"No sissified code words for me: I'm a liberal" - Houston Chronicle op-ed

[highplainsdem]

Great op-ed piece in the Houston Chronicle, from Otis King, a law professor at Thurgood Marshall School of Law and former city attorney:

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/editorial/outlook/2911184

I am a liberal, born and bred, complete and unadulterated, pure and simple, without any hyphenated prefix or suffix. Furthermore, it is an appellation I wear openly and proudly, even in this hyperconservative state and in these excruciatingly conservative times.

-snip-

Moreover, I resent deeply that some, for their own selfish political benefits, and to put us on the defense, have been able to give the word a pejorative connotation, somehow labeling anyone brazen enough to still be recognized by the name as some kind of freak, bent on opening the treasury so as to, God forbid, create a welfare state, peopled by hoochie mamas, illegitimate children and illegal aliens, speaking some foreign tongue, while lapping up money at the public trough.

-snip-

Liberalism is a proud tradition, and I believe it represents the bedrock principles upon which this country is founded. It is the leavening which softens the stark harshness of a pure capitalistic society and makes it palatable to those of us who care for people who, for whatever reason, cannot always successfully navigate life completely on their own.

Liberalism is the principle that glorifies and revels in the beautiful diversity of this land in all its multicultural, multiracial and multi-lingual aspects. After all, we are a country of immigrants, whether voluntary or forced. As I see it, liberalism is a philosophy that supports a strong role for government in ensuring that all are able to live a decent life and share in the bounties of this incredibly blessed country, regardless of the stations of life into which they were born. And, if government is not about making life just a little bit better by doing those things that require a collective endeavor, such as security, both physical and financial, by creating a military for the former and programs such as Medicare and Social Security to deal with the latter, and helping those who find themselves in a position of needing temporary support, through safety nets like Medicaid, public housing and food stamps, then, pray tell, what in the world is it for? And, perhaps, most important of all, liberalism is about a belief in an entitlement to a good, publicly provided education for all citizens, not just those who can afford to send their children to private institutions so that we all may take part in this participatory democracy as informed citizens.

[datasuspect]

1. spineless moderates

"They engage in linguistic legerdemain by calling themselves moderates, middle-of-the-roaders or some other such mealy-mouthed, mushy, nondescript, euphemistically sissified term, as though they are embarrassed by the old designation whichthat correctly and properly describes our social and political philosophy."

good article, i like this above quote.

[itzamirakul]

2. Thanks, I've been looking for...

something like this. I want to help clarify the term, liberalism, and restore its dignity.

[Stew225]

3. Thanks, I like the writing style. eom

[kcwayne]

4. The DNC should read this, I sent him a letter

I greatly enjoyed your op-ed piece, and found it to be inspirational. I have watched the tilting of this country to the right over the last 20 years in dis-belief and am utterly dumbfounded with my peers who have swung from anti-war, anti-racism, anti-tyranny crusaders to fully embracing an ideology that makes Richard Nixon look liberal in comparison.

It is refreshing to hear a voice that proudly speaks of liberalism, and I am quite shocked that the Houston Chronical would print your piece. We need visionaries such as yourself to set an example and reaffirm the idea that the social justice championed by liberalism is one of the most important of all family values.

[Demit]

5. thanx for posting! I emailed him too.

[Born_A_Truman]

6. Thank you!

I live in a bright red spot in a blue state (California) where the only local newspapers are so far right I wouldn't line my birdcage with them. Our daily paper calls itself Libertarian and when they aren't bashing our teachers and public schools, they are bashing liberals.

I wanted to write a LTTE telling all these RW'ers that they should thank liberals for the interstate highway system, public education, social security, women's right to vote, consumer protection, child labor laws, civil rights, etc. I'm sure there are more things that we take for granted that I could list but I need to research them and substantiate each item.

[highplainsdem]

7. You're welcome!

I hope others will like that op-ed piece, too.