Damn Liberals: When Did Liberal Become a Dirty Word?
Throughout the 2012 General Elections in the United States, one question plagued my mind-when did being a liberal become such a bad thing? When did Republican and Christian become synonymous? I also want to state that being a Democrat is not the same thing as being a liberal. Sorry that was a little side-note. Back to the topic-Liberal almost had the same connotation as being a communist during the Cold War. In high school terms it like being the known virgin or the slut. There is talk about liberals having a vendetta to corrupt the minds of the youth. When conservatives think about liberals they think of people that lack moral restraint. For someone who considers themselves to be a moderate, I found this to be furthest from the truth.
Let's take a history trip shall we. If it was not for those damn liberals, France would never have had their revolution. If it was not for those damn liberals, slavery would not have been abolished. If it was not for those damn liberals, women would not have the right to vote. For any kind of change to occur there needs to be progressive thinkers. I don't think a lot of these trailblazers would have called themselves liberals but during their time that is what they were accused of being. They were considered liberal because they were fighting against the status quo. Even though suffrage was granted in the 1920's, women rights is still being fought for. Even though slavery was abolished in the 19th century, human beings are still being trafficked all over the world. Even though things have gotten better for my gay brothers and sisters, they have several rights denied to them. Looking at the incarceration rates in the United States, you wonder if society has found loophole to oppressed African Americans after the Civil Rights Movement.
I am going to state an unpopular opinion but I don't care. I don't think it is possible to be completely liberal because if you are liberal on everything your opinions will contradict. That is the main reason that I consider myself to be a moderate. There are things that I am liberal about and other things that I am conservative on. That is just a food for thought. If people accuse me of being a liberal, I won't mind because I am in good company. Obviously I would love to know what you think about this matter. Do you think it is possible to be completely liberal? Do you think liberals have been getting a bad rap lately?
Let's take a history trip shall we. If it was not for those damn liberals, France would never have had their revolution. If it was not for those damn liberals, slavery would not have been abolished. If it was not for those damn liberals, women would not have the right to vote. For any kind of change to occur there needs to be progressive thinkers. I don't think a lot of these trailblazers would have called themselves liberals but during their time that is what they were accused of being. They were considered liberal because they were fighting against the status quo. Even though suffrage was granted in the 1920's, women rights is still being fought for. Even though slavery was abolished in the 19th century, human beings are still being trafficked all over the world. Even though things have gotten better for my gay brothers and sisters, they have several rights denied to them. Looking at the incarceration rates in the United States, you wonder if society has found loophole to oppressed African Americans after the Civil Rights Movement.
I am going to state an unpopular opinion but I don't care. I don't think it is possible to be completely liberal because if you are liberal on everything your opinions will contradict. That is the main reason that I consider myself to be a moderate. There are things that I am liberal about and other things that I am conservative on. That is just a food for thought. If people accuse me of being a liberal, I won't mind because I am in good company. Obviously I would love to know what you think about this matter. Do you think it is possible to be completely liberal? Do you think liberals have been getting a bad rap lately?
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