John Fonte’s article in National Review: The Rise of the “Civ-Consâ€:
At the level of highest principle civic conservatism emphasizes the Unum in E Pluribus Unum and puts American national cohesion over any group interest. The intellectual origins of civic conservatism can be traced to George Washington’s Farewell Address.
Citizens by birth or choice, of a common country, that country has a right to concentrate your affections. The name American, which belongs to you, in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of Patriotism, more than any appellation derived from local discriminations.
As Washington scholar Matthew Spalding of the Heritage Foundation puts it: “Above all, the Farewell Address directs the American regime toward Union, or unity, rather than diversity. America must be something more than a league of states or regions, a collection of various groups and interests.â€
[ . . . ]
Thus, in terms of specific issues civic conservatives put emphasis on:
- the promotion of serious civic education, particularly an understanding of America’s foundations and history;
- the patriotic assimilation of immigrants without apology (the melting pot over the “salad bowl†and “mosaicâ€);
- the clear legal imperative that, in America, international law is subordinate to American constitutional law;
- the rejection of extra-territorial sovereignty for Native Hawaiians and American Indians (e.g., no exemption from state gambling laws) on the basis of race;
- the elimination of ethnic, racial, and gender group preferences in employment and education;
- the phasing out of bilingual education and bilingual ballots;
- the phasing out of American dual allegiance voting and holding office in foreign countries;
- the repeal of President Clinton’s Executive Order 13166 (enforced by the Bush administration) requiring multilingualism in all government documents;
- the end of so-called multicultural education.
