The Character That Matters

American Greatness ^ | 1-4-19 | Roger Kimball

[RoosterRedux]

I think Jonah is confusing the personal quality of being conservative with that of being conventional. They are quite different but overlap in ways that might cause an observer to think they are the same thing.

As a point of further clarification, conventional people are "conformists." Unconventional thinkers may, in appearance, be conforming in their dress or behavior yet be entirely different in the way they approach problems and opportunities.

I don't know Jonah except what I have seen on TV, but his "never-Trumpism" gives me the impression that his dislike for Trump is not superficial or even based on principles. Jonah's dislike for Trump, like that of Bill Kristol, appears to be visceral. He may not even be aware of why he so dislikes Trump.

People who are conventional by nature are often quite offended by unconventional people...and Trump is clearly an unconventional person and thinker.

The issue here is about a built-in conflict between "inside the box" thinkers and "outside the box" types.

An inside the box thinker may have a gut level negative reaction to an outside the box thinker merely because of the out of the box thinker appears to flaunt all that the inside the box thinker holds dear.

A lot of what Jonah may call "conservative character values" may be nothing more than the qualities he holds dear as a conventional person.

Trump is by his very nature an outside the box thinker--a creative thinker.

It is this quality--among others--that has led him to success in business.

As a final note, you will notice that "outside the box" thinkers have no in noticeable inherent dislike for "inside the box" thinkers.

I am not sure why that is.

As an "outside the box" thinker myself, it may be because "inside the box" thinkers do not represent a threat but may instead appears as easy prey.