What are Liberal Values?

[Wetzelbill]

Geoffrey R. Stone: Liberal Values

For most of the past four decades, "liberals" have been in retreat. Since the election of Richard Nixon in 1968, Republicans have controlled the White House 70% of the time and Republican presidents have made 86% of the Supreme Court appointments. In many quarters, the word "liberal" has become a pejorative. Part of the problem is that liberals have failed to define themselves and to state clearly what they believe

As a liberal, I find that appalling. In that light, I thought it might be interesting to try to articulate ten propositions that seem to me to define "liberal" today. Undoubtedly, not all liberals embrace all of these propositions, and many conservatives embrace at least some of them. Moreover, because ten is a small number, the list is not exhaustive. And because these propositions will in some instances conflict, the "liberal" position on a specific issue may not always be predictable. My goal, however, is not to end discussion, but to invite debate.

1. Liberals believe individuals should doubt their own truths and consider fairly and open-mindedly the truths of others. This is at the very heart of liberalism. Liberals understand, as Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes once observed, that "time has upset many fighting faiths." Liberals are skeptical of censorship and celebrate free and open debate.

2. Liberals believe individuals should be tolerant and respectful of difference. It is liberals who have supported and continue to support the civil rights movement, affirmative action, the Equal Rights Amendment, and the rights of gays and lesbians. (Note than a conflict between propositions 1 and 2 leads to divisions among liberals on issues like pornography, and hate speech.)


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/geoffrey-r-stone/liberal-values_b_31218.html

[LWolf]

1. Good read, thanks.

Just what, in that list, is so terrible to make "liberal" an epithet, or to make "liberals" avoid using the word?

Nothing.

[Wetzelbill]

2. you're welcome

yes I thought it was an interesting, informative piece. The demonization of the word has truly been mystifying to me, not because of the efforts against it but the reaction of liberal Dems in allowing it to be hijacked so easily. Why not give a passionate defense, or go on the offense and turn the attack around? Nothing shameful at all in being liberal, it is a great thing.

[Solo_in_MD]

3. As usual he gets it partially correct

There are a lot of progressives and liberals who don't buy everything he lays out and given the sliperryness of some definitions, I can see why.