Some brief insights from a key conservative progressive thinker, the late historian and social critic
Christopher Lasch (1932-1994):
- "Because it equates tradition with prejudice, the left finds itself increasingly unable to converse with ordinary people in their common language."
- "The intellectual debility of contemporary conservatism is indicated by its silence on all important matters."
- "Liberals subscribe to the new flexible, pluralist definition of the family; their defense of families carries no conviction."
- "The left sees nothing but bigotry and superstition in the popular defense of the family or in popular attitudes regarding abortion, crime, busing, and the school curriculum."
- "Conservatives unwittingly side with the social forces
that contribute to the destruction of traditional values."
- "In an individualistic culture, the narcissist is
God's gift to the world. In a collectivist society, the narcissist is
God's gift to the collective."
- "Today Americans are overcome not by the sense of endless possibility but by the banality of the social order they have erected against it."
It's kind of like what Irving Kristol said about liberals in Neoconservatism: Autobiography of an Idea, "Modern liberalism sees nihilism as yet another splendid business oportunity." Witness the popularity of such entertainments as Howard Stern and South Park. www.deniquefossor.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteThat's a good observation. Thanks for coming by and leaving a comment. I appreciate the feedback and commentary.
ReplyDeleteCheers!
Excellent quotes. I've been meaning to read Lasch now for years.
ReplyDeleteLasch is a must read author! He was not a political conservative, but he was a cultural and social conservative. What makes him interesting is that he was a major proponent of the idea of social solidarity while maintaining a strong commitment to traditional institutions and traditional values. A "Red Tory" perspective!
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