Why I Am A Liberal

by Keith Cooper

I come from a very conservative background and my liberal views have long alienated me from my family. In fact, for years I shied away from the liberal label that I saw so maligned. A few years ago, though, my convictions moved me beyond restraint and I “came out” to my conservative family and friends as a proud liberal. Instrumental in my decision was the way the label was vilified in the mainstream.

Since Newt Gingrich began his propaganda assault against liberalism in the 90s, conservatives have been adept at framing the debate and controlling the political message. They essentially asserted that a vast left-wing conspiracy existed, led by the supposed liberal media. This was highly effective as it marginalized the liberal voice while shrouding the mainstream media with a shadow of doubt and mistrust. It succeeded largely because liberals, while focusing on issues of importance, were reluctant to take on the opposition and challenge the propaganda.

Liberals are portrayed as godless socialists, who hate America and don’t believe in anything. The fact is that we are passionate patriots, who know the difference between nationalism and patriotism. Because we value the spirit of the principles of democracy, justice and freedom outlined by our forebears, we stand against efforts to transform our nation into an imperial military state that compromises cherished civil liberties or commits atrocities in our name. We accept that there are dark passages of American history, but dream of a nation that fulfills the vision of our forefathers.

I am often called a pacifist but the fact is I believe there are several things worth fighting for, I just don’t believe that any of those values are represented in the current military agenda. And, while I favor exhausting diplomatic means before engaging in war, I understand that military action may be necessary to protect freedoms or thwart human rights abuses. Domestically, I believe that dissent is not only important but that it represents a vital form of patriotism and celebrates hard-won liberties like freedom of speech and the right to organize. It is the rebellious spirit of revolution, not that of aggression, that saw the birthing of our nation. It is in this spirit that I protest the war in Iraq, which was born of lies and misinformation to achieve an imperial agenda and to usher in a policy of preemptive warfare.

I have been seen as godless, but I cherish the freedom of religion that we enjoy today. I believe the key to that freedom is found in the constitutional provisions for the separation of church and state. The rights to prayer and worship are sacred and should be protected. However, a specific religion should not be imposed by the state, and the rule of law should not be prejudiced by a certain brand of faith. I believe the choice of worship should be equally available whether one is a Hindu, Muslim, Jew or Christian, and that the choice of an atheist not to worship should be respected under the First Amendment of the Constitution.

I believe that the widening gap between the poor and wealthy in this country is a travesty. I believe that the plight of the poor is not their responsibility, but the result of their station in our society. I believe that our system of capitalism as it works today serves to perpetuate poverty and insolate wealth. Very few are able to elevate themselves from poor beginnings to positions of means. A cycle of educational opportunity, corporate collusion and economic prejudice works in favor of the rich and to the detriment of the poor. Many conservatives propose a so-called “culture of ownership” or one of individual responsibility in which the individual takes responsibility for his economic status. However, unless there is a level economic playing field, such policies will only further widen the wealth gap.

I believe in human rights and civil liberties. I believe that a liberal spirit and progressive values have carried us out of some dark passages of American history. Those values are responsible for the end of slavery and of racial segregation. They held McCarthyism in check and held the government accountable for corruption and abuse of power. There is still a need for progressive voices to speak out against injustice, as fear, hate and prejudice continue to lead to hate crimes and even legislation that alienates certain groups.

I believe in principles that have the potential to make America great. I also accept that America has often missed the mark. She has oppressed and displaced Native Americans. She has blacklisted dissenters and labeled them communist. She has interned Japanese Americans during the Second World War because of their heritage. She has escalated a war in Vietnam over the lie of the Tonkin incident. She has built an imperialist foreign policy on a foundation of fear and rage. Only the liberal voice can prevent further abuses. That’s why I’m a liberal.

Why I Am A Conservative

by Gordon Cooper

Despite the onus that has been placed upon the label, namely that all conservatives are non-thinking, closed-minded, cold-hearted, racist, homophobic, war-mongering, hyper-capitalistic elitists, I proudly accept the title. I choose to identify myself as a conservative because it seems to best fit within my worldview.

First of all, let me describe my worldview.

My worldview stems from my acceptance of Christianity as the most valid and trustworthy account of how this world came to be, and, more importantly, how one can gain favor with its Creator. As a Christian, I believe that God created each individual with equal rights to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of happiness.

