August 2006

Dr. Charlie Self (a.ka.  Dr. History)

Guest speaker Dr. Charlie Self, better known as "Dr. History" from the Brian Sussman show on KSFO addressed The Conservative Forum.

In August, Charlie Self (Doctor History) wowed Conservative Forum attendees with his vast knowledge, wit and enthusiasm.

Doctor History started out by saying that to be a conservative is a courageous effort and highlighted the 7 Principles for the 21st Century Conservative:

1. Liberty. He indicated that adherence to liberty was critical to the United States. We need to reignite our liberty. We must re-establish the freedom to live a virtuous life rooted in truth. Virtue requires truth. Methods may change, but principles don't.

2. Life. Our arbitrary secular decisions replace God's judgement. We do not protect the lives of our weakest citizens - the unborn and to those about to depart.

3. Loyalty. We need to have a deep commitment to the Constitution. American citizenship is a privilege; we must have a loyalty to our nation.

4. Law. The rule of law is essential to honor and respect for people.

5. Legacy. We must be committed to a legacy of passion.

6. Limits. We must use discipline and restraint in order to show fiscal responsibility. There should be term limits for bureaucrats. We cannot have all of the guns and butter that we desire.

7. Love. Seek the good in others. Think of others more than ourselves.

Secondly, he commented on changing the adjectives we use to describe conservatives. Words like "enlightened" should describe conservatives. Personal responsibility should be encouraged over and over. Conservatives must get involved in the public discourse; we must use "forceful public communication."

He highlighted his three greatest concerns:

1. Immigration Reform.
2. Fiscal Restraint (or the lack therof).
3. Decisiveness about our moral superiority and military strategy.

He also indicated that he thought there were too many self-hating, even self-loathing Americans. He posed some questions when having a discussion with a self-hating liberal. "Why do have such hatred?" "Where did you get that information?"

He said that the United States is to Islam today as Europe was to Hitler in the 1930's. Not all Germans were raving Nazis, pretty much like not all Muslims are not all fanatics. However, there were enough raving Nazis to cause the death of tens of millions of people worldwide. Today there are enough Muslim fanatics to threaten the western world to the core of its existence.

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