Posted on 04/20/2011 12:09:53 PM PDT by freedomguy38
I hate labels! Why? First, because they mean different things to different people. Second, because people seem to think that if they can label something or someone, then nothing more needs to be discussed. It stops further inquiry and learning. For instance, I learned from a very good friend this week that my spirituality is beyond a doubt liberal. And according to Merriam-Webster, he is absolutely correct as the definitions below testify.
Then I saw definition #6 and learned that I would not make a good political liberal in the UK. And if that definition fits liberalism in the US, and I think it does, then I could not be that here either. At first read, “associated with ideals of individual especially economic freedom, greater individual participation in government, and constitutional, political, and administrative reforms designed to secure these objectives” sounds pretty good. (Very cleverly put, old chaps.)
The individual ideal of economic freedom or free enterprise in a free market environment is the bait. Then follows the greater individual participation in government (Democracy) which history shows has never worked. It always ends in the tyranny of the people over themselves or the tyranny of their Emperor/King/Dictator over the people. The real kicker is “reforming the constitution (laws which control government), political (ridding the country of party ideologies), and administrative (uncontrolled by the people’s constitution).” These reforms are “designed to secure these objectives.” The objective of political liberalism is to control you and me! Period! And they are not afraid to openly tell us what their objective is. I find this to be frightening indeed!
You see, spiritually, I would be considered “liberal” or “radical” only while being compared with the religious mythology adopted and taught by Christianity for 2000 years (penal substitution for salvation). Jesus was also found guilty of not being bound by traditional religious forms that had been around for about the same length of time. And added to those old formulas were the mythologies the priests had learned from Zoroastrianism during their captivity in Persia (heaven, hell, battle between good and evil gods, resurrection, apocalyptic end of the world, etc.; all found in Judaism and a generation or two later also in Christianity).
Take away the teachings and confessions of Christianity, and you will find me in complete agreement with Jesus, and several OT prophets who also complained about the priest’s leaving out the Creator’s scandalous message of love and forgiveness and acceptance in their practice of religion. That message can still be found hiding in the Moses’ scriptures and in David’s songs and, as I mentioned, in some of the prophets.
But politically, I find myself backing those who support our Constitutional Republic which is a government of laws that control government from infringing on the rights of a liberated (liberal) people,; namely, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. (Please do not attempt to label that.)
Our Constitution makes it possible for us to be liberal toward each other because government is not allowed to stand in our way from doing so. The confusion begins when the government begins to think and sound and act as if it is human with human attributes. It has not been created in the image of God. It is not their job to be humanly or progressive or liberal. It is their job to protect our right to act humanely liberal and generous to the fatherless, the widow, the alien, and those poorly in need. Their confusion on this matter does not have to be yours any longer.
1lib·er·al adj \ˈli-b(ə-)rəl\
Definition of LIBERAL 1 a : of, relating to, or based on the liberal arts b archaic : of or befitting a man of free birth
2 a : marked by generosity : openhanded b : given or provided in a generous and openhanded way c : ample, full
3 obsolete : lacking moral restraint : licentious
4 : not literal or strict : loose
5 : broad-minded; especially : not bound by authoritarianism, orthodoxy, or traditional forms
6 a : of, favoring, or based upon the principles of liberalism b capitalized : of or constituting a political party advocating or associated with the principles of political liberalism; especially : of or constituting a political party in the United Kingdom associated with ideals of individual especially economic freedom, greater individual participation in government, and constitutional, political, and administrative reforms designed to secure these objectives
— lib·er·al·ly \-b(ə-)rə-lē\ adverb
— lib·er·al·ness noun
