One of the priceless things about working at a university -- other than watching youth trends evolve right under your nose -- is the endless stream of visiting speakers, cool indie films and other forums happening on campus. All the better when they're on your lunch break.
We have an upcoming visit from historian John Lukacs, a self-professed "reactionary" who is disenchanted with the last 40+ years of the conservative movement. The guy reminds me a bit of my father: intriguing, sometimes brilliant insight into history mixed with bizarre doses of unwavering ideology.
This "anti-populist" bemoans the populism, hatred and nationalism of conservative movement politics while also holding the Roman Catholic Church as a bastion of what is good and right about Western Civilization.
He rips the lazy intellect and empty symbolism of Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush and mourns how "conservatism" has become focused on anti-liberalism rather than goals in its own right:
"Today's politicians of the right, Lukacs writes, have abandoned the conservative values of stability, order, and tradition and instead learned to bind nationalist majorities together by evoking hatred, directed not just against foreign foes but against fellow citizens who are seen as insufficiently patriotic."
On patriotism, he has an interesting personal experience, since he deserted the Hungarian army when it was drafted into German alliance during WWII.
He says liberalism is an outdated movement that accomplished its worthy goals (essentially, equal rights and free speech), while the new "enemies" are "the (outdated) idea of Progress, together with the (thoughtless) belief in Technology."
Oh, and mass populism, which he says is eroding democracy.
The professors who will likely disagree with some of his stances are nonetheless excited to have him on campus. Like talking with my father, it should be fun even when he starts to sound crazy ("Oh, about that wonderful Church ..."). It's great to hear people who -- even if they fail to recognize ambiguity in this world -- at least avoid blind fealty to a Party line.
I don't pretend to comprehend (Okay, I do pretend, but I recognize that I can't) how the world works and know how to achieve peace and happiness for all, but it's fun to keep trying. And interesting to hear a different view from someone who isn't trolling for votes or business lobby concessions.
As you may have noticed, the site has changed. Sampa, the free-site host, did a version 2 of some sort.
Despite an FAQ that made it sound like allowing one's site to go through v.2 surgery would be okay, there were several flexibilities that surprisingly disappeared with the click of a button. (e.g. I cannot believe sidebars like this one are even narrower than before.)
And I'm told -- miraculously! -- that the conversion cannot be undone. Truth be told, I'm actually quite pissed. But free is free. Sampa has otherwise been good to me.
So I need to sort through site "features" to see how I can make do. Except that I don't have the time at the moment, in the middle of graduate classes and Lighthousehockey.com. (btw, I've removed that Lighthouse RSS feed so that you're not clogged with random Islanders hockey gibberish).
But I promise to touch up the accessories when I get a chance, and return to irregularly scheduled blogging.
Subscribe to this Site
, a self-professed "reactionary" who is disenchanted with the last 40+ years of the conservative movement. The guy reminds me a bit of my father: intriguing, sometimes brilliant insight into history mixed with bizarre doses of unwavering ideology.
Comments for "A non-conservative reactiona...
February, 2008