Illustration by Corey BrightElizabeth Earwood - Contributoreearwood@uab.edu
I will never forget the day a student next to me leaned over and said, “Thank you so much for what you said in class yesterday; I couldn’t agree more.” These are kind, but strange words to conservatives at UAB. In that particular class, we had discussed the topic of government supported women’s health programs like Planned Parenthood. In class I could not help but express my certainty that government sponsored advice for women and family planning is far from the best. Yet, I was embarrassed to consider that I was the only one who thought so—this is what it is like to be a conservative at UAB.
Before I continue, I will define what I mean by “conservative”. In short, conservatives want to conserve the principles of the American Revolution. Conservatives start by thinking of people as material and spiritual beings, only part of which can be influenced by the government. Thus, in working to achieve an excellent society, conservatives highly esteem freedom. From this understanding flows ideas about limited government, capitalism, taxes and more. It is safe to assume that very few UAB students or faculty members hold to these understandings.
Being conservative at UAB, includes being silently, and sometimes loudly, shunned for your thoughts about politics and government all the while watching others flaunt their liberal ideology and finding approval. When conservatives suggest that taxing the wealthy more is not the best way to decrease poverty, it is assumed we do not care about poor people. However it is because we care about them so much that we do not want the government to keep handing them money which cripples their recovery. Also, conservatives are confident that health care is best when sponsored by private companies rather than a government monopoly, yet this confidence is met with attempts to suggest that we do not care about the health of our community. If conservatives were to mention how we understand government provision of college tuition as a terrible policy that hurts the very people it claims to help, people mutter amongst themselves that we do not care about those with a low income. When in fact, it is because we care so much about people that we do not want government policies to dominate.
And if that is not enough, in history classes, President Calvin Coolidge, a significant contributor in the conservative movement, is all but skipped over, while President FDR, a champion of the liberal movement, is praised as a savior. In political science classes, more government involvement is the only solution proposed to each problem. Professors always claim to appreciate both opinions, yet the favoritism shown to liberal ideas is clear.
There are exceptions to this experience. The few professors who agree or at least explain both viewpoints are superior and seem to make the rest of them endurable.
If I am honest, I must admit my unique viewpoints come because I am confident that the true saving work for our world is found in a ruler who did not limit Himself, but gave all the freedom He had. Even at a university in the “Bible Belt”, discussions like this are indeed in the minority.
And so, conservatives take this as a challenge accepted. Hearing liberal rhetoric and understanding liberal ideology helps us to be sure conservatives. Sarah Griffin, another conservative at UAB, calls her time at here “rewarding.” She adds, “It has allowed me to learn from others and to really solidify what I believe in and gain multiple perspectives on tough issues.” I could not agree more.
Thank you liberals for making us more confident conservatives.
