Dem Quixotic

There's been talking heads on the right who have used the analogy of religion to describe the values (or lack thereof) of the left. Ann Coulter even wrote a book about it. I can take only slight, smug satisfaction knowing that my editor and I had debated the theory years before she wrote her book. Only slight because while I can claim credit, she still gets the checks.

But I've never been completely satisfied with the analogy, there's just something about it that doesn't seem quite right. Last night while I was walking through my dining room, I was struck with a bolt of inspiration. It's not religion that makes the best analogy. Religion is recognizing and accepting the existence of a higher being and/or plane of existence. For the analogy to work, this would be required of the top tier of liberals to accept something larger and more important than themselves. And I believe that's why it doesn't fit. It doesn't really describe the actions and emotions of the rank and file liberal democrats. The rank and file don't look up to the top tier liberal groups and politicians for salvation; they look up to them in awe, but hardly with the hope of eternal salvation. So no, it's not religion. It's Chivalry.

About 15 years ago my sister and I attended the Sterling Forest Renaissance Festival in upstate New York. It's quite a day trip vacation. For those who are interested in history period events, I highly recommend it. One of the first booths you encounter upon entering is the print shop. There are all kinds of drawings, etchings, prints - you name it you can probably find it there. I bought myself a nice little drawing of a dragon reclining on a burned out castle. Enough said. Later in the day my sister somehow managed to ditch me long enough to sneak back over to the printer and she bought me a print of a Code of Chivalry based upon a 13th century France document. I got it for Christmas that year, and it's hung proudly on my wall ever since.

The Code of Chivalry (France, circa 13th Century)

Thou shalt believe all the Church teaches and shalt observe all its directions.

Thou shalt defend the Church.

Thou shalt respect all Weaknesses and shalt constitute thyself the defender of them.

Thou shalt love the Country in which thou wast born.

Thou shalt make war against the infidel without cessation and without mercy.

Thou shalt perform scrupulously thy feudal duties in accordance with the law of God.

Thou shalt be generous and give largess to every one.

Thou shalt be the champion of the Right and the Good against Injustice and Evil.



With some slight modifications, I believe we have a pretty accurate code of honor among liberals:

The Code of Liberalism (San Francisco, New York, circa 20th Century)

Thou shalt believe all the Democratic Party teaches and shalt observe all its directions.

Thou shalt defend the Democratic Party.

Thou shalt respect all Recognized Victim Classes and shalt constitute thyself the defender of them.

Thou shalt love the Democratic Party in which thou wast born.

Thou shalt make war against the conservative without cessation and without mercy.

Thou shalt perform scrupulously thy liberal duties in accordance with the law of the Democratic Party.

Thou shalt be generous with other's money and give largess to every recognized victim class.

Thou shalt be the champion of the Left and the Good against Injustice and Evil.


As with the dragon etching, enough said.