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Dalton Behie
Professor Fielding
WRTC 103 0029
18 September 2015

The Conservative
I consider myself to be a free thinker. There was once a time when
liberalism and progressivism were considered non-conformist ideologies. In
21st century America, however, this is no longer the case. It has become a
growing trend among Americans today, specifically the young people in the
country, to be critical of Americas traditional values. For this reason, the
conservatives of today are subject to harsh stereotypes and unfavorable
generalizations. My own conservative beliefs serve as an example of how it is
unfair to make such generalizations about, not only Americas conservatives,
but Americas youth as a whole.
What does it mean to be a conservative? Today, the word
conservative is often associated with a host of ignorant and contemptible
prejudices. Chances are, you have heard the claims that conservatives are all
rich, white supremacists with a hateful and bigoted nature. You have most
likely heard that they are racists and sexists who hate poor people and enjoy
taking advantage of them. Perhaps the most common claim against
conservatives is that they are all Bible-thumpers, zealous persecutors of
those who do not share the same Judeo-Christian values. In reality,

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conservatives are not identified as any of these. Rather, they are

conventionalists, who subscribe to a set of traditional values.
There are two major ideas that America was founded upon, that, as a
conservative, I find to be both sacred and essential. The first of these ideas is
the concept of the American Dream. Today, it seems to be a widely
accepted delusion that the American Dream is about fairness. There seems
to be an almost subconscious perception that it is somehow un-American for
us to live in a society where one man is wealthy and the other is poor. While
it would be ideal for us to live in a society with this sort of maximum
equality, it is evident throughout history, that this idea is simply impractical. I
believe that the Blessings of Liberty that the founding fathers outlined in
the United States Constitution are the blessings of unhindered potential. The
true American Dream is equal opportunity for all to work towards
prosperity and success, no matter their race, gender, or background
circumstances. My perspective on the American Dream directly contradicts
the natural mindset of young people in America today. In my selfie at the end
of this essay, I am standing in front of the dont tread on me flag, a symbol
used by the founding fathers and by many conservatives today.
The second of these ideas is that we are a society founded on JudeoChristian principles. Few people today are willing to accept this fact. The
founding fathers were heavily influenced by the philosophers of the
enlightenment period, such as Edmund Burke, and especially John Locke, but
they were also heavily influenced by the Bible. All of the founding fathers

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were believers in God, and this is clearly evident in Declaration, as well as

many other documents written by them.
However, just because I believe that the United States was founded on
Judeo-Christian principles, does not mean that I am in favor of zealous
persecution of non-Christians. The Declaration of Independence, itself, states
that all men are created equal. This belief debunks all claims that
conservatives are bigoted or prejudiced. It is, in fact, because of these JudeoChristian principles that the conservative believes in equal potential for all
people, regardless of gender, race, or background.
Of course, conservatism is not only a political ideology. Thus, not only
do I contradict the stereotypes commonly placed on political conservatives,
but I also contradict the preconceived notion that all young people in this
country conform to an anti-traditional lifestyle. I was raised in a Christian
conservative family. My father was a working man and my mother was a
stay-at-home mom, who worked just as hard, taking care of the house and
schooling my siblings and me. People tend to make generalizations about
homeschoolers as well, claiming that they are all sheltered. If being sheltered
can be defined as being shielded from sex, drugs, and alcohol as a young
child, then perhaps I was sheltered. But, I was certainly not un-socialized in
any way, for we also greatly valued the importance of community and
friendships. I also believe in the importance of marriage. Someday I, too,
hope to be a working man, to get married, and to have a family of my own.

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Some of the generalizations placed on the young people of America

today are also quite harsh. College kids are naturally associated with wild
parties, severe overindulgence in alcohol consumption (even when
underage), sex with many different partners, and even consumption of
various forms of drugs. They are also associated with being generally liberal
minded, yet also knowing and caring very little about government and
politics altogether. And, naturally they are associated with the cultural trends
of today in the areas of rap and pop music, popular brands of fashion, and
television shows. In this case, my conventional views are rather
unconventional among my peers of today.
Even as a student in college, I tend to stick to my traditional sense of
values. I do not go to wild parties, drink alcohol, or do drugs. I also generally
do not have any interest in Americas modern cultural trends. I tend to like
older music, and collecting vinyl music records is my biggest hobby. I pay
little attention to fashion, and prefer to just dress in what is the most
comfortable to me, rather than what is the best looking. And, although I
sometimes enjoy the popular entertainment shows on television, I enjoy
watching historical documentaries or watching the news. In the selfie at the
end of this essay, you can see my typical clothing which is comfortable and
casual.
It is ignorant to make the generalization that conservatives are hateful,
bigoted, or prejudiced against people of a certain race or gender. My own
views and lifestyle are examples of the true set of conservative ideas, that

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we all have a God-given right to equal potential, no matter who we are. In

my peer group today, I am seen as unique. This is a time where my
conventionalist views are seen as unconventional by the contemporary
ideals of my peers. Despite the generalizations, we must continue to have
hope in Americas young people today. My beliefs show the falsehood in
stereotyping todays conservatives and young people as a whole.

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Works Cited

Cunningham, Sean P. Conservative, Conservatism. 2008. Web. 17 Sept. 2015.

United States. National Archives and Records Administration. The Charters of
Freedom. US National Archives and Records Administration. Web. 18 Sept.
2015.
Levin, Mark R. Liberty and Tyranny: A Conservative Manifesto. New York:
Threshold Editions, 2009. Print.

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