For I Am Not Ashamed

Conservatives should be proud of their ideological heritage

By Jamin A. Dowdy

Recently, I have noticed that some conservatives at Harvard are not just disconcerted but desperate over our electoral loss and our continued derision as a party of pseudo-intellectuals, closed-minded ideologues, and unsympathetic bigots. The constant snide comments in lecture halls from liberal professors, the expected strange expressions when divulging our political stances, and the social exclusion that beleaguers us are all legitimate reasons to harm our honor and deject our spirits. The one criticism that cuts most deeply for those of us who study here at Harvard is the accusation of ignoring the evidence and closing our minds to sound science and compassion. However, if we pause to reexamine why we are conservatives and consider the sufferings that we bear in light of the history of our movement, I believe that conservatives here at Harvard will become renewed in their commitment to our movement and assured of the worthiness of our cause. 

Let us momentarily suspend the use of the term “conservative.” This term gives the impression of attempting to preserve the status quo; an impression that I shall posit is not entirely valid when we refocus our view to consider the true origins of so-called conservatism. Instead, we shall look at the history of our world, a history that has given rise to two distinct and inalterably opposed philosophies. Although given different names at different times, these two philosophies have battled throughout the ages and continue to do battle in our present day. 

The governments of the world most clearly manifest these philosophies. On the one hand, there are despotic and tyrannical regimes that may profess sympathy and concern for their subjects but in reality deprive them of their God-given rights and use them for self-aggrandizement. Indeed, from the dawn of mankind, humans have often fallen prey to tyrannies because of mistakes and selfish desires. We humans are inclined to want all things, and so, when men promise us bread and wine, we unknowingly trade them our sweat and tears. How numerous are the times when despots have risen on the hopes of the masses? Need we mention the restoration movement of Augustus or the promise of true equality and prosperity under Lenin? Fortunately, lovers of liberty made breakthroughs during the past that culminated in a revolution of governments over the last four centuries. Over millenia, Greek democracies, the English constitution, and finally the American republic have shown that mankind has learned from experience; there are two ways to govern: with power vested in the people or with power holed-up in exclusive enclaves. Let there be no mistake, the only fundamental distinction between governments is whether the people hold the power or not. Whether it is the constitutional monarchy, the parliamentary system, the one-party state, or the democracy, power is either with the people or it is with the few. 

The type of government a society has indicates the type of society. If personal responsibility is cherished, men will never allow a government to manage their lives. How can a man take charge of his affairs, run them according to his beliefs, and reap the benefits or the losses if he has no command? If freedom of thought is cherished, men can never submit themselves to the omnipotence of a single ruler. How on earth can truth be discussed and propagated if the whim of the potentate can bring about its arrest? Societies that seek the truth and cherish personal responsibility and freedom can never wear the chains of tyrants. The Greeks rose up against their kings. The English forced their sovereign to recognize their rights. The Poles demanded their masters lay down their iron scepters. Only through a democratic government that recognizes the inalienable rights of men can truth ever be disseminated. Only through a society that gives unlimited opportunity, rewards hard work, and punishes idleness can true prosperity and personal independence be achieved. Only through the security of the ballot box can the security of our homes against intruders and pillagers be achieved. Indeed, there are only two types of societies, those that promote personal responsibility and the search for truth and those that bask in ignorance and wallow in the uncertain pleasures and whims of tyrants. 

