Conservatives are often accused of being uncompassionate and uncaring. We are accused of being hate mongers, bigots, and sexists. However, I would like to offer compassion from the conservative viewpoint. I would like to show that conservatives are compassionate, even while we are undeservingly being called names.
There is an old saying that goes, "If you give a man a fish, he will eat for a day. If you teach a man to fish, he will eat for a lifetime." This is the conservative view of compassion in a nutshell. To illustrate, let me tell a story.
Let's say that I was hiking in the woods one day. Let's also say that there is no civilization anywhere around. There is no city to go to, and no town to go buy supplies from. Let's also say that I run into another hiker (we'll call him Bob), who is in the same situation. Bob has brought snack foods, and has been living off of them for the past week before I arrived. He is now almost out, however. I also know how to fish. What is the compassionate thing to do?
On the first day we are out there, if Bob is hungry, I will catch a fish and feed him. On the second day, I will ask Bob to come out and watch me fish. "I don't want to," replies Bob. "I will only give you fish tonight if you come and watch me fish," I reply. "Alright," replies Bob, "I will go and watch you fish." So, on the second day, Bob watches me fish.
On the third day we are out there, I ask Bob to fish with me. "I don't want to," replies Bob. "I will give you a fish ONLY if you try to fish and ONLY if you don't catch enough for yourself," I reply. "Alright," says Bob, "I will go and fish with you." So, I make Bob a fishing hook, give him some string, and dig him up some worms to fish with. Bob catches a few fish, but is still hungry, so I give him some of my fish.
On the fourth day we are out there, I teach Bob some fishing tricks. "I don't want to learn these things," Bob replies. "I can only help you catch more fish if you will let me," I reply. "If you don't let me teach you how to fish on your own, I will not give you any extra fish tonight. You will be stuck with whatever you catch," I reply. "Alright," says Bob, "I will let you teach me". So I teach Bob how to make a hook, how to attach a string, how to dig up worms, and how to better catch fish.
A week later, I go out to fish. However, a large tree limb falls from the above me, knocks me out, and I fall face-first into the water, unconscious. I end up dying. Is Bob now in a condition to better help himself than he was when I first met him? What kind of condition would he have been in if I had just given him the fish? Would he have learned enough to survive on his own? Or would he have starved because his only meal ticket had died?
I should also point out here that, in this illustration, I do not represent the government. I represent the kind-hearted, compassionate American citizen. Civilization, which was nowhere to be found in this illustration (I pointed that out at the beginning) represented government. I taught Bob a valuable skill that he will need in order to survive. In order to do that, I first had to convince Bob to let me teach him (I won't give you any of my fish tonight if you don't......). Once I was able to convince Bob to let me teach him, I was able to teach him a skill that will eventually prolong his life and make him happier (since he will be able to eat). This illustration shows what true compassion is: lifting your brother out of trouble, and not tearing him down.
Written by: Travis Stockelman
There is an old saying that goes, "If you give a man a fish, he will eat for a day. If you teach a man to fish, he will eat for a lifetime." This is the conservative view of compassion in a nutshell. To illustrate, let me tell a story.
Let's say that I was hiking in the woods one day. Let's also say that there is no civilization anywhere around. There is no city to go to, and no town to go buy supplies from. Let's also say that I run into another hiker (we'll call him Bob), who is in the same situation. Bob has brought snack foods, and has been living off of them for the past week before I arrived. He is now almost out, however. I also know how to fish. What is the compassionate thing to do?
On the first day we are out there, if Bob is hungry, I will catch a fish and feed him. On the second day, I will ask Bob to come out and watch me fish. "I don't want to," replies Bob. "I will only give you fish tonight if you come and watch me fish," I reply. "Alright," replies Bob, "I will go and watch you fish." So, on the second day, Bob watches me fish.
On the third day we are out there, I ask Bob to fish with me. "I don't want to," replies Bob. "I will give you a fish ONLY if you try to fish and ONLY if you don't catch enough for yourself," I reply. "Alright," says Bob, "I will go and fish with you." So, I make Bob a fishing hook, give him some string, and dig him up some worms to fish with. Bob catches a few fish, but is still hungry, so I give him some of my fish.
On the fourth day we are out there, I teach Bob some fishing tricks. "I don't want to learn these things," Bob replies. "I can only help you catch more fish if you will let me," I reply. "If you don't let me teach you how to fish on your own, I will not give you any extra fish tonight. You will be stuck with whatever you catch," I reply. "Alright," says Bob, "I will let you teach me". So I teach Bob how to make a hook, how to attach a string, how to dig up worms, and how to better catch fish.
A week later, I go out to fish. However, a large tree limb falls from the above me, knocks me out, and I fall face-first into the water, unconscious. I end up dying. Is Bob now in a condition to better help himself than he was when I first met him? What kind of condition would he have been in if I had just given him the fish? Would he have learned enough to survive on his own? Or would he have starved because his only meal ticket had died?
I should also point out here that, in this illustration, I do not represent the government. I represent the kind-hearted, compassionate American citizen. Civilization, which was nowhere to be found in this illustration (I pointed that out at the beginning) represented government. I taught Bob a valuable skill that he will need in order to survive. In order to do that, I first had to convince Bob to let me teach him (I won't give you any of my fish tonight if you don't......). Once I was able to convince Bob to let me teach him, I was able to teach him a skill that will eventually prolong his life and make him happier (since he will be able to eat). This illustration shows what true compassion is: lifting your brother out of trouble, and not tearing him down.
Written by: Travis Stockelman