Conservative

Conservative and Conservatism, meaning and definition:
adj.

  1. Favoring traditional views and values; tending to oppose change.
  2. Traditional or restrained in style: a conservative dark suit.
  3. Moderate; cautious: a conservative estimate.
    1. Of or relating to the political philosophy of conservatism.
    2. Belonging to a conservative party, group, or movement.
  5. Conservative Of or belonging to the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom or the Progressive Conservative Party in Canada.
  6. Conservative Of or adhering to Conservative Judaism.
  7. Tending to conserve; preservative: the conservative use of natural resources.

n.

  1. One favoring traditional views and values.
  2. A supporter of political conservatism.
  3. Conservative A member or supporter of the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom or the Progressive Conservative Party in Canada.
  4. Archaic. A preservative agent or principle.

adjective

  1. Strongly favoring retention of the existing order: orthodox, right, rightist right-wing Tory traditionalist traditionalistic. See keep/release.
  2. Kept within sensible limits: discreet moderate, reasonable restrained temperate. See plain/fancy, restraint/unrestraint.
  3. Clinging to obsolete ideas: backward, reactionary, unprogressive. See politics.
  4. Able to preserve: preservative, protective. See help/harm/harmless.

noun

    One who strongly favors retention of the existing order: orthodox, rightist, right-winger, Tory, traditionalist. [1]

Conservatism is a term used to describe political philosophies that favour tradition, where tradition refers to various religious, cultural, or nationally defined beliefs and customs. It is difficult to define the term precisely because different cultures have different established values and, in consequence, conservatives in different cultures have differing goals. (Some conservatives seek to preserve the status quo or to reform society slowly, while others seek to return to the values of an earlier time, the status quo ante). In a more general sense, politically, Conservatism often refers to Right-Wing politics.[2]

–

[1] Yahoo Answers
[2] Wikipedia

Islam: A Mosaic, Not a Monolith

President’s Essay — From the 2001 Annual Report

by Vartan Gregorian

Although more than a year has passed since the attacks of September 11, 2001, most Americans still have such a sketchy knowledge of Islam that we probably need to keep ourselves focused on President George W. Bush’s repeated reminders that terrorists, not Muslims or Arabs, are the enemy. That reasoned message, however, is often drowned out by noisy ones from some Muslim clerics who call America the “Great Satan” and some political theorists who interpret the war cries of some militant Islamists as the start of a “clash of civilizations.”1 Provocative messages always gain a disproportionate amount of public attention, but they must be carefully considered and put in context, especially in the aftermath of September 11.

It will surprise many Americans that Islam is the world’s and America’s fastest-growing religion. It continues to grow at a rate faster than that of the world’s population. If current trends continue, according to some estimates, it will have more adherents by the year 2023 than any other.
Read more

Megawati

Diah Permata Megawati Setiawati Soekarnoputri (born January 23, 1947), was (the fifth) President of Indonesia from July 2001 to October 20, 2004. She was the country’s first female President, and the first Indonesian leader born after independence. She is the daughter of Indonesia’s first president, Sukarno.[1]

Megawati entered politics in 1987 as a candidate of the Indonesian Democratic party (PDI) and served in parliament for 10 years. She was elected head of the PDI for a five-year term in 1993 but was removed in 1996, at which time she formed the Indonesia Democratic party of Struggle (PDI-P). Her party won a plurality in the 1999 parliamentary elections, and she ran unsuccessfully for president the same year.[2]
Read more