February 22, 2009

Nostalgia? Nah.

I know, I know, as conservatives we're not supposed to languish in the past and forget to fight for the future. Blah, blah, blah. It's true. But I was surfing this morning and came across this image and I couldn't resist posting it.

It's not languishing, it's not pining for the glory days of the Republican party or the glory days of America. It's just a great picture of a great man, in a great time. While we can't dwell on Reagan, there's no harm in celebrating him and what he did for conservatism.


Reagan was a giant. We need to remember his ideals, which were conservative ideals, not really his. He embraced them, and brought them to life in an engaging manner. Without Reagan it is incumbent upon all conservatives to try do do the same ourselves and not wait for our own political 'savior'. Reagan was probably a once-in-a-lifetime gift many of were fortunate enough to witness.
If we conservatives choose to wait for the next Reagan, we are then all Estragon and Vladimir (Waiting for Godot). Doing so is political suicide. The next Reagan will arrive when he or she arrives. Waiting is merely killing time and wasting opportunity. The next time a Reagan arrives on the scene, it's better for us to be ready, engaged, and able to support a conservative agenda with the ferocity with which our political opponents seem to be willing and able to apply to the ruination of the free market.
If Reagan were alive today, he'd tell you the same thing. His line about "I'm from the government and I'm here to help." is bigger than just the literal interpretation. It applies beyond that. It implies that self reliance, self-sufficiency and personal dedication is the path to success. It also holds a lesson for the GOP. You're not going to hear "I'm Reagan 2.0 and I'm here to help.", so you have to, as an organization, help yourselves. A few seem to understand that lesson and are bravely applying it. Others who will follow and not lead can be led astray (e.g. Specter or Collins or Snowe) so you as a party need to lead them down the right path.
For now, this means you Michael Steele. You need to put yourself amongst the conservative lions like Jim DeMint and lead. And for conservatives in every day life, you need to do the same. Educate, inspire, discuss, and engage those who don't understand. We don't need a Reagan to get epic victories, we can do it ourselves if we try.

2 comments:

  1. I see nothing wrong with looking at history and repeating what works and learning from past mistakes. Some in office should languish in the past and take notes.

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  2. I agree completely Bryan. That's what conservatism is predicated on - building on past learnings and values, not radical changes based on theory/dogma (particularly socialist or Marxist dogma).

    America has propsered over time based on how things were done in the past, not in spite of it. "If it ain't broke don't fix it." is a simplification, but it applies to American prosperity and it applies to conservatism.

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