The following is an editorial by David M. Huntwork
Time and time again I have been accused of being on the “wrong side of
history” when it comes to the arguments over abortion and, especially, to
so-called gay marriage. This linguistic fad has exploded in use lately as if
history itself is the sole arbitrator of what is right and true. It is the
weapon of utter dismissiveness that is boldly and routinely wielded by the Left.
One should, in reality, not
be interested in being on the “right side of history,” but on the right side of
right and wrong.
The most recent and sudden
burst of Leftist momentum in the culture wars have Progressives engaging in
histrionic vitriol on a massive scale. Progressives make the fundamental
mistake of feeling that being in lockstep with or creating social fads and
whims of popular opinion at this particular moment in history is equivalent to being
on the “right side of history.” Nothing could be further from the truth.
History is full of
misguided ideological “isms" that seized the moment and manipulated cultures,
societies, and circumstances all the while declaring themselves on the “right
side of history.” The “right side of history” argument is an appeal to the
authority of an imagined future that hasn’t even happened yet and an attempt to
convince the opposition that resistance is futile while their agenda is
inevitable. Few in our present generation fully realize that national
socialism, fascism, Marxism, and even anarchism were each considered by a great
number of people not that long ago the new, great, and inevitable ideology that
would usher in a new utopian age.
They were mostly seen as
movements of the young, often centered on charismatic personalities, challenged
the old norms and values, and were to be the great correctors of all the
societal ills and wrongs that had come before them. They could not picture
themselves as being anything but on the “right side of history.” In the end,
each ended up being cast upon the ashbin of history were they belonged.
Opposing them was choosing to be on right side of right and wrong, despite
being declared as being on the “wrong side of history” and obstructing their
“inevitable” whirlwind of social and cultural change.
The conservative ideology
has never overly concerned itself with the whims of popular opinion and the
surges of mob mentality that have on occasion affected the political realm. It
is a political philosophy that seeks to stand on the shoulders of the wise men that
preceded us and the tried-and-true principles of the past while seeking to
bring hope and intelligent change to the future. Conservatives reject the
concept of governing by the whims of the moment, the passing fads of popular
opinion, or the panic of momentary crisis.
Progressives, like the
other radical “ sms" of the last century, seek to overturn the morals,
traditions, and values of the past instead of building and improving upon them.
And that is a stark contrast to conservatism. Progressivism declares that
rejecting the concept of the sanctity of innocent human life and cheerleading
all attempts to redefine, degrade, trivialize, breakdown, mock, and otherwise
downplay marriage and the family as it has been traditionally defined since the
beginning of mankind is being on the “right side of history.” They could
not be more wrong.
While the Right sees
traditional marriage and family structure as the most elementary and important
building block of civilization the Left views it as little more than a
confining legacy that is nothing but a breeding ground of patriarchy and
misogyny and should be, at best, viewed with suspicion and perhaps even with
some open hostility. That explains the recent, full-fledged assault on the
institution of marriage and what it is has always been. For as soon as marriage
is anything other than a compact between one man and one woman then it loses
its cohesion and structure and becomes just whatever one chooses it to be. And
once it has been degraded enough, the institution of marriage loses its
integral role and structural place in modern culture and society. Destroy the
family, and the State has to fill that role and void in society. That is the
ultimate goal of the new social engineers and their idea of the “right side of
history.” There should be no shame in opposing such agendas.
Progressivism deserves all
the scorn and contempt that has ever been heaped upon it. Its various isms and
championed causes are in direct contradiction to the tried and true principles
that have been passed down throughout history and it is as much a morally
bankrupt and intellectually dishonest ideology as any of the more infamous ones
that preceded it.
When mankind fails to build upon the wisdom of the ancients and rejects the most basic of tried and true principles and institutions, then it loses its way as it blunders blindly into the future. In reality, history does not have sides, only historians do. I care not what some historian may someday declare of my ideological views or that I advocate timeless principles. What I do care about, in the end, is having been a champion of what is right and true no matter what.
David Huntwork is a conservative activist, blogger, and columnist and the proud father of three daughters. The son, grandson, and great-grandson of Ministers of the Gospel he brings a unique blended background of theology and ideology to the great debates of the day. He believes that Faith, Family, and Freedom is the formula for success and the key to a good life and a healthy nation. David blogs at Constitutionclub.org. You can contact him at Davehuntwork@juno.com.
When mankind fails to build upon the wisdom of the ancients and rejects the most basic of tried and true principles and institutions, then it loses its way as it blunders blindly into the future. In reality, history does not have sides, only historians do. I care not what some historian may someday declare of my ideological views or that I advocate timeless principles. What I do care about, in the end, is having been a champion of what is right and true no matter what.
David Huntwork is a conservative activist, blogger, and columnist and the proud father of three daughters. The son, grandson, and great-grandson of Ministers of the Gospel he brings a unique blended background of theology and ideology to the great debates of the day. He believes that Faith, Family, and Freedom is the formula for success and the key to a good life and a healthy nation. David blogs at Constitutionclub.org. You can contact him at Davehuntwork@juno.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment