Your Email:

Subject:

Message:
Entry: Nationalism is What We Need Now--The Case for an "Unpatriotic Conservatism" Link: http://www.takimag.com/site/article/nationalism_is_what_we_need_now_a_case_for_an_unpatriotic_conservatism#23433 Post contents: I disagree with Scott on that last point. The public did not instigate the Iraq War, but the public did support it, and many good-hearted conservative people continue to do so now. The public, and conservatives especially, re-elected Bush in 2004. Good motives did lead to bad actions on the part of voters, who trusted Bush et. al. The good motive was, a desire to support their country in time of apparent danger, a desire that overrode prudence. Patriotism contributed to imprudence on the part of voters and the public generally (even outside its capacity as a mass of voters -- "support" for the Bush project was more generalized than just voting for it in '04). This does seem to me to be the crux of the matter. I don't think the public, and the conservative subset of the public in particular, can be excused for its role in supporting the war. The public did the wrong thing, however patriotic its reasons. Sent at: 2008 05 16