R: Sail Forbidden Seas and Land on Barbarous Coasts

Every little boy dreams of going off to sea. The rush of the wind, the lap of the waves, the creaking of the vessel as it tacks back and forth–these sounds hold an irresistible attraction for the youthful imagination. While many grow up and find more practical, sensible, landlubber pursuits, some never lose the craving for adventure. This week, we will debate the role of risk in the conservative life. 

The affirmative may argue that positive progress, whether on a personal or societal level, is impossible without risk-taking. It was a risk for the Pilgrims to travel to the New World, a risk for the founders to rebel against Britain, a risk for the pioneers to traverse valleys, rivers, and mountains to settle the Western United States. These brave men and women held their convictions so strongly that they were willing to risk their comfort, livelihoods, and very lives in defense of them. Conservatives can and should make risk-taking part of our lifestyle simply because we hold strong convictions about truth and the way things should be. If we are not willing to take major risks to defend our beliefs, we shirk our duty. We should stand up for the lives of the unborn, for instance, at the risk of our own careers, reputation, and freedom. The affirmative may also find the typical post-Yale career progressions bland and unimaginative–how many bankers and consultants do we really need? 

The negative rejects the disposition of risk-taking as irresponsible and dangerous. The conservative disposition favors gradual change, principled and measured decision-making. It is far more often that belief-based justifications are given as a pretext for risky behavior than beliefs actually justify risk-taking. The desire to board a ship and sail into the horizon like Magellan or Nelson, may be romantic, but it is neither realistic nor advisable. Scripture calls us to live “quiet and peaceable lives in all Godliness” (1 Timothy 2:2), and the kingdom is best served in our context by humble, persistent witness to the lordship of Christ. Perhaps in other times and places, circumstances dictated drastic, risky action, but we are blessed with far more religious and political freedom than any people in world history. No one will take the conservative movement seriously if we are always going to extreme lengths to achieve our ends - surely the worst excesses of the current administration are proof enough that brash, risky, tradition-breaking actions set us up for only failure in the long run. 

Will you board the boat and chart a course for lands unknown? Or will you stay at home with a hot mug of tea? What is the best way to achieve change: bold, risky actions, or quiet consistency?