Some would say that conservatives cherish monarchial government, aristocratic societies, and limited freedoms for the common man. There can be nothing further from the truth. The movement that brought down Charles I, that caused thirteen colonies to overthrow its motherland, that caused Eastern Europe to take to the streets in democratic marches, that caused Wallace to raise the flag of Saint Andrew, and that led the Apostle Paul to the shores of heathen Greece is manifested today in the conservative movement. We seek the continued freedom of markets, the freedom of thought, the promotion of personal responsibility, and the propagation of truth. It has been seen as revolutionary in medieval Europe, imprudent in classical Rome, and dangerous in Red China. Let there be no doubt, our movement, whether it be called conservative, or classically liberal, is a movement that has a record of advancing society and enriching the lives of millions of people. We have gone from tyrants in Rome to feudal monarchies to nation states to republics. We have seen the fall of paganism and the rise of Christianity. We have seen the rapid progress of our manufacturing abilities and the astronomical rise in our living standards since we abandoned state-controlled economies and promoted laissez faire over the past four centuries. Tyrants have fallen, education has spread, diseases have been eradicated, lives have been lengthened, and happiness has replaced survival as the pursuit of our lives. In all of this, we see the advancement of human rights, the promotion of personal liberty and responsibility, the equality of all men, and the belief in a beneficent Creator. 

In light of all this, why should we be ashamed of our movement? Why should we cower in discussion as other participants tout the advantages of philosophies we know are untrue? Liberalism claims to give freedom of thought to millions, yet it denies the influence and morals of Christianity, the most absolute truth. Liberalism claims to give prosperity to its claimants, yet it promotes policies that transfer billions of dollars from workers to the state coffers for use by politicians. Liberalism is nothing short of the same philosophy that has stood in opposition to free markets, free people, and free thought throughout history. While the intentions of many liberals are indeed sincere, we know that sincerity is never enough. 

We conservatives must oppose close-minded ideologues in our party and in the other party. Only through an open and honest discussion of the foundations of our philosophy can we ever win others over. Some fear debate, but we should heed the words of the Apostle Peter, “Always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15). God Himself, the propagator of truth and liberty, begs, “Come now, and let us reason together” (Isaiah 1:18). Conservatism must once again raise up intellectual leaders like those in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries who do not faint in the heat of intellectual battle. No longer can we rely on talking points and slogans, we must cut to the root of the matter. If there are any who can do such, I have no doubts that they reside here at Harvard.

For some, minority status is so discouraging that they feel we may never leave our state of academic exile. To those thus persuaded, I can offer an example that gives hope to our eventual return to prominence. In the First Book of Kings, Elijah was weary that all of Israel had left the fold of God and had wandered into the idolatrous worship of Baal. However, God revealed to him a glorious truth, “I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him” (19:18). Thus, Elijah was not alone, as he had thought. Seven thousand others had held on to the truth. Let this teach us that when all others may seem to fall away, there will always be someone, somewhere, who kindles the flame of truth and liberty, preserving it for a future generation to spread across the world.

However, even if the bliss of winning the argument does not come soon or even within our lifetimes, it is still worth taking a stand. Are we somehow better than our forefathers who willingly sacrificed themselves upon the altar of mankind to preserve for us the blessings, liberty, and truth of the ages? Are we better than the countless millions who charged into battle, rationed their food, smuggled slaves, nourished runaways, protested redcoats, or voted against tyrants? While the forces facing us today are in no way comparable to the evils facing those before us, we must nevertheless remember that a small slippage from the truth or a momentary blind eye to injustice can lead to society’s swift and complete downfall. Think of how far our nation has fallen since midcentury in terms of our religious devotion. We have allowed atheism and immorality to pillage our schools and ravage our public squares. So, we must follow the examples of those who persevered before us. The eleventh and twelfth chapters of Hebrews contain the list of great men and women of faith, recording, “these all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth…Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God” (11:13,16). Further, Moses, a man who had been exalted to the royal family of Egypt, “refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt” (11:24-26). Indeed, we do not face the sufferings that those who defended the truth suffered before us. However, if those afflictions return, “since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (12:1).

Therefore, we should fear neither reproach nor derision but count ourselves blessed to be numbered among those who suffered for truth and liberty in whatever form, in whatever age. Let us so brace and prepare ourselves that when the arrows of intellectual attack descend upon us from every side, we may hold fast to that foundation of truth and liberty and secure for ourselves and for those coming after us a freer, more enlightened world. I pray God that we may be able to say, as did Paul, “For I am not ashamed…” (Romans 1:16).