When you see the word progressive what ideas come to mind? I think of being very up-to-date, modern, open minded. Someone who is among the first to adapt to new technology. Someone who thinks new thoughts and applies them to real life situations. People who think too highly of for themselves for being so "open minded."
Now how about the word conservative, without thinking politics (which might be hard because it's obvious where I'm going with this). I think of pioneers, fundamentalists, and overly protective fathers. Someone who is stuck several decades behind. Women who wear one of these (which for some reason I find much more ridiculous than these Muslim friendly suits) when they swim. Someone who values traditions.
Notice how I associate more negative things with the word conservative than with progressive. Why is that? And when I hear President Obama make a comment about ignoring political differences, whether you be progressive or conservative, should it irk me?
Well, it does. It really does. And I don't even consider myself conservative. What really bothers me is my perception of a negative view of the word conservative. As if the conservatives didn't already have enough political challenges to deal with to be represented by a loaded word. But who knows- maybe the word has pejorated because of some overall negative feeling people have toward the associated political views. Kind of like how the word liberal has decreased in use and progressive has suddenly appeared (though liberal doesn't really bother me...kind of like how feminist doesn't bother me either).
So what do you think of when you hear those words? Is there really a negative perception of conservative or am I just imagining it?
4 comments:
I have never thought about it until you brought it up, but yeah there is a kind of negative spin on the word conservative. With Pres. Obama in office I consider myself more "conservative", but I also support things like stem cell research which I would consider "progressive". So I guess you can be conservative and progressive, at least I would like to think you can. Since I think that the quote from the Pres irks me too.
Those two words get thrown around so much they hardly mean anything anymore. Somehow the word conservative is often used to denote those on the extreme right. Whether one is extreme right or left, I don't see how being extreme can possibly = conservative. It would make more sense if conservative meant moderate. Also, I think it's strange that progressive usually means left leaning. One can have progressive ideas and ideals regardless of political affiliation. Does progressive mean progressively increasing the deficit with social program spending (of course, to be conservative you increase the deficit while pretending you're not so then you can later blame it on the other side)?
It's all a game of semantics, as most politicking is these days; unfortunately, the cost (among many others, of course) is the degradation of the English language.
I just looked at your culotte swimwear link. Good gravy!
I'd never thought of that before, but I think you're dead on.
Post a Comment