Liberal And Proud

[poliphilo]

I remember a time when "liberal" wasn't a bad word.

And I've never understood how we got to this present situation where politicians of both left and right use it to smear their opponents.

Here's how my Pocket Oxford Dictionary defines it.

Open-handed, generous, not sparing (of), abundant, (of persons, conduct, provision made etc); open-minded, unprejudiced, free from pedantry; (Pol.) advocating democratic reforms......

So what's not to like? I'm seeing a bowl full of scrumptious rosy apples- and you're telling me they're rotten?

I think there's some sort of mean trick being played on us here.

I'm a liberal. Or try to be- it's a high ideal. And I want to live in a liberal society.

Comments

[halfmoon-mollie.livejournal.com]

I think they should be marching against it too. But there are a couple of things...

first the armed services are ALL volunteer now. So there's no such thing as being drafted.

second, the thing about Vietnam went all haywire. So many of the veterans felt they never had any support back here in this country, so many of them were called terrible names for doing what they were ordered to do, that it seems *we* are tiptoeing around the whole thing. It's difficult to be against the war and FOR the troops...or at least so says my veteran father (78!) and my mother who knew many soldiers that went off to the war and didn't return.

So...I wear my yellow ribbon and hope for their return. I speak against the President having put them there...and do the best that I can do.
And to anyone who might read this who has a son or daughter overseas...I do support our troops. I do not support them being sent there.