We should be proud to be called liberal

[sandrakae]

[Perry Logan]

1. Yea! Show me someone who bashes liberals, and I'll show you a BLOODY DEGENERATE!

[DangerDave921]

2. Uh

You may want to delete that part about "without rigid reactions" if you want it to pass muster here on DU. I've seen some pretty intense and rigid reactions on here. :)

And you may want to add abortion rights, gay marriage, and a few other things too.

Great Quote!

[ieoeja]

31. The OP should modify a quote?

And the items you note -- abortion rights and gay marriage -- are already covered by this quote. See "civil rights".

[izzie]

3. I love being a liberal and happy to tell any one.

--

[ClassWarrior]

4. I'm proud to be called a liberal. I just think it's kind of an old-fashioned term.

Hell, FDR and JFK were liberals. Who wouldn't be proud to be lumped in with them?! I just think Progressive is more contemporary and forward-looking.

NGU.

[DURHAM D]

5. I have been told by young Dems they don't like the term.

They want to be called progressives. I ask why. The response is that liberal is for the older generation. Also, and more important, it is a label associated with absolute failure. When pressed about the failures they tell me the liberals were in charge of the government for years and accomplished nothing.

I worry about our public education.

I continue to call myself a liberal.

[PurityOfEssence]

6. Personally, I look on the term "progressive" with suspicion.

It seems like a label people like to identify with because they've been cowed by asshole reactionaries vilifying the term "liberal". To me, use of this term is knuckling under to the bullying of conservatives and lets them set the terms of the debate.

The term "liberal" embraces continuous change and openness, whereas "progressive" smacks of being a bit narrow: only "new" ideas are of value, and some of the old values are just so much debris to be swept aside.

Words are important, and if we can be pressured into accepting that core beliefs of acceptance and openness are somehow naive or clunky, we're dancing to each move of the merry tune of the VERY square dance they keep triumphantly calling out. Personally, I doe-see-don't.

Signed, another annoying liberal.

[ClassWarrior]

7. LOL - "The term "liberal" embraces continuous change and openness..."

That's why you're digging in your heels on this?

:evilgrin:

NGU.

[DURHAM D]

8. I have talked to the youngsters (22 - 45) until my tongue falls out -

in an effort to get them to understand that they have accepted the vilification of the term as it was written by the right wing message control propagandists.

They pity me because (in their mind) I don't have the same really, really good formal education that they have. I mean these little machines are so arrogant. When I asked them where they got their talking points about "failed liberal views/policies" they always say "from our textbooks - I learned it in school".

[WildEyedLiberal]

11. I'm a young Dem who very much embraces the word liberal

I refuse to call myself a "progressive" and have had arguments with people my age about it. They tend to be Daily Kos types, "progressive" rather than liberal, ideology taking a backseat to electing a Democratic majority, and concerned primarily with issues of social liberalism, and little if at all with economic populism. I dislike their politics and I dislike the term "progressive."

I am a LIBERAL. I believe in liberty for all, a level economic playing field, and the sanctity of individual rights.

[Adelante]

28. I'm an old Dem and call myself a liberal

Progressive seems to mean whatever anybody wants it to mean. I don't see the point of changing a term because the Republics beat us into the ground with it. Stand up! I do see this generational change thing going on, as I did with my own, although I doubt that's the case on Kos since it's not an overly young crowd, but I don't see what calling yourself a progressive actually accomplishes except surrender to conservatives.

[lvx35]

12. I prefer the term "progressive"

I guess I could be called a young Dem, but it has nothing to do with older "liberals" being associated with failure. It has to do with the word itself, liberal is a mushy word without a strong sense of definition to it, and that's why Republicans have been so successful and tainting it. The other sad truth is that we live in the world of marketing, where instant impressions matter and "liberal" fails in this regard. It starts with the "lie" sound, and by free association, I get "Libya", "Labia" and "Library", or "lie-burrow", (like the behavior of some weird lying little animal.) Something about it sounds weak, and is connected to the part of my mind which associates weasels with France for some reason.
The term "progressive" on the other hand starts with the "pro" sound, (professional) and the "(a)gressive" suffix, suggesting that we mean business. What we are all about, progress and change, is contained in the word and its definition is broad but also clear.

