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“It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood, a beautiful day for a neighbor”
Many Americans fondly remember singing along to this tune throughout their youth. Its sentiments, however, seem to be fading as time goes on. A recent Pew Research study reports that only 31% of Americans know their neighbors. This figure is staggering. The deeply American concept of community is now becoming a thing of the past. As a conservative, this is particularly troubling. For years, conservative intellectuals have sought to protect the collective wisdom and ‘ordered liberty’ in which America was built upon. As the community diminishes, the wisdom and value it possesses also disappears. Americans must recognize the dire need to conserve the spirit of a vibrant community.
The decline of the community is not only harmful for the public good, but also prevents the individual from reaching his full potential. Communities allow Americans to cultivate and fortify their wisdom amongst a public sphere, rather than simply isolating their intellect. Without the community, ideas are abandoned to die within the individual who holds them. In the public sphere, ideas can be shared and strengthened.
In his ‘Ten Conservative Principles,’ Russell Kirk highlights the necessity of community within the conservative mindset. He writes, “Conservatives uphold voluntary community, quite as they oppose involuntary collectivism.” For centuries, America has been composed of a collection of small communities. The institutions of the family, church, local government, and local group associations have been cornerstones in the preservation of American social stability. Simply stated, community unites citizens. It offers a sense of belonging. A vibrant spirit of community encourages civic engagement and a desire to preserve order. This genuine and voluntary association to the locality allows citizens to consider what is good for both the individual and his fellow man. Local association harvests tight-knit communities in which neighbors not only know one another’s names, but also care for each other and see to preserve their well-being. An individual deeply rooted in his community has stake in the outcome of what occurs around him. When citizens know their neighbors on a personal level, they are motivated to curb selfish desires and engage in charitable activities that promote prosperity.
Humanity thrives in a system of order, especially one that instills a sense of duty to preserve that which is honorable and good. The community fortifies the longstanding tradition of American order. It reaffirms the concept of human dignity in which this republic is rooted. Strong communities consistently personify the notions that the American founders held when crafting the nation. They display the inherent value and dignity of humanity. If conservatives wish to maintain the presence of ‘ordered liberty,’ they must first maintain the presence of voluntary community association.
Alli Wade is a McConnell Scholar in the Class of 2022. She is studying political science and criminal justice at the University of Louisville.