After reading this gets me thinking about how conservatives want to "get things back to the way they used to be" in this country. When saying that, I wonder if they really have considered the way things used to be. This country has come a long way, but still has a ways to go. We can't deny our dark history or make pretend that it never happened. What do Christians mean when they say they need to take back this country for Christ? The way things used to be is segregation, slavery, no rights for women, no rights for blacks. This is part of our country's history. This is what God "intended" for our "great nation" when He created it. This is the "Christian Nation."
Is this what they want to return to? I know of no other history.
Being a black man who is also gay and atheist, I felt somewhat embarrassed that when gay marriage was being considered in DC there were a number of black pastors and ministers who were saying they needed to band together to stop it from happening. I think black people should be the last ones(actually never do it in the first place) to want to deny someone else civil rights. Do they remember how long and hard we worked for it!
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The America which conservatives want to return to is indeed an America where institutions, practices, and habits are far more infused with traditional Christianity than they are now. We should, however, look more closely and critically at what all of that would be like. We shouldn't romanticize the past; instead, we should openly discuss some of the problems which conservative Christian want to visit upon modern society.
I'm not sure how many have conveniently forgotten how bad things were in the past for various minorities and how many do remember and just don't care -- after all, they aren't part of any of those minorities and so can expect to have an even stronger, more privileged social position in such circumstances. In fact, I suspect that exactly that is part of the goal for some: increasing their privileges and social standing. That is, after all, a chief motive for many of their complaints about "persecution": the loss of special privileges for and deference towards Christians.
I think “get the country back to where it used to be” are codewords, as well, for ” I refuse to recognize a black man as MY president. How dare he even assume he’s fit to govern us white folks”.
They just can’t stand the idea. Prove me wrong, and I’ll gladly withdraw my statement. I think I’m right on the mark!
I know I’m being pedantic, but technically a reactionary wants to go back to the way things were, and a conservative wants to keep things the way they are.
Of course, all that means is that some people who call themselves conservatives are really reactionaries.
I think it’s the same old longing for the “good old days” that people say about nearly EVERYTHING. Myself, for instance… as cool as the classic 60′s/early 70′s musclecars were – Charger Daytonas, Superbirds, Boss Mustangs – modern cars are still packed with standard things those classics seldom had.
As Carly Simon sang, THESE are the good old days.