It's way past time to stand up for the word "liberal"

[FreedomAngel82]

I was inspired by another thread of someone who posted how they confronted someone at a grocery store dealing with politics and the person was republican and would never vote democratic. I think it's way past time we try to make the word "liberal" nice again. I get so many nasty words said to me because I'm a liberal and I'm very proud of it. I'm also a Christian so I always get the question: how can you be a liberal and a Christian? Look at what liberals stand for. Helping the less fortunate and freedom and liberty and justice for all whether it be race, your gender, sexuality etc. Recently the republicans have been trying to come out and state they are a bigger party then being white and being Christian. Anybody with two eyes and a brain can see that is wrong. Just watch their conventions and meetings and watch democratic one's. You have all types of people with race and age. I remember watching on CSPAN's site last year's convention and saw a girl with a headscarf on. You wouldn't see that at a republican convention or meeting. I think it's time to take back the word "liberal." Show people what it means to be a liberal. Don't be ashamed and don't back down ever from the word. If anybody ever asks me what political party I'm apart of I always tell them the democratic party and I'm a proud democratic liberal person. I also wanted to end by sharing this website with you for any of my fellow Christians: http://www.jesusonthefamily.org Stay strong and don't run away from the word liberal!

[tinrobot]

1. Damn straight

GOP - tired.

Liberal - wired!

[Old and In the Way]

2. Start with the definition

Main Entry: 1lib·er·al
Pronunciation: 'li-b(&-)r&l
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin liberalis suitable for a freeman, generous, from liber free; perhaps akin to Old English lEodan to grow, Greek eleutheros free
1 a : of, relating to, or based on the liberal arts <liberal education> b archaic : of or befitting a man of free birth
2 a : marked by generosity : OPENHANDED <a liberal giver> b : given or provided in a generous and openhanded way <a liberal meal> c : AMPLE, FULL
3 obsolete : lacking moral restraint : LICENTIOUS
4 : not literal or strict : LOOSE <a liberal translation>
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

So what would the political polar opposite be? A cheap, narrow minded person with hang-ups who requires authoritarian supervision....

[Jamison]

3. I do stand up for it!

I do everything I can to get people to understand that liberal = making the world a better place for us all.