What is a Liberal?

Shakespeare said, "That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." While that is true, it is also true that if  twisters of words repetitively called it a weed  it would lose it's standing as a flower in the eyes of those who believed the liars.

Words have consequences and no one knows that better than Karl Rove, a petty little man who is an expert at twisting words and facts around with the sly mis-use of language.  When he is through manipulating the English language white is viewed as black, good is suddenly bad and a liberal becomes someone who is naive and stupid or to be scorned.   The use of the word liberal in a negative way began in the Reagan administration. We liberals have had to endure the following labels:  bleeding heart liberals, liberal/commie/pinkos and even fascists.  The sneers and derisive tones of voice when saying the word by the right wing is appalling.  

I am so very tired of the conservatives using the word liberal in a false and misleading way.  I am liberal and I am proud to be so.  It really irritates me when I am equated with being a pinko or other misleading  label.  Well, I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore.  I will start with the dictionary definition of the word:   (This definition is from the On Line dictionary.)

 lib·er·al  (lbr-l, lbrl)adj.

1.

a. Not limited to or by established, traditional, orthodox, or authoritarian attitudes, views, or dogmas; free from bigotry.

b. Favoring proposals for reform, open to new ideas for progress, and tolerant of the ideas and behavior of others; broad-minded.

c. Of, relating to, or characteristic of liberalism.

d. Liberal Of, designating, or characteristic of a political party founded on or associated with principles of social and political liberalism, especially in Great Britain, Canada, and the United States.

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And this from the Mirriam dictionary and Bing.com

Liberals believe that the rights of the people, of the majority, are to be valued much more sincerely than those of corporations, and therefore have frequently proposed the weakening of corporate power through heavier taxation (of corporations), environmental regulations, and the formation of unions. Liberals often propose the heavier taxation of WEALTHY individuals, while alleviating taxes on the middle class, and especially the poor. Liberals (American sense) do not support laissez-faire economics because, to put it simply, multinational corporations take advantage of developing countries and encourage exploitation and child labor (multinational corporations are spawned from laissez-faire policies). Instead, many propose the nationalization of several industries, which would make sure that wealth and power is not concentrated in a few hands, but is in the hands of the people (represented by elected officials in government).privatization and globalization have greatly damaged the economies of Latin America, namely Argentina and Mexico .

Are you a liberal?(From the Liberal party)

Imagine our world without a Bill of Rights, free speech, secular government, the end of slavery, trial by jury, child labor laws, public education, women’s right to vote, social security, Medicare, the Peace Corps, civil rights, fair economic trade, marriage equality, fair labor standards, or stem cell research. These are but a few accomplishments which can be attributed to liberal ideals. Would you be willing to lose any one of these? If not, then you are a liberal.

BROADMINDED. Not limited to or by established, traditional, orthodox, or authoritarian attitudes, views, or dogmas; free from bigotry. Favoring proposals for reform, open to new ideas for progress ; tolerant of the ideas of others. Archaic laws hold no relevance unless those laws continue to hold empirical truth in the present.

LIBERALS believe respecting the equal and inalienable human rights and liberties of all members of the human family is the foundation of a free, just and peaceful world. Notable Liberals: Susan B. Anthony, Cesar Chavez, Dorothy Day, Frederick Douglass, Thomas Jefferson, Dolores Huerta, John & Robert Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Thomas Paine, Eleanor & Franklin Roosevelt ; Voltaire.

MILESTONES: Abolition of Slavery, Public Education, Social Security, Child Labor Laws, 40 Hour Work Weeks, Civil Rights Movement, Right of Peaceful Assembly, Medicare, Peace Corps, Trial by Jury, Fair Economic Trade, Free Speech, New Energy Initiatives, Stem Cell Research, Marriage Equality, Fair Labor Standards, Women’s Right to Vote or Secular Politics.

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Synonyms:
1. progressive. 7. broad-minded, unprejudiced. 9. beneficent, charitable, openhanded, munificent, unstinting, lavish. 

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If you look at the opposite of liberal this is the result:

• Broad Minded  vs Narrow Minded
  

• Charitable vs Stingy

• Tolerant vs Intolerant

• Unprejudiced vs. Prejudiced

• Progressive vs. Status Quo (Example: the current GOP party of "No")

From now on every time I see or hear the word liberal used in a demeaning way I will call that person out.   So you may call me a Liberal and I will answer with pride and never apologize for being tolerant, open to new ideas, charitable, and having no prejudice. Almost everything that has made this country the envy of the world has been based on liberal principles and enacted into law by liberals.