Replies

I agree with you in principle that the ideas of freedom and other elements of core conservatism are strong enough to endure the most withering scrutiny.

However, in any such communication, the audience must be considered. Jesus said that we should not cast our pearls before, um, creatures who were incapable of appreciating said pearls, and who just as likely would turn them against us at every opportunity.

Furthermore, he told the disciples to shake the dust off their feet and leave the conversation in a given place when it became evident it was not being well-received.

This is just pragmatic for people with limited time to a task. I sold Bible encyclopedias door to door decades ago in the deep south. It was just a summer job, but the professionals running the operation were adamant we not waste our precious time banging on doors that wouldn’t open and struggling with prospects who were obviously not that interested.

We have a great message, one that stands the test of rational thought and addresses the realities of human life better than any alternative system of thought. But if we cannot engage a prospect at that level of real, thoughtful conversation, then we need to move on.

Now you may say the OP may have been open to such a conversation. As a statistical matter, I’m not inclined to believe it. Most folks who openly and consciously identify with leftist principles have, at least in my experience, a serious problem rising above the emotive programming that drives their worldview. I believe there is real brainwashing involved, so many institutions conveying the same false message so pervasively for so long it has become to them an unshakable reality. This cannot be overcome with pure reason. At least not in the majority of cases.

So the solution would be to find those who signal genuine openness. The “programming” hasn’t taken hold in them. There is still a chance they may come around if exposed to a sound argument. That’s where we should spend our time. Not playing foil to trolls.

I think you've got some important ideas about how not to waste your time on those you perceive as not open or interested. I think those are good points you make and Jesus doesn't "force" himself on anyone. Fair enough. You and I are free to choose whether to engage with that other person or not. But that's not the same as locking out the other side from the forum altogether.

This site is called "Free Republic." Well that name echos the free society we've had in America for the last 250 years - a society that has always welcomed people of all faiths and beliefs. A free and healthy society, like historical America, never feared ideological opposition because given the choice, people will always choose freedom over tyranny. The values of our founders, which ought to be reflected here, were that life liberty and free pursuits trump everything else and is able to "take on all comers." That should be our attitude here.

I see a couple of things at work here, neither one a problem and potentially a benefit. First, this is (or could be or should be) a place to test the what and why of someone's particular beliefs by seeing how those beliefs stand the test of opposition. Many here may believe some of the right things but have demonstrated they have no idea why they believe these things. Others here believe falsehoods and have also demonstrated that their only reason is following a certain party line, be it "conservative" or a certain person or whatever. It is good thing when things are allowed to burst our illusions or force us to go back an learn why we believe what we do, possibly making adjustments, etc. Our goal should not be a partisan spirit, but our goal should be the truth because the truth will set us (and others) free. And the truth will always stand the test of opposition and will always win the debate in the forum of ideas.

I've just touched on the second thing at work here, allowing the truth to help those who have been brainwashed and are lost in a sea of lies. This could be a site to help those people. Maybe some can be helped and some can't. But as the Constitution allows all ideologies becasue of the preeminence of life and liberty, so should FR welcome others in the same spirit and the same boldness without fear, becasue we know we have the truth that sets us and others free,