[WildEyedLiberal]

13. "liberal" comes from the same root as does "liberty," "liberate," etc

'liber' = Latin for 'free'

The ONLY reason there's a "negative" connotation with it at all is because Republicans have spent billions of dollars over the past 40 years to demonize the word, and then people like you just let them do it. You think they'll leave "progressive" alone? That they won't endlessly insinuate that progressive=commie just like they did with "liberal"?

This bogus etymological exercise is just one more reason why I hate the word "progressive" and what it represents in our modern political culture.

[lvx35]

15. There's nothing bogus about it.

Its the reality, "liberal" doesn't affect people's minds to think of liberty. That's why there's no big "liberal" insurance company. There's "Liberty Mutual", and there's "Progressive", but there is no liberal. Companies choose names based on their psychological impact and they do so because it works. If you wanted to call it "Liberty Socialism" or something I might like it.

[WildEyedLiberal]

16. This is just more of that "framing" bullshit

Sorry, I really hated the "framing" craze that came over the netroots new left a few years ago - it just reeks of copping to the rightwingers and letting THEM decide for us what words have 'positive' or 'negative' connotations. I maintain that the only reason the word 'liberal' is negative for ANY Americans is because the fascists have spent literally billions of dollars equating it with Stalinist communism for the past 40 years. Speaking of which - "Liberty Socialism"? If there's ANY word more demonized in America than liberal, it's socialist. THAT party would go over like a lead balloon.

We need to take BACK these words, not accede the rightwingers' bogus 'framing' to them.

[lvx35]

17. Our minds frame things, there's only so much the wingers can do.

What's happening is we're ignoring marketing, where the way our minds frame things is taken into account. Whoever let the right be called "the right" made the same mistakes.

[WildEyedLiberal]

18. That's been around since the French Revolution

The liberals sat on the left side of the parliament, and the conservatives sat on the right. So I've always heard, anyway.

Ultimately, all of these labels - liberal, conservative, left, right - have existed LONG before the concept of "marketing" became the uber-junket it is now. Given that most business/marketing minded folks are conservative, is it a big shock that marketing just magically happens to conjure up all these negative connotations of liberalism?

Edit: In fairness to the word "progressive," it's been around a long time too, although I agree with a previous poster who said that "progressivism" implies only the promotion of the new, whereas liberal affirms a commitment to principles of freedom and generosity. That's why I'll always call myself a liberal, and not a progressive.

[lvx35]

21. I don't deny the historical validity, I just think one needs to take into account...

how things have changed. For instance, its interesting to hear the French origins of 'right' and 'left', but in french the opposite of 'left' and the opposite of 'wrong' may be different words entirely. As cultures shift, the nuances of words change. Its also probably true that much of this predates marketing, but here we are in a world full of it, and it effects us.

I like "progressive" because it is more of a marketing word, and I really believe it will resonate much more will corporate culture. And yes, I do think this is a good thing. Its about time they started giving lip service to the corporate world and power and support to us, because it has long been the other way around.

[ieoeja]

32. That's why I prefer Liberal as well.

The big example is firearms. I take a very liberal, pro-gun view which is not a terribly progressive view.

[sampsonblk]

22. Amen

I agree on all points.

[ClassWarrior]

23. Framing is scientific fact.

And NOT framing things on OUR terms "reeks of copping to the rightwingers and letting THEM decide for us what words have 'positive' or 'negative' connotations."

Do some reading:

When Cognitive Science Enters Politics
http://www.rockridgeinstitute.org/research/lakoff/whencognitivescienceenterspolitics/view?searchterm=framing%20scientific

NGU.

[sampsonblk]

24. Framing: Like handing a gun to a drunk.

It can be a useful tool. Especially when educating people about issues. But in today's politics, where winning votes is more important than doing what's right, framing is a huge part of the problem.

Now, more so than any time before, we have a huge class of political gamesmen (and gameswomen) who entertain themselves with framing and spinning. Its an embarrassment. But since they are already unethical, they feel no shame. Its all part of their game.

[ClassWarrior]

27. Please understand framing before expounding on it.

Framing is something that our brains do. We all do it. It's how we organize thought. Learning how this works is not spin. It's intelligence. Please read the article I've linked above.

NGU.

[sampsonblk]

35. Know-it-all

You assume far too much.

[ClassWarrior]

36. Huh?

:shrug:

NGU.

[sampsonblk]

20. Looks like we failed them in education

[Wednesdays]

25. Here are a few images of "liberals accomplishing nothing"

That last pic is from http://www.newdeal75.org , the official site of the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the New Deal. Yeah, go to this page:
http://www.fdrheritage.org/new_deal.htm to see how that danged liberal FDR "accomplished nothing." :eyes:

[Vektor]

9. I've always been proud to be a LIBERAL.

Liberal = Generous.

