According to my dictionary...
Liberal's are:
- favorable to progress or reform
- favorable to or in accord with concepts of maximum individual freedom possible
- free from prejudice or bigotry
- characterized by generosity and willingness to give
- open-minded or tolerant
Sounds like something all of us should be...why is it used an insult?
2006-10-07 02:17:43 · 21 answers · asked by gotalife 7 in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
It is used as an insult by small minded bigoted people who actually think it is an insult. They can not comprehend that is a great way to live think and go about your life. Some people are just more concerned with themselves and can never be a liberal.
Some people feel they know the best way about everything and want to force it on everyone instead of being open minded and having several ways floating about. They cant fathom that their way is wrong.They dont realize that not everyone is them and you cant force people do be something they arent.
You will probably get called some nasty names for this one.
2006-10-07 02:22:23 · answer #1 · answered by stephaniemariewalksonwater 5 · 3⤊ 4⤋
Favorable to progress or reform? to the extreme......
Favorable to or in accord with concepts of MIF? The right to kill your neighbor without losing your human rights(although you just took away someone elses)
Free from prejudice or bigotry? they seem very prejudice and bigoted about republicans and democrats...
Characterized by generosity and willingness to give? haven't seen one willing to give their life for their beliefs yet at the protests they are almost as violent as the muslim extremists(minus blowing themselves up because they dont want to dirty there new khakis)
Open minded or tolerant? (oh, you stabbed my wife, thats ok, lets go out to mcdonalds and talk about it)
Nah, Not something I am interested in....A true liberal is some child caught between deciding to swing extreme right or extreme left but cant make their mind up so they vote in the middle....
(they also believe to handle politics with time outs )
2006-10-07 09:46:17 · answer #2 · answered by lost&confused 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Because in reality, which most liberals have no concept of, Liberal means: favorable to more government responsibility with no authority
maximum freedom for those who agree with their agenda
extreme elitism and condescension
willingness to have other people give
empty minded and TOO tolerant of aberrant and destructive ideas and people
2006-10-07 10:48:19 · answer #3 · answered by the hick of time 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Because the uninformed get their definition of what a liberal is from right wing radio talk shows...that profit from misinformation...their listeners love wars of aggression,hate,bigotry, and at the same time get all worked up over the flag..yes to a large degree the term has been high jacked by the conservatives to be defined by them with little regard for the truth...as in most things.
2006-10-07 09:24:45 · answer #4 · answered by dstr 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Well for starters, Liberalism in America has nothing to do with individual freedoms. The Liberals in the US attempt to stymie person freedoms and civil rights at every possible moment.
Generosity and giving are great traits, and I applaud people who give to charities or volunteer to help others. But the government is not supposed to provide entitlements and develop a system where multiple generations receive government handouts. Charity should be in the responsibly of private entities, it is not a function of government.
The state of Liberalism you describe does not exist in the US, and I would assert it does not exist in it's pure state anywhere in the world.
2006-10-07 09:40:34 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
The problem is that some people use the term 'liberal' for 'Democrat', (the party) which is not always true. The Dems have their share of 'closet bigots' too. Many voters are calling for a 'third option', but are too apathetic to do something about it. (Political parties don't start themselves!)
Wouldn't it be nice to have a political party that adheres to the principles you have stated, instead of the two petty 'political clubs' that we have now?
2006-10-07 09:51:52 · answer #6 · