I am a Liberal hear me roar
Let me start off by stating I use to be a moderate, trying the best to balance everything, appeasing everyone and not to rock the boat. However, as I have experienced the pain of life and challenges that have come before me, I have evaluated (maybe gained wisdom) my political understanding and evolved to become a Liberal. I have realized that all the truly great things in cultural, politically, societal advancements have been achieved during history was accomplishments by Liberals (Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther, Martin Luther King, FDR, Kennedy, Leonardo Da Vinci, our founding fathers, etc.). Therefore, I am a Liberal hear me roar.
What is a Liberal? The following are two great definitions of this political belief:
“A political theory founded on the natural goodness of humans and the autonomy of the individual and favoring civil and political liberties, government by law with the consent of the governed, and protection from arbitrary authority.” This is the dictionary definition of Liberal is found at http://www.thefreedictionary.com/
Moreover, let me provide you with a real world definition of a Liberal, as provided by President Kennedy on September 14, 1960.
“What do our opponents mean when they apply to us the label "Liberal?" If by "Liberal" they mean, as they want people to believe, someone who is soft in his policies abroad, who is against local government, and who is unconcerned with the taxpayer’s dollar, then the record of this party and its members demonstrate that we are not that kind of "Liberal." But if by a "Liberal" they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of the people — their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, and their civil liberties — someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicions that grip us in our policies abroad, if that is what they mean by a "Liberal," then I’m proud to say I’m a "Liberal."
After you read both of these definitions, what do you consider yourself from a personal and political standpoint? Most people in this community are on the left side of the political aside. However, in my experience we have been conditioned to avoid the dreaded word “Liberal”. Based on my beliefs and observations people consider this a bad word and it is a terrible “label”, it means you are someone that cannot be trusted and are a radical. Moreover, we use the word “Progressive” to soften this image and definitive, but to me this is an easy way out. Therefore, I have started to embrace the truth to describe my beliefs- I am a Liberal.
I truly believe this country is starting to wake up and think of themselves in this term. We are tired of the BS that has been feed to us during the past 40 years (Progressives, Conservatives or Moderates)- do not rock the boat, do not have goals or dreams- they are hard, be happy with your lot, support the establishment and do as your told. There is a person that has help us wake up and it is Bernie Sanders and he has started a revolution. As noted by Bernie, the younger people and all of us are the future and we need fight for what is right now and in the future. Please review the following article.
http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/278383-sanders-te...
After reading this essay and the article please think about your personal and political beliefs then figure out what you want from our country, government and this community. As for me, I am Liberal! Going forward I will work with all of you to fix our problems and make things better for all of our future generations and us. Will it be perfect? Will it be utopia? May or may not, but damn it is worth fighting for now and in the future because no matter the results at least we tried. Therefore, look inwards and understand who you are then go forward with all your heart and fight for what is best for you and all of us. Let me hear you roar!
Comments
Can agnostics believe?
OK, here is a start:
I used to teach part time at my old law school. I had foreign lawyers and judges to whom I imparted an overview of our legal system, our constitution, and how our profession acts, works, and is regulated.
One thing I managed to impart on every class was how effing lucky we were. Those folks who voted for independence, who collectively drafted the Declaration, who drafted the Articles of Confederation, then corrected their mistakes with the US Constitution, AND THEN, corrected their newest mistakes and omissions by enacting a Bill of Rights, . . . .
Those folks were brilliant, brave (they were committing treason at the time) they were incredibly well-read, most spoke more than 2 languages, or at least had a passing and reading knowledge of Latin and/or French, and for the most part, collected books. Despite their states' differences (see generally, Slavery), they still managed to leave us with a constitutional form of democracy that has survived since 1776.
Whether it will survive this election cycle remains to be seen. While Cruz is simply insane, and very much a Lucifer, Trump actually is as much a clear and present danger as Cruz. Sadly, a more insidious and long term dangerous person is Hillary.
A long time ago, in a land far, far away, I spent one summer in my yute, studying social studies and language in the USSR. It was 1976. It was a real eye opener. I came back and supported Reagan. Then, I grew up.
