If you check back and see this, allow me to apologize if that sounded like I was implying any connection between you and pro-slavery.
Still, it's the truth. In 1860, a Southerner could say with full accuracy that slavery was indeed in America for a while, that it had become a part of American culture, and part of our national tradition. It's really not inconceivable for a slaveholder to use those arguments when defending his right to own human laborers.
What I'm getting at is, conservatism for conservatism's sake -- simply accepting tradition regardless of its role in modern society -- isn't a wise policy. In many cases, conservatives can point to tradition as a source of morality; that's acceptable, because morality does indeed benefit society. Retaining outdated culture for no other reason than its long history, though? Not so much.
