"You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life."
This is perhaps my favourite quote from Sir Winston Churchill because it calls me to action. To be fearless in the face of opposition and to stand up straight, look people in the eye and say what I mean.
I know too many Conservatives who behave as closeted gays do. They hide their inherent nature in order not to cause conflict with friends and loved ones. In both circumstances this is frustrating and sad.
I feel compassion for gays and lesbians who must live in fear of serious reprisals - the dangers they face are real but that is a story for another day.Now closeted Conservatives - sorry I don't have a great deal of empathy for you. How about we start a new term - CloCons?
CloCons are an interesting breed. They are so good at their personal subterfuge that when you speak with them you may think to yourself "Wow, now that's right wing" and you would never guess that they only come out in "safe" places. Heaven forbid they express an opinion when it really counts!This past May I went to a women's retreat with someone who I thought was a really good friend and a friend of hers.
Yes I knew that the place would be littered with women who ate no meat, didn't shave their arm pits and wore socks with sandals! But honestly, I was just looking forward to being somewhere I could read in peace and quiet. Inevitably I found myself engaged in conversations where I took on the lemmings blindly following Al Gore over the cliff. (I tried to save them from their own folly I really did!)
So what happened - my good friend who is Conservative said not a word and even chastised me for being "confrontational". The other gal would come up to me when no one else was around and say she agreed with me completely but just couldn't speak out like I did. After all we should just all try to get along.
What????
Isn't this what is called appeasement? We see how well that worked for Neville Chamberlain and I suspect we will soon enough bear witness as to how it is going to work for Obama. However I digress.When we don't stand up for our core values we not only show a clear disrespect for ourselves but we contribute to the erosion of those principles which define and guide us.
That is what the CloCons should fear! Not the imagined reprisals that will be visited upon them by lefties. What is the worse that can happen? Bullying, shunning -someone won't be your friend anymore.
Well, let me say this Dianna hasn't spoken to me since that retreat and I am good with that. What you do is put on your big boy pants and get over it. Move on! Professional reprisals - come on!
Really.
Are you really telling me that a water cooler conversation where people are talking issues of the day will result in the loss of promotion, job or pension because you voice an opinion contrary to the sanctimonious champagne socialist spouting nonsense? Sprout a spine already!
I am tired of hearing the Liberals refer to themselves as the natural governing party of Canada and I am really tired of them getting away with it.
And they are getting away with it because so many CloCons don't speak up with their friends, coworkers or family to help change that perception.
Thank you for your vote and your donation but remember that while actions have consequences, your inaction has impact too!
Crossposted at Rightchik