Examples of LIBERAL She is a liberal Democrat who married a conservative Republican. She has a liberal attitude toward sex. He made a very liberal donation to the museum. Many fishermen keep their holes from freezing over with liberal injections of antifreeze. —Time, 28 Feb. 1974 Alexandra looked at him mournfully. “I try to be more liberal about such things than I used to be. I try to realize that we are not all made alike …” —Willa Cather, O Pioneers!, 1913 This cost him considerable, for Dick was rather fastidious about his cigars, and wouldn't smoke the cheapest. Besides, having a liberal nature, he was generally ready to treat his companions. —Horatio Alger, Ragged Dick, 1868 On most issues he was thought of as a generally liberal figure, but on gun control he was live-free-or-die National Rifle Association man. —Jonathan Raban, Harper's, Aug. 1993 Origin of LIBERAL Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin liberalis suitable for a freeman, generous, from liber free; perhaps akin to Old English lēodan to grow, Greek eleutheros free
First Known Use: 14th century
Related to LIBERAL Synonyms: broad-minded, nonconventional, nonorthodox, nontraditional, open-minded, progressive, radical, unconventional, unorthodox
Antonyms: conservative, conventional, hidebound, nonprogressive, old-fashioned, orthodox, stodgy, traditional
Related Words: advanced, contemporary, modern; forbearing, indulgent, large-minded, lenient, permissive, tolerant; extreme; impartial, objective, unbiased
Near Antonyms: hard, rigid, strict; doctrinal, dogmatic (also dogmatical); bigoted, blinkered, intolerant, narrow-minded; reactionary, unreconstructed
see all synonyms and antonyms
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Synonym Discussion of LIBERAL liberal, generous, bountiful, munificent mean giving or given freely and unstintingly. liberal suggests openhandedness in the giver and largeness in the thing or amount given . generous stresses warmhearted readiness to give more than size or importance of the gift . bountiful suggests lavish, unremitting giving or providing . munificent suggests a scale of giving appropriate to lords or princes .
What I really take out of this waste of several hundred words is that it is time to drop the “liberal” label and begin calling the leftists what they are ... “leftists.” Leaves no doubt as to the meaning.
Darn most ZOTs are entertaining but this one is just plain boring - like reading a dictionary.
Any person who believes that Ricky Maddow is the only true news person on TV has some deep seeded mental issues that they refuse to deal with.
A liberal: A guy who’ll give you the shirt off someone else’s back. Studies show that liberals are more likely to shoplift, cheat on taxes and keep excess change from a cashier, because, - get this - they feel that they are MORALLY SUPERIOR and therefore entitled to others people’s property.
The word, “label” is a label - please re-write your screed without using it (or any other such label/noun).
The left doesn’t like “labels” because they carry INFORMATION about that which is being labelled.
They can only operate when people don’t understand who they really are.
I noticed that too. :-)
At the start of the Twentieth Century the term "liberal" meant the same in America as it still does in the rest of the world - essentially, what is called "conservatism" in American Newspeak. Of course we "American Conservatives" are not the ones who oppose development and liberty, so in that sense we are not conservative at all. We actually are liberals.But in America, "liberalism" was given its American Newspeak - essentially inverted - meaning in the 1920s (source: Safire's New Political Dictionary). The fact that the American socialists have acquired a word to exploit is bad enough; the real disaster is that we do not now have a word which truly descriptive of our own political perspective. We only have the smear words which the socialists have assigned to us. And make no mistake, in America "conservative" is inherently a negative connotation just as surely as marketers love to boldly proclaim that the product which they are flogging is NEW!
Another example of a word being 're-purposed' would be "Gay".
Exactly right. And can only succeed if people don't know what they're up to and what their ultimate goals are.
Hayek’s “Road to Serfdom” will cause your brain to go wonky until you get used to the word “liberal” actually meaning “liberty minded”.
True, but reading the comments more than make up for the boring post.
I was hoping to find out what grade his teacher gave him for that paper, and if it was enough to pass.
Anyway...good luck “freedomguy38”...and high school chicks really dig the deep thinkers.
On the subject of Zots...I used to love it when Old Sarge put up his ‘emergency action notification’ message when a zot got done. He ain’t done that in a while. Is he not on or did he decide it ain’t worth it?
...the mythologies the priests had learned from Zoroastrianism during their captivity in Persia (heaven, hell, battle between good and evil gods, resurrection, apocalyptic end of the world, etc.; all found in Judaism and a generation or two later also in Christianity).
I'm gettin' pretty tired of seein' this kinda crap on a pro-Christian site like FR. Glad for the zot.
“AHHHHHHHHHH!!! He said the Secret Words for ‘I’m a liberal!’”
And, don’t forget that liberals are notorious
cheapskates when it comes to tipping.
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