Disturbing e-mail exchange with an old friend

Sir:
I once was as you were, leaned left and believed every mantra that was recited to me in college. It is a sad testament to education that these same worn slogans are now recited to grade-school children, but I digress.

I like you came to my senses during President Regans administration. I think for me, the turning point came when that jerk in Lybia tried to shoot down two US planes and whipped his sorry butt for being so presumptous.

I remember writting an essay for some adult educaction class I was taking that what Regan had done by trying to cut federal spending was that we'd, each and everyone of us, were now going to have to raise ourselves by our own bootstraps because the federal government is going to make US be responsible for our own lives. It was apparently an eyeopening statement for my teacher who had never thought of it that way. I often wonder if she became a conservative that day.

The point here, is that conservatives DO indeed grow! They grow from being convinced that government is the answer to our problems into people that see themselves as the best arbitrator to their lives. This belief is also usually accompanied with a deep religious faith that allows us to see ourselves as human beings with flaws and the natural tendency to make mistakes, and as such acknowleges that no matter how much we can do to help ourselves it is God that really see us through.

I have argued many times with those on the left that when I have nowhere left to turn in this world I seek help and take comfort from His world. Where do they turn? To pyscho-babblers? The feel good, do gooders that make you feel happy that you're so miserable?

I know I am sort of rambling on this and jumping from place to place here, but I fully agree with your statements above.

One last thought here and that it is a shame your friend has blinders on, he sounded, from what you had written about him, like a really good buddy.