I repeatedly test way to the bottom left on those political tests, yet I view myself as being moderate. None of my ideas, on their own, are crazy socialist, commie pinko nutsoid spewing of Marxist crap. Rather, each position, on its own, can easily be supported by a large majority of the general public.
So, back to my title, Can Agnostics believe? I believe not. Hopefully, we try to think rather than emotionally made decisions that can be so easily subverted and controlled.
You must understand yourself before
you can go forward. To me more people are liberal than they believe. We have the greatest nation in history based on the Liberal ideals.
Because here is the secret. People that are not aware or are not thinkers lack courage and embrace the establishment- change is bad. So you can believe because you are aware and think. Enlightenment is truly a wonderful thing. So no worries, I hear your roar!
we're lucky that was written in the Age of Enlightenment
I think a constitutional convention in the 60s or 70s might have worked but we know for sure that if we had one now, that modified constitution would be a horror show, full of TPPs and NSAs.
Today?
Just as they did a decade ago, the Kochs would spread seeds, cultivate the Teabuggerers, reap their support, and direct those village idiots to create a constitution to their personal liking. And we would have no defense to their "investment."
Not just Kochs, either. Sheldon Adelson. Haim Saban. Etc.
The Saudis. The Thanis (clan that rules Qatar). Etc.
Thank you
Yes, one of the great gifts of the Bernie Sanders candidacy, perhaps the greatest gift, is the increasingly widespread appreciation that we can, and must, embrace liberalism, proudly, defiantly, without equivocation or substitution of meaningless labels.
Notice how Hillary never calls herself a liberal? But she is NOW (at least until June) a progressive!
Spot on
you get it, and that is freaking wonderful. I hear you roar!
I have noticed Hillary has now embraced the mantle of being proud progressive, what a load of crap! After June then it is back to her conservative ways and practices.
She is not a leader, she is not brave, she does not have the courage or convictions to lead us towards a better tomorrow. That is what a liberal does, he or she has the foresight to look towards a better tomorrow and fight for what is right no matter what the challenges or obstacles.
I like that
Sanders has been a huge wake up call for many.
"Love One Another" ~ George Harrison
There is
no other option for me,Beside all the above mentioned it is as simple as treat others as you would have them treat you!
What did you do once you knew?
It's something we must ask ourselves daily. Walking one's talk is not easy. Hell, marching and protesting is a cinch compared to daily choices we make in our daily lives. I fumble and fall all the time. But we as a family try damn hard to at least walk forward and with kindness.
The lines:
But if by a "Liberal" they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of the people — their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, and their civil liberties — someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicions that grip us in our policies abroad, if that is what they mean by a "Liberal," then I’m proud to say I’m a "Liberal." - JFK
on our damn fridge, it's dirty and tattered but it's at eye level evert damn dat.
ROAR DAMMIT ROAR!!!!
"Love One Another" ~ George Harrison
Got to be progressive too
A rose is a rose by any name, but...
Liberal economics means to economics what liberal means to social laws: Less regulations and laws.
Progressives, in general, support more regulations with regards to money/economics and less regulations with regards to folks' personal lives.
http://www.alternet.org/story/146207/the_key_differences_between_progres...
The progressive movement of the last century was fruitful. From wiki:
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
TY Borkrom, for a thought-provoking essay. It sure is good
to find sound intellectual footing, as you have done.
In my worldview, the old French Revolution continuum, from left to right, goes like this:
anarchist, socialist-progressive, capitalist-liberal, corporatist-neo-liberal, small-c-conservative, neo-conservative, fascist
To me, the difference between progressive and liberal is that:
progressives are democratic-socialist, green, and social-justice, whereas
liberals are small-c-capitalist, free enterprise, small-d-democratic
But heck, labels mean little: what matters is the heart. Lips lie, but the heart always reveals truth-in-action.
Enjoy your day, my friend,
Resilience: practical action to improve things we can control.
3D+: developing language for postmodern spirituality.