I never saw a hint of shame in the term. I wear it with pride.

[midnight]

10. What a terrific reminder. As I read through this I was thinking ok

and yes, and then when I reached the author of these words I was reminded of A man who tried to use those words to create that change. So many of our parents were rooting for him.

[Lugnut]

14. I'm proud to be a liberal.

I have always been a liberal and proud of it.

[BattyDem]

19. That quote (and the entire speech) is one of my all-time favorites!

Thanks for posting it. :hi:

For those who are interested, the entire speech can be found here:
http://www.liberalparty.org/JFKLPAcceptance.html

[MaineDem]

26. Absolutely!

MaineDem
A proud Liberal for as long as she can remember.

[needledriver]

29. Liberal. It's not just for old folks.

I have been demonized as a "Liberal" here at work. They use the word, dripping with scorn. These are the same people who wrap themselves in the flag, who rigidly recite the Pledge of Allegiance without hearing the words.

What part of "with Liberty, and Justice for all" don't they understand?

Everybody who believes in fairness, equal opportunity, justice, decency, respect, and equality is a Liberal.

[applegrove]

30. Here here!

[ProudDad]

33. Love Me, I'm a Liberal

Love Me, I'm A Liberal
by Phil Ochs

I cried when they shot Medgar Evers
Tears ran down my spine
I cried when they shot Mr. Kennedy
As though I'd lost a father of mine
But Malcolm X got what was coming
He got what he asked for this time
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

I go to civil rights rallies
And I put down the old D.A.R.
I love Harry and Sidney and Sammy
I hope every colored boy becomes a star
But don't talk about revolution
That's going a little bit too far
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

I cheered when Humphrey was chosen
My faith in the system restored
I'm glad the commies were thrown out
of the A.F.L. C.I.O. board
I love Puerto Ricans and Negros
as long as they don't move next door
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

The people of old Mississippi
Should all hang their heads in shame
I can't understand how their minds work
What's the matter don't they watch Les Crain?
But if you ask me to bus my children
I hope the cops take down your name
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

I read New republic and Nation
I've learned to take every view
You know, I've memorized Lerner and Golden
I feel like I'm almost a Jew
But when it comes to times like Korea
There's no one more red, white and blue
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

I vote for the democratic party
They want the U.N. to be strong
I go to all the Pete Seeger concerts
He sure gets me singing those songs
I'll send all the money you ask for
But don't ask me to come on along
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

Once I was young and impulsive
I wore every conceivable pin
Even went to the socialist meetings
Learned all the old union hymns
But I've grown older and wiser
And that's why I'm turning you in
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

---------

I'm a proud, card carrying RADICAL... :evilgrin:

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

34. ahem

When I was just a little thing
I used to love parades.
With banners, bands, red balloons,
and maybe lemonade.
When I came home one May Day,
my neighbour's father said,
"Them marchers is all commies.
Tell me kid, are you a Red?"

Well I didn't know just what he meant-
my hair back then was brown.
Our house was plain red brick-
like most others in the town.
So I went and asked my momma
why our neighbour called me red.
My mummy took me on her knee
and this is what she said,

"Well ya ain't done nothing
if ya ain't been called a Red.
If you marched or agitated,
then you're bound to hear it said.
So you might as well ignore it
or love the word instead.
Cuz ya ain't been doing nothing
if ya ain't been called a Red."

When I was growing up,
had my troubles I suppose.
When someone took exception
to my face or to my clothes.
Or tried to cheat me on the job
or hit me on the head.
When I organized to fight back,
why the stinkers called me Red

But ya ain't done nothing
if ya ain't been called a Red
if you marched or agitated,
then you're bound to hear it said.
So you might as well ignore it
or love the word instead.
Cuz ya ain't been doing nothing
if ya ain't been called a Red.

When I was living on my own,
one apartment that I had.
Had a lousy rotten landlord
Let me tell you he was bad.
But when he tried to throw me out,
I rubbed my hands and said,
"You haven't seen a struggle
if you haven't fought a Red!"

And ya ain't done nothing
if ya ain't been called a Red.
If you marched or agitated,
then you're bound to hear it said.
So you might as well ignore it
or love the word instead.
Cuz ya ain't been doing nothing
if ya ain't been called a Red.