Several of the blogs I read have nice quotes in their sidebars about what some other blogger has said about them. Quotes from Glenn Reynolds seem popular for some reason. Probably because it is like having an autograph from the President or something. My husband had a nice suggestion for me that I am still contemplating:
Glenn Reynolds linked to me...once.
Today, however, I found a nice quote that I think is worthy of sticking in my sidebar. So I will. Here it is in its entirety:
WELCOME: Crabby greetings to our visitors from the Principled Discovery blog. We here at The Shack appreciate the kind words from Dana, who is living proof that you can be fairly liberal and still rational about the way life works. Be sure to pop over there and check out her 2nd Carnival of Principled Government. A little home-schooling goes a long ways.
Fairly liberal? I’ve been called a number of things since making an online presence…a liar, the whore of Babylon, a wingnut (how creative), a right wing Christian fundamentalist (which, I suppose is true, but does carry with it a certain negative connotation) and one person accused me of “fake Christian semiotic meditation.” That, I think, was the strangest insult I have ever received.
But this is the first time I have been called liberal. At all. For anyone harboring any doubts, I am a conservative. Very staunchly so. I used to consider myself a Republican. Recently, however, I have been feeling a bit like Reagan when he said he didn’t leave the Democratic party; it left him. I never left the Republican Party, but I wonder where all the Republicans went.
Just to be sure, however, I shall measure myself against the conservative principles laid out by Russell Kirk whose book, The Conservative Mind, “gave American conservatives an identity and a genealogy and catalyzed the postwar movement.”
First, the conservative believes that there exists an enduring moral order.
Check.
Second, the conservative adheres to custom, convention, and continuity.
Pretty much so, check.
Third, conservatives believe in what may be called the principle of prescription.
You’ll have to read the explanation provided in the essay, but yes, I hold that to be fairly true. That is why I said recently that I think I’m 200 years behind in my political thinking. Most of my political thought was shaped by people who died before my great-grandparents were born.
Fourth, conservatives are guided by their principle of prudence.
Check.
Fifth, conservatives pay attention to the principle of variety.
Check.
Sixth, conservatives are chastened by their principle of imperfectability.
Tempered check. I do not believe that we could ever get to a utopia so there would be no need to worry about expiring of boredom. The nature of man is such that we would fall into tyranny long before any desirable effect of utopian ideals could be realized.
Seventh, conservatives are persuaded that freedom and property are closely linked.
Check and double check.
Eighth, conservatives uphold voluntary community, quite as they oppose involuntary collectivism.
Again, check and double check. I reject radical individualism and believe I have a personal responsibility to my neighbor. That, however, is very different from forced redistribution of wealth through the various social programs our government has become involved in.
Ninth, the conservative perceives the need for prudent restraints upon power and upon human passions.
Definitely.
Tenth, the thinking conservative understands that permanence and change must be recognized and reconciled in a vigorous society.
More so if you read the accompanying explanation, but yes that, too, is true.
So, I think that if Russel Kirk would call me a conservative, I must be one. Even if Joe disagrees. But that is ok. I have to like Joe because he doesn’t live all that far from me and I am fairly certain he is “packing heat.” And I enjoy his blog, even if he is a “psycho hillbilly.” (No, he’s not, but I couldn’t resist.)
I don’t normally speak too much on political topics outside the subject of education, but should anyone else be harboring any doubts or have any questions, feel free to ask. Comments are open for any questions about what my uninformed opinion is on any topic.
Related Tags: Russell Kirk, conservative, conservativism, blogging
Principled Discovery is a place to stop and discuss news and information related to faith, family and particularly education. Pour yourself a cup of tea and join the conversation! 
Hmmm. Nope. “Liberal” never would be one of my top choices of things to label you, Dana.
A little home-schooling goes a long ways.Fairly liberal? I’ve been called a number of things since making an online presence…a liar, the whore of Babylon, a wingnut (how creative), a right wing Christian fundamentalist (which, I suppose is true, but does carry with it a certain negative connotation) and one person accused me of “fake Christian semiotic meditation.” That, I think, was the strangest insult I have ever received.
Funny thing is how a lot of those labels come from the homeschooling world. I’ve always wondered about that; whichever direction it came from. It would seem to me that homeschoolers wouldn’t be comfortable with the labeling thing. It is so often inaccurate, let alone; the intended insult aspect.
But to each their own in the homeschooling world. As it should be.
Thanks, Janne. The poor guy who now has an entire post devoted to him probably got that from the entry he is listed in which contains a fair number of libertarian links. I’m guessing that is where the statement came from, even though I don’t necessarily agree with every stance taken by every submission. But my goal isn’t so much to prescribe a particular view as much as it is to promote discussion and thought on the subject.
Susan–I agree. And you’ve hit on a topic I’ve wanted to do a post on for awhile, but I’m not sure how to start it. We all homeschool for our own reasons, generally for the best interests of our children. We may differ on exactly what that means, but it seems that we could agree that the parent is more qualified than the state to determine what is in the best interest of their child in most instances.
Abuse is something different, but it is hardly perpetrated by differing political and religious views.
Dana - I would never have imagined you a Liberal.. LOL..
a Republican with Libertarian leanings most definitely.
Actually a Republitarian might be more your description.
And above all else, you are incredibly astute and eloquent, as well as being an amazing student of history.
Love you and love your blog!
Gee..I like that freedom and property one. I must be into BPA or something!
Well, from one staunch conservative to another, I appreciate your kind comment re:art class. You made me feel better! Thanks!
Melissa
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/honeybee
Republitarian…I think I like that one.
And no problem, Melissa. Sometimes I think we have too high of an expectation on our kids because they are homeschooled. And all of us have doubts about parenting, etc., which all come to the forefront with misbehavior.
Even though we KNOW that no child is perfect. Even Adam and Eve strayed in the Garden so how can we expect to somehow raise children who are never an “embarrassment” in public? (Really, just by learning not to be embarrassed by it, I think!)
Hmm, maybe he meant “liberal” in the classical sense, rather than the 21st century one, but it’s still a bit of a stretch. I do enjoy the Republitarian label, it might describe me as well.
My apologies, Dana. I can’t exactly recall what post title made me think liberal, but I do remember being wholly surprised that you make a heck of a lot of sense. Now I better understand why that is.
That’s ok, Joe. I thought it funny, as you might have realized. Thanks for the chuckle…and a whole post out of it!
Muy bueno blog. I’m glad I stumbled upon it–stat counter is such an amazing addiction!