A Trad Confused

The journey of a bipolar Sartorialist.

19 notes

justbudfox:
“ palmbeachguy and I had a good natured back-channel exchange a while back about this, I think in light of the most recent pre-Pope Kim Davis hoo-hah. We’re still friends, I’m happy to report. But I screen-capped this, and it’s been...

justbudfox:

palmbeachguy and I had a good natured back-channel exchange a while back about this, I think in light of the most recent pre-Pope Kim Davis hoo-hah. We’re still friends, I’m happy to report. But I screen-capped this, and it’s been sitting in my drafts folder as I let ideas roll around in my head. I think two have crystallized. To be clear, neither of these thoughts is directed at any particular person on Tumblr, nor am I calling any out.

First, I find it interesting that in my profession (and possibly many others), people feel obliged to make pointless and unsolicited announcements about their politics and personal beliefs at what I consider odd and inappropriate moments. There are, IMHO, a disproportionately high number of conservative Republican professionals in my part of the country. I think a lot of them are trying to conform to a stereotype of white privilege in order to achieve business goals, without ever giving much thought to who they really are as people. And they will preface their comments in discussions that have nothing to do with politics or religion by announcing “I’m a strong conservative” or “I’m a strong Christian” or both. Well, if you’re strong, don’t tell me, show me. I used to practice with someone who had gone to Liberty University Christian School of Law and was drinking the Kool-Aid bigtime and would work this into conversation every chance he got. He’s far from alone. I just don’t see the need for this. I wasn’t raised in a family that placed a lot of stock in traditional social niceties just for their own sake. So no one ever particularly told me not to talk about certain topics in public. But I am a believer that it’s pointedly unnecessary for anyone to know much about your politics, religious beliefs or financial situation unless you’ve been asked a direct question. And often not even then. I just don’t like proselytizing, in any context.

Second, I don’t think that espousing a particular belief makes you into a particular thing. I’m on record regarding my views on gay marriage, and Kim Davis, and lately, gun violence. I don’t think that makes me a liberal. I try not to talk politics here otherwise because it just starts arguments or rubs people the wrong way. That’s not why I’m here. And I am very fond of the quote often (and perhaps wrongly) attributed to Churchill:

Show me a young Conservative and I’ll show you someone with no heart. Show me an old Liberal and I’ll show you someone with no brains.

I don’t think I am a liberal, per se. I’m more liberal on social issues. I’m tolerably conservative on fiscal issues. I know that’s changed as I’ve aged. I think I might be a watery Libertarian, to the extent that the doctrine suggests that you shouldn’t spend all of your time minding other people’s business, which seems to be our national pastime for most of my adult life. I get sicker of that every day. 

Given that my true calling is as a cynic, in these situations of belief and allegiance, I am often reminded of one of my favorite quotes from the movie Breaker Morant, when two of the three protagonists are about to be executed by firing squad:

Sentry: Do you want the padre?
Harry Morant: No, thank you. I’m a pagan.
Sentry: And you?
Peter Handcock: What’s a pagan?
Harry Morant: Well… it’s somebody who doesn’t believe there’s a divine being dispensing justice to mankind.
Peter Handcock: I’m a pagan, too.

Ha! I don’t even remember what that particular exchange was about. Not to argue here, but your comment of the following… “But I am a believer that it’s pointedly unnecessary for anyone to know much about your politics, religious beliefs…” Out of the 101 people I follow, you’re the only person I have any clue of political, or religious persuasion based upon your reblog’s and comments! Having said that, I do enjoy our exchanges as well as your wardrobe choices. I’m here for the handful of fun people who like similar clothing. It’s more difficult for me to find that in my life, than finding someone with the same world view!

  1. paulinnova reblogged this from tjtevlin and added:
    There was one?
  2. tjtevlin reblogged this from a-trad-confused and added:
    This here is why I love Tumblr!
  3. a-trad-confused reblogged this from justbudfox and added:
    Ha! I don’t even remember what that particular exchange was about. Not to argue here, but your comment of the following…...
  4. justbudfox posted this