, after my initial observations, I decided to speak to X (name withheld at the request of the interviewee) about why he wouldn’t speak about what he believed in. He smartly quipped: “Because I’ll be called a Nazi. And I’m Jewish.” Upon further conversation, he spoke about the lack of distinction between “conservative-leaning” and a conservative. “People just don’t research, they go off on their feelings without realizing they are demonizing others. How inclusive!” says X after a long sip from his iced tea in the Refectory. When pressed about the role of the Trump Administration in how conservatives are viewed, he politely says, “If people feel that an ideology is limited to certain leaders they don’t agree with, they are fools who cannot back up their statements nor validate their arguments.”
Just to get a viewpoint from the other side of the conversation, I spoke to an outspoken liberal-leaning freshman about conservatism as an ideology and its advent on the Rhodes campus. He said: “The conversation may be respectful but it’s 2019, and we can’t help but speak out. I get it when conservatives talk about isolation. Most likely, people like me are part of it. But we are passionate, and we are outspoken. That’s us.” While his passion was contagious, he also helped validate what X said in a very decisive way. Who’s to be blamed? That’s the question.
Conversation is best when participants speak their truth. As the group of people who will one day be an integral part of this nation and the global community, it is important to not just encourage diversity of thought, but also to accept differing viewpoints with open arms and ears. Rhodes rightly prides itself for prioritizing inclusion, so we need to ensure that we disagree without demonization and allow our peers to be their true, authentic selves.
Caroline Ellsworth • Nov 22, 2019 at 2:48 pm
As a liberal activist, I take great issue with the statements made by X, not for his views or ideas, but for the blatant perpetuation of the problem within which he is attempting to make himself the victim. I will not deny that the climate on campus is not always inclusive to people of all political ideologies, and this is a challenge that institutions nationwide are facing. Implying that liberals are hostile towards conservatives while referring to Democrats as “fools” or people who don’t do their research is entirely contradictory to approaching that challenge. If discussions that promote a diverse array of political opinions are what X wants, perhaps a good place to start is by emphasizing similarities and common goals, rather than insulting groups with opposing ideals. Furthermore, it is unrealistic to expect liberals to separate the Republican Party from the Trump Administration, as the GOP has demonstrated support for Trump which is tacit at minimum and explicitly vocal at at most. If you are willing to associate yourself with a party that is being led by Donald Trump, you must be prepared to deal with the consequences of his behavior on your party’s image. No one is a fool for acknowledging the impact that Trump has had on the GOP or the ways that Republicans nationwide have contributed to his rise. I am a firm believer that there is space on campus for all people. No one should feel marginalized for the color of their skin, their religion, their sexuality, their gender identity, their nationality, or their political ideology. But judging someone based on their hostile rhetoric and their holding a condescending assumption that liberals don’t understand their beliefs because they won’t educate themselves is entirely fair. I am a liberal who will judge you for offensive language and for making me feel as though I am less educated for holding the beliefs that I do, not for your party affiliation. Action must be taken on campus, and throughout the nation, to encourage communication and the search for common ground between partisan ideologies. Sitting in the Rat and sipping iced tea while victimizing yourself for being discriminated against by people who you believe are too poorly educated to respect your beliefs cannot be mistaken for such action.
Web Webster • Oct 28, 2019 at 11:56 am
Thirty years removed from my time at Rhodes, I’d assert the the liberal/conservative divide has *always* existed at 2000 N Pkwy. The Class of ‘90 elected Reagan to a second term and then his VP GHW Bush.
What’s shifted in 30 years is the willingness for the entire conversation to evolve into vitriol and ad hominem attacks from the jump. When the dialogue begins with either side assuming Godwin’s Law has already been met, the outcome is predetermined.
And whether it’s on campus or outside the gates, we’re all doing it.
If the point of a liberal arts education – or any post-secondary learning – is mastering the navigation of systems of thought, it feels like locking into the absolutes of either ideology is a waste of our time and “our parents’ money.”
Lighten up friends. There’s time enough for your views to calcify on the outside.