Earth Day is a day specially marked to honor the earth and show concern for its state. Many conservatives may have a dislike for this holiday because, like Rush Limbaugh, they associate it with what he labels “environmentalist whacko.†It is unfortunately true that concern for the well-being of the environment is often expressed by those whose beliefs are extreme and have a distinctly anti-human flavor. Conservatives naturally recoil from the more bizarre beliefs of the “eco-freaks.â€ÂÂ
However, it should be remembered that “conservation†could easily be viewed as an intrinsic part of “conservatism.†After all, both words share the same root: to conserve. Conservation is about preserving the environment; conservatism is about preserving traditional cultural and political practices. They fit together when they work to preserve that which is good about both nature and culture for posterity.

