Don’t Be A Maskhole: And Here I Thought You Were Conservative

Unsplash Photo Credit: Daniel Lincoln

At some point, the word conservative got twisted. I grew up thinking it meant an approach that was careful. Not too risky. Cautious. Not loosey goosey. Thoughtful. My best friend’s dad was a conservative and he also was a conservationist. An environmentalist. He wanted to play it safe with our planet and not just hope the scientists were wrong.

​Nowadays, though, conservative seems to have lost its meaning. It especially reared its ugly face during COVID-19 where many conservatives were outraged over having to wear mask. This essay undresses conservatism with the hope of returning to its roots. ​

Read the Article Preview Below

I remember the day well. The afternoon of June 26, 2009. It was a sweltering 99 degrees in St. Louis. I had just happened upon a discussion at Starbucks between an acquaintance, Matt, and a group of men I had never seen. Don’t worry, I assure you that my taste in coffee has improved since then.

Matt was the most self-described conservative I had ever met. He was belligerently lecturing this group on why climate change wasn’t real. I couldn’t help myself, so I chimed in with a sarcastic smile.

“Matt, I thought you were a conservative. You know, not…

Read Essay