This article is in response to The Duties of a Free Citizen and is part of the symposium on “What’s Wrong With Conservatism“?
Kevin Gutzman outlines three major issues which need to be reformed in the interest of a better Conservative “stance”: foreign policy, economic policy, and our culture. Why, however, does Mr. Gutzman entitle his article “The Duties of a Free Citizen” after outlining current issues which, upon first glance, seem to have nothing to do with duties of citizenship? The consideration of the proper citizen should perhaps bring to mind Aristotle’s teaching that the excellence of a citizen is determined by view of the government of which he is a part. If this is true, what will be more imperative for the American citizen than upholding what ought to be the goal of this country’s government: freedom?
This citizenship connects to the importance of reform when it comes to the three issues which need to be addressed. This is clearest in the claim that our foreign policy has directly shaped our economic policy and hence compromised our freedom. Although it is certainly the duty of America to stand up for the protection of basic human rights, it is also crucial to never forget that the principal aim of this government is first to secure the freedom of its citizens. Hence all foreign policy makers should consider the repercussions of their decisions for the citizens of America—especially when it comes to the economic freedom which might be compromised through enormous costs which we are forced to shoulder.
Additionally, this consideration of freedom applies to a discussion of our culture. With the removal of God from all things American for the sake of “freedom”, what has replaced Him is a strange sort of religion aimed at worshipping the state, as Mr. Gutzman points out. What’s worse: those who promote this religion see it as a sort of “citizenship” and hence, we find ourselves forced to worship this new sort of deity which hides behind patriotic claims to legitimacy. We need to remember that “pointing upward” is not the compromising of freedom which so many liberals seem desperate to assert.
The Conservative point of view ought to promote that the citizen has a duty to stand up for freedom when it comes to these problems—and others—which he finds himself facing today in our country. Let us always keep in mind that we are not simply standers-by as we watch a country from which many of us have removed ourselves. Rather, we all should be active participants in shaping our children’s future if we want to call ourselves true citizens of such a great country.
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