The first of these rights – LIFE – seems so self evident and universally accepted, that it may border on redundancy to state it here as a defense of conservatism. However, recent years have shown that this right should not be taken for granted. According to my style of conservatism, all life is sacred and worthy of protection from the moment of conception to the point of natural death. While some may say that we conservatives are hypocritical because we defend the unborn child in one breath and support the death penalty for the adult murderer in the next. I see no such hypocrisy, for I believe that the value we place upon a particular object should be reflected in the punishment we demand for its theft of destruction. When a person deliberately and with pre-meditation destroys the life of a human soul, that person should not be allowed back into our society. To demand less would be to diminish the value of the victim.

The issue of Abortion seems to have become the main hinge that swings the door of ideology in our nation. It is a heavy door and this particular hinge squeaks loudest during our presidential election cycles, as if one man sitting in one oval office can prevent or promote the death of even one child. My belief is that this issue will continue to divide our country until the hearts and minds of individuals are changed, regardless of who stands behind the presidential seal. As a Pro-Life Conservative, I would vote more readily for a Pro-Life Conservative candidate, however, I also realize that I should not look to the President to solve problems of the human heart. According to our Constitution, he has no authority there. That realm is the jurisdiction of the family and the church. Too often we abdicate our power to the state and even many conservatives fall into the trap of believing in the state more than in our God and our selves.

I do not limit my pro-life filter to the issue of abortion alone. I also use it to screen out those candidates who would be slow to protect the innocent lives of all our children, both born and unborn, by not zealously and jealously defending the sovereignty of this great nation. I would never give my vote to any man or woman who would cede the defense of our soil to the indifferent and ineffective forces of The United Nation. I wholeheartedly believe that our nation is the best hope for freedom on this planet and I believe the best hope for the freedom of our nation is a commitment to a strong and well-trained military.

From this right to life, I would segue to the next right, which is the right to – Liberty. As a conservative, I believe that each human heart is created with an innate drive to be free. And despite the tendency of some to classify conservatives as racist and bigoted, I firmly believe that I would have fought for the abolition of slavery as quickly as I fight now for the abolition of abortion. And I think it would have been my fight even if I had been born in 1857 instead of 1957 and even if I was raised in Athens, Georgia instead of Athens, Pennsylvania.

Liberty is a gift from the same benefactor who gave us the gift of life; therefore we should look to Him for guidance whenever we seek to infringe upon its operation. In other words, no government agency should prohibit or inhibit our choices of religion, speech or vocation.

One often overlooked or misunderstood aspect of liberty is the idea that an acknowledgement of an absolute truth leads to a fuller understanding of freedom and/or liberty. I believe that TRUTH is knowable and that knowing the TRUTH shall set you free. Let me explain. As a conservative Christian, I believe that God revealed Himself in the person of Jesus Christ, and in that revelation, He claimed to be the TRUTH, absolutely and exclusively. By accepting that claim, I have freed myself from the bondage of uncertainty and relativism. I can now rest upon the absolutes written upon the stones on Mount Sinai as well as the principles written in the hearts of those who heard the Sermon on the Mount. In other words, the Judeo-Christian ethos that drove our founding fathers to form this ‘more perfect union’ still drives me today.

I believe that this conservative approach to the issues that face our nation today is the better hope for our nation today and for the world of tomorrow.

All In The Family -- Live!

Gordon and Keith Cooper will be interviewed live on an internet radio show, Monday, November 26, at 10am EST. Conservative blogger Dee Vantuyl, whose Conservatism With Heart weblog features a weekly radio show has asked to interview the brothers and discuss a few topics from their unique perspectives. You can find the blog at chatterboxchronicles.blogspot.com and click on the TOGI “listen now” button in the right-hand column of the page to hear the interview, which will be live at 10am or available for download later. The All In The Family column will be found on page 3 of next week’s Broader View Weekly. For subscription information, phone (607) 589-7878.

Introducing All In The Family

This is our foray into the blogosphere. Here you’ll find samples of our current project, featured bi-weekly in the fledgling local newspaper, Broader View Weekly, as well as expanded discussions on topics of social interest, politics and religion. Please feel free to comment on the posts you find here and check back often to see what’s going on.

Gordon & Keith Cooper