Even after my last post, some of you are probably still convinced that conservatives, on the whole, have less-than-pure motives.  This seems so obvious to you that you still feel no need to explore and understand the reasons behind our beliefs and actions.  Let me then offer a less politically charged illustration from everyday life that might motivate you to change your mind...

There is a strange movement afoot among women in both secular and Christian circles.  A few brave women have started asking the question, "What if men aren't horribly inept creatures after all?  What if they actually have reasons for the things that they do?  And what if those reasons are actually valid and good?"  These women have discovered to their amazement that it was their own misunderstanding of the motives and purposes of men that led them to believe men were selfish oafs.  In fact, the men did have the best interest of others in mind but were merely pursuing the good from a masculine direction--a direction that was unfamiliar, and therefore unrecognized, by the women.  Only now can these women appreciate what men have to offer.

I was reminded of this as I thought about the anger I hear from liberals toward conservatives.  The complaints seem to be very similar to complaints of women against men--conservatives don't want to help people, they don't care, etc.  I think just as women have misunderstood men, liberals are misunderstanding conservatives.  Conservatives merely have different ideas about what will help people and how to go about it.  Should the government collect money from us to give to others, or should we give on our own?  Will more programs be the long-term solution for the issues of our day, or is it better for people in the long run to develop a personal sense of responsibility for their future?  Should people be protected by law from being offended (as in the case of "under God" in the pledge), or should they develop and strengthen their character by being around things with which they disagree?

As with women and men, it's a nurture and protection perspective versus one that values growth in personal strength and responsibility.  As with women and men, liberals assume that conservatives are selfish oafs.  And as with women and men, it's the liberals' misinterpretation of conservative motives that prevents them from appreciating the perspective conservatives have to offer and engaging them in productive discourse.