I support gay rights. Being socially conservative does not rule out having respect for the rights of others who do not believe exactly as you do.
Most of my conservative friends support gay rights....true conservatives don't want to see anyone discriminated against...
I'm confused by the "socially." While being socially conservative may not rule out respecting the rights of others, it seems to me, looking at it from the outside, that it would be unusual for a social conservative to be willing to tolerate value differences in the expression of rights. WRT conservatives, of course, but not social conservatives. I see social conservatives as wanting to impose the values of their in-group, indifferent, at best, to the rights of others. Positions taken on issues would constrain others to conform with social conservatism.
To my mind, we respect everyone's rights, which means tolerating, if not accepting, what others do with them.
As far as being conservative, I don't believe in legalizing marijuana, I believe in a strong national defense, limited government, states rights, personal responsibility...
That statement isn't modified by "social." To me that sounds conservative, as you wrote, but not social conservative, with the possible exception of the marijuana. Would you clarify how you see social conservatism being consistent with the recognition of the rights of others? |
