My favorite essayist, George Orwell, defended Rudyard Kipling, for all his faults, in part on the grounds that he was a poet of personal responsibility. He understood that actions have consequences, and he tried to imagine the life of those who had to take action and live with the consequences. A Socialist himself, Orwell was nevertheless able to appreciate the virtues of one of Britain's arch conservatives.
Today's political world seems more polarized than ever, and it is tempting for those of us on the left to conflate the American Right with its most odious representatives, such as the crude buffoon Rush Limbaugh. People like Martin Luther King, Jr. recognized a higher truth, however, when he said one had to love one's opponents. One thing that was remarkable about King is that he actually seemed to mean it. He made the distinction that love does not require liking, but it does require a fundamental recognition of the humanity of other people even if they disagree with you, sometimes in rather crude or brutal fashion.
I was reading today a discussion in which a lonely conservative was complaining about the certitude and self-righteousness of "liberals," which seems to be a common occupation of conservatives today. I would contend that history would vindicate the fact that many liberal criticisms of America's conservative politics are apt and justified. But this person's comments also got me thinking in another direction. What virtues, if any, could I think of that I would attribute particularly to conservatism? While my perspective may be somewhat circumscribed, my intent it is to be empathetic rather than patronizing.
Personal Generosity
It is well known that conservatives and religious people generally make more generous personal contributions of their time and money to charity, even if they may be opposed to governmental programs designed to help those in need. And I have a number of friends and relatives who are both conservative and very charming, despite the fact that on certain points I find their views objectionable or offensive.
Honor
I think it is perhaps fair to say that many conservatives have a stronger sense of honor, which is not to be confused with honesty, than liberals do. In general, my sense is that conservatives think about honor as a value, and that this is reflected in an interest in certain kinds of service such as the military.
Self-Reliance
The flip side of a certain skepticism about the efficacy of the government is confidence in the ability of individuals to affect their own destiny. This is an obvious incentive to individual effort and achievement, even liberals may believe that conservatives sometimes overstate the actual extent of personal self-reliance.
Faith
There is a positive side to faith in the sense that it inspires good conduct and generous actions.
Skepticism
This may seem odd coming right after faith, but fundamental to true conservatism is not only a sense of the limitations of government but a generally healthy suspicion of large systems, programs, and ideologies. Edmund Burke had a healthy sense of how practical application was often more important than theoretical consistency.
i am sure that my attempt at a list will be found wanting by both Left and Right, but more important than the list itself is that it is a healthy thing to think not only about the points on which we differ but also about the qualities we admire in our opponents. Even if one rejects my attempt at a list, I would encourage others to engage in the same exercise, perhaps with better results.