Conservative Self-Image. Will compassionate liberalism help restore sanity to politics?

Rod Dreher, a conservative columnist for the Dallas Morning News, provided an insightful commentary (link below) on NPR’s All Things Considered this afternoon.  While he was being introduced, I thought to myself, "Oh great.  Here comes another conservative with an opinion about Bush’s speech last night."  What followed was actually a thoughtful piece that jarred my reality a bit.  You see, I’m a diehard liberal in a long term relationship with a diehard conservative.  <Gasp>  Yes, an intransigent conservative whom I love with every fiber of my being.  Someone whom I respect and adore.  Someone like Mr. Dreher who is also disillusioned by the Current Occupant.  Surely I’m not the only one around Daily Kos who has such a relationship.

My partner and I tiptoe around political discussions as much as possible, but there are times when my feelings about W explode to the surface in an ugly fashion.  I’ll admit it.  As the emotional one, I find myself asking for forgiveness more and more often so we won’t go to bed angry.  Even though I try to maintain control, it’s so fucking hard sometimes!  I...must...learn...to...be...more...empathetic.    

Mr. Dreher’s commentary came at a good time and gave me a silent moment of reflection in the midst of rush-hour traffic.  A moment in which I realized that conservatives (true conservatives) are struggling as the Current Occupant distorts their individual and collective self-image on a daily basis.  It must be terribly hard for them to watch their beliefs being publicly denigrated every time W opens his mouth.  I predict that pretty soon there will be a cascade of conservatives returning to their core beliefs and that politics will become less confusing and perhaps more dynamic.  If only they can get their world view back in order.

Anyway, take a listen to the commentary here.  Then look for the nearest conservative you can find and REALLY look at them.  If they’re in mourning, if they appear glazed over, give ‘em a hug.  Especially if you love them.  Pay it forward.