The anti-liberal followers of the population need to do what I did recently. I got out my dictionary and looked up the definitions of the world LIBERAL. (1) Liberals are tolerant of different views and standards of behavior in others; (2) Liberals favor gradual reform, especially political reforms that extend democracy, distribute wealth more evenly and protect the personal freedom of the individual; (3) Liberals are generous with money, time, or some other asset; (4) Liberals are concerned with general cultural matters and broadening of the mind.
As a noun, a liberal is somebody who favors tolerance or reform. Synonyms of the word: open-minded, moderate, freethinking and noninterventionist.
Once we know the meaning of the word and the neighborhood in which it lives, who would not want to be called a liberal?
Look at the history of our country. Liberals got us good food and drug acts; got women the right to vote; Social Security (which I appreciate more every day) was created by liberals; got the Civil Rights Act passed; passed the Clean Air Act; passed the Clean Water Act; opposed slavery early on; making the 13 colonies separate the powers of church and state, and pushed for leaving the British Empire and founding the United States of American.
And probably as important would be liberals insight to the founding of human rights movements and pushing treaties like the Geneva Conventions on war. Set the pattern after WWII to put on trial and convict German war criminals. We could use politicians with guts to put more modern war criminals on trial.
So the next time you are called a "liberal," take it as a badge of honor and be proud to be in such company.
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