I always read your posts carefully, but because I am poorly informed otherwise of the countries and peoples I usually refrain from comment. However, I wanted to address something in this post.
"...ultra-conservative..."
I learned that the term conservative referred to human rights, at least in the USA. I am ultra-conservative, because I understand that human rights underlie every political and civil undertaking. Respect for human rights all people have is what makes civil society possible. When I grew up conservatives opposed government oppression, taxation, censorship, and similar degradation of the human rights of their civilian populations. Conversely Liberals raised taxes, censor forthright discussions regarding government policies, and have begun arresting and holding people in captivity for having opinions counter to state propaganda in a turn to worse oppression across the West, perhaps most notably in England of late, where it is the new Prime Minister Keir Starmer, of the Liberal Party, that is behind this worsening oppression. [Edit: turns out he is in the Labour Party. My bad.]
I do not know how conservative could mean oppressive, as you seem to have used the term here, referring to Israel. I don't think any polity in the world more disrespects human rights than Israel, where recently a group protested riotously, even breaking into a jail, demanding the right to rape male Palestinian children they considered political enemies of the state of Israel.
I vehemently oppose such violence and abuse, and I consider that opposition to be based on the rights of people accused of crimes to humane and just treatment, even in the hands of their political enemies, to be a conservative policy: conserving human rights. I would describe the demands of the Israelis demanding the Palestinian children held captive by the state of Israel be handed over to them to be raped as liberal, referring to liberating the power of the state from restraint, disdaining, not guarding or conserving human rights.
These terms seem prone to being disparaged by politically oriented groups opposing them, misinterpreted, and used to mock or discourage their political opponents. They are quite confusing to begin with, as Liberals and Libertarians are practically opposite in policy despite having the same root word as the name of their movement.
What do you mean by 'conservative'? What is it conservatives are conserving so hard in Israel you refer to that polity as ultra-conservative?
Thanks!
I was referring not the whole core of conservatism but to specific approaches related with it, specifically exceptionalism and the use of strength abroad. I understand your point here and (maybe) it was an inappropriate use of the term without giving some context to the way I interpret it. Although not seeing you eye to eye in all aspects of your concept of being a conservative but I can be in your same political group when literally we abide by that concept. Thanks for making this content better with your exhaustive analysis of it, and for this question in particular.
I appreciate your considered response. I completely agree Israel definitely features exceptionalism and the use of military force externally.
I neither expect complete agreement nor disparage our lack of total alignment regarding policies. I have been forthcoming of some of my political views, and you also, if more discreetly, communicate your own in your posts. The great disparity of our cultural milieus and age gives little reason to expect anything other than similar disparity in our views, and I anticipated this when I followed you.
TBQH, it was one of the primary reasons I followed you. I am absolutely confident I am mistaken to some degree in everything I think I know. If I only communicate with people that agree with me I will never learn information contrary to that I know. I do not want to be wrong, therefore I seek criticism of my views so that I can correct those I discover to be incorrect. You are far too tolerant and professionally disciplined to offer much criticism, however you are prodigious of research on American countries I find little information about in my country, and while I came for a schooling I stay for the education of a different sort.
I have been quite surprised by such synchrony, such as you suggest here, between our political views, given the great disparity in our experiences, and can only assume you are extremely principled, extraordinarily intelligent, and wise, because you are right so often. At least, when you agree with me =)
I will consider what I think of conservatism, exceptionalism, and readiness to afflict other polities with military assaults as per your reply.
Thanks!