Clint Eastwood reminds us that Conservative is a relative term

'Republican' certainly is, as Mr. Eastwood reminds us his concerns for such things as Gay Marriage runs far closer to the more progressive than the traditional Christian.  Many confuse the terms Conservative, Republican, and Christian, as if the three are interchangeable.  They're not.  There is an entire swath of secular Conservatives who are no less impatient with traditional Christian (and other religious) believers as their secular leftist counterparts.  Others tolerate the traditional Christian insofar as they may help at the ballot box.  Still others go even further, and can appreciate the unique contributions that Christian heritage gave to Western Culture, which they value.  They see traditional religious values, particularly Christian values, as more or less something that goes with traditional Americana, somewhere between apple pie and baseball.  Just which group Mr. Eastwood falls into is beyond me.  What is clear is that his Republican identity is in no way linked to a traditional, conservative Christian identity or set of priorities.

Of course his rather eloquent take on the issue, suggesting that anyone should be able to marry anyone, would be better if it were put in context.  Does he mean adults can marry children?  Adults can marry animals?  Adults can have multiple spouses?  Is he really for complete equality for all people, or is he just one more person disguising his prejudices against certain adults by making it sound like support for Gay Marriage is the only true litmus test for absolute moral superiority, tolerance, and enlightened diversity?

Meanwhile, Leonardo DiCaprio, not to be outdone, jumps in with a post-modern version of Archie Bunker's famous 'case closed' brand of arguing:  

"That's the most infuriating thing -- watching people focus on these things," DiCaprio told GQ. "Meanwhile, there's the onset of global warming and these incredibly scary and menacing things with the future of our economy."

Spoken like a true sage.  What I would love to do is say, "You're right  Leo, let's just accept gays can't be married and drop the whole issue and focus on those other issues you say are threatening our lives."  I can't help but think that's not what he means.  Of course he doesn't.  What he means is obvious.  Problem is, like so many progressive values and standards, it's telling it like it ain't, in the hopes that nobody cares enough to notice.