The three most important moments of my life have been:

1. When I became a believer in Jesus Christ.

2. When I became a father.

3. When I became a conservative.

In that order.

I have watched in anger and sadness as the liberal media have portrayed conservatives as cartoon characters. I will readily admit that some people on the right have acted and looked foolish. It is wrong to scream and holler and carry guns for no apparent reason — other than just being afraid.

The conservatives that I know worry about this country, but more importantly, they love this country.

However, they worry that big government wants to control every aspect of American life. Conservatives believe in smaller government, the sanctity of life, two-parent families, God.

Conservatives also believe that good vs. evil is not a multiple choice question.

The silent majority is angered and frightened by the enemy abroad, and the lack of civility and direction at home. We look around, and everything we see seems upside down. Believers are mocked. Schools fail our children at an alarming rate, and Bill can marry Suzie, Frank, Harry and Louise. And the liberals call that a family? I don’t think so.

Conservatives know in their hearts that the reason we have a financial crisis is because we have a spiritual crisis. If you take God out of the mix, heaven help us.

Both political parties are clueless. They scream at each other and act like little kids. They should be ashamed. What is worse is that we are the only industrialized country in the world that doesn’t provide healthcare for all.

Conservatives also know that the goal in life is not to be happy, not to achieve pleasure and avoid pain — the ultimate goal in life is to do the will of God, which is why we are here.

I realize sometimes Republicans give conservatives a bad name. They have spent too much money. They have spent too much blood and treasure on a useless war. And they never said no to anything because they became drunk with power. Remember that Shakespeare said, “Uneasy lies the crown.”

There’s a silent majority in America who are fed up with Washington and Olympia. They are fed up with the games that these politicians play.

The liberals would have you believe that there are no set rules, that all we need is another government program. Just tinker around the edges and everything will be just fine.

I am a conservative. I am not a Nazi. I am not a racist. But I am a person who loves this country. Which vision of America will win? The vision of Dr. King, when he said: “Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice. Justice at its best is love correcting everything that stands against love.”

No excuses.

Walter Backstrom’s columns appear in the Bellevue Reporter twice a month. Readers can contact him at wkbackstrom@aol.com.