A conservative revival is what we all want, isn’t it? And yet, what is conservatism? Yoram Hazony offers a stimulating exploration of the prospects for a conservative revival in America, and in doing so sheds some light on the confusion surrounding the very idea of conservatism:
This was great! I read WSJ review by Barton Swaim of the book on which the article is based. Swaim responds just as you would expect and to me proved Harzony’s point.
There are problems with Harzony's take on America. The Zman had a column on this yesterday. I'll quote from The Zman:
"In contrast, if you say that America should not let everyone in who shows up at the border, you are called a white nationalist. The mainstream media celebrates the “great replacement” but if you question the decency of the great replacement, you are condemned as some sort of monster. If you notice anything about demographics, you could have a mob at your door. What is celebrated with regards to Israel is the most heinous crime you can commit in America.
There are lots of people who recognize the contradiction, but the fact remains, most white people in America are fine with it. As long as they can celebrate Israel there is no price they refuse to pay. For most white people in America, loving Israel brings a sense of peace in a troubled world. The reason, of course, is it is an acceptable outlet for ethnocentric impulses. Israel does not exist as a real place for Americans. She is an abstraction, an allowable team to support for cultural reasons.
A stark example is the contrast between Greg Johnson, the author of The White Nationalist Manifesto and Yoram Hazony, the author of the Virtue of Nationalism, two books on the exact same subject. Both books make the exact same claims about people and human organization. Both argue for nations to organized around the interests of a dominant ethnic group. Both authors demand a homeland for their people that is only for their people.
Greg Johnson has been made into a pariah, suffering in a form of internal exile, while Yoram Hazony gets to run big expensive conferences funded by Western oligarchs and attended by famous people. The difference, of course, is Hazony is a famous outspoken Zionist from Israel and his efforts are on behalf of the Jewish state. Johnson is a white nationalist who advocates for white people. The typical white person in America does not find this contradiction troubling in the least.
Before we can conserve anything we have to survive. On every deck, saboteurs are scuttling the ship. Everywhere we turn they are removing nuts and bolts, smashing vital equipment. Their work here is nearly done. Living "a conservative life" that does not include a proclivity for existential warfare is just another way to be killed at a time of somebody else's choosing.
It's time to build again, upon the only firm foundation, the Rock of Ages, Christ Jesus, our hope secure. If we can't conserve God both in and through our lives, then we can't conserve anything worthwhile. Sadly, that prior sentence appears to describe, in a nutshell, how we've gotten here. But hope is eternal, and so yes, I believe we can - in time - restore what was lost, and continue to preserve and conserve it. May God bless our land and our efforts to do so! And may He bring a true revival, by His Holy Spirit! Amen!
This was great! I read WSJ review by Barton Swaim of the book on which the article is based. Swaim responds just as you would expect and to me proved Harzony’s point.
There are problems with Harzony's take on America. The Zman had a column on this yesterday. I'll quote from The Zman:
"In contrast, if you say that America should not let everyone in who shows up at the border, you are called a white nationalist. The mainstream media celebrates the “great replacement” but if you question the decency of the great replacement, you are condemned as some sort of monster. If you notice anything about demographics, you could have a mob at your door. What is celebrated with regards to Israel is the most heinous crime you can commit in America.
There are lots of people who recognize the contradiction, but the fact remains, most white people in America are fine with it. As long as they can celebrate Israel there is no price they refuse to pay. For most white people in America, loving Israel brings a sense of peace in a troubled world. The reason, of course, is it is an acceptable outlet for ethnocentric impulses. Israel does not exist as a real place for Americans. She is an abstraction, an allowable team to support for cultural reasons.
A stark example is the contrast between Greg Johnson, the author of The White Nationalist Manifesto and Yoram Hazony, the author of the Virtue of Nationalism, two books on the exact same subject. Both books make the exact same claims about people and human organization. Both argue for nations to organized around the interests of a dominant ethnic group. Both authors demand a homeland for their people that is only for their people.
Greg Johnson has been made into a pariah, suffering in a form of internal exile, while Yoram Hazony gets to run big expensive conferences funded by Western oligarchs and attended by famous people. The difference, of course, is Hazony is a famous outspoken Zionist from Israel and his efforts are on behalf of the Jewish state. Johnson is a white nationalist who advocates for white people. The typical white person in America does not find this contradiction troubling in the least.
http://thezman.com/wordpress/
Before we can conserve anything we have to survive. On every deck, saboteurs are scuttling the ship. Everywhere we turn they are removing nuts and bolts, smashing vital equipment. Their work here is nearly done. Living "a conservative life" that does not include a proclivity for existential warfare is just another way to be killed at a time of somebody else's choosing.
It's time to build again, upon the only firm foundation, the Rock of Ages, Christ Jesus, our hope secure. If we can't conserve God both in and through our lives, then we can't conserve anything worthwhile. Sadly, that prior sentence appears to describe, in a nutshell, how we've gotten here. But hope is eternal, and so yes, I believe we can - in time - restore what was lost, and continue to preserve and conserve it. May God bless our land and our efforts to do so! And may He bring a true revival, by His Holy Spirit! Amen!
excellent piece - thank you!