Editor-
Just when I thought we were making progress, the ugly side of Utah conservatism once again rears its essentializing head. As I was on my way to class I came accross a rather innocous looking flyer for something called the “Historical Study Group”. Innocous because the title of the flyer has nothing to do with the rest of the advertisement. This supposed “study group” touts itself as a sort of neo-conservative student group, with a “belief in a transcendent order, or natural law which rules society and conscience”, “equality before the judgment of God and the courts of law”, and my personal favorite, “we deny the possibility of equality of condition, efforts at which result in equality in boredom and servitude.” This wonderful and in depth description of what “conservatism” is is then followed by a few glib phrases and nouns describing what “liberalism” is: Sexual Minority Awareness, Students for Choice, and Diversity Education requirement, to name a few of the supposed decaying factors of modern society that this Historical Study Group is trying to stop. Do these people even know what they are talking about? Not only is this type of labeling offensive, it is also very dangerous. Nazism, in its infancy, began by identifying and targeting specific social groups that were supposedly a threat to the “natural social order”, and decaying the very fabric of an idealized state of society. This flyer reads very much like that. Conservatism often couches its complaint against liberal movements in vague terminology and unclear epithets about the supposedly sad state of society. But, when these people talk of a “natural order”, or “customs or conventions” that check a debased and immoral human nature, who’s order and conventions are they talking about? More often than not, they are the natural order or customs as determined by those in power. (read; White, male, bourgois, heterosexual). Complaints against the decaying effects of interest groups are nothing more than the whining of the old gatekeepers of power, attempting to hold on to their power and influence in any way they can. With all the talk and furor over a “liberal agenda”, has anyone even thought about the “conservative agenda”? Just because people like those in this “Historical Study Group” talk in vague epithets and hallow moral justifications, it doesn’t mean that they don’t pursue certain interests and goals. (Just the fact that they actually name certain Student Groups and Clubs as detrimental already speak volumes to the kinds of special interests and Political goals that they have) The main difference between “liberal” and “conservative” agendas is that one seeks to expose people to different perspectives, different ways of being, and the plasticity of supposedly immovable moral conventions. The other serves only as a justification for the radical imbalance of power and influence so prevalent in our society today. I want some accountability: who approved and sactioned this? Do they have an advisor? From where, the local KKK chapter? I want an explanation as to why in this day and age, when information and knowledge is so readily accessible, such groups that foster intolerance and spout inane, ludicrous political rhetoric still form. Of course, no one ever wants to let go of their power, but for god’s sakes get over it already. Diversity and freedom really isn’t that bad.
Patrick LaguaSenior Political Science and Gender Studies