Reply #6: It took a tour in Vietnam and living through the aftermath to wake me up,

[Jackpine Radical]

to make me take that step back and start questioning things.

Personally, I think anyone who has seen and believed in the view from the other side is actually in an intellectually stronger position as a result. Don't be ashamed of having fallen for some things. Who better to lead others out of the dark?

And anyway, if we ever get back to "normal" times, there are many valuable aspects to old-fashioned conservatism. It can be like a rudder and keel on the ship of state, that keep us from blowing from side to side with every random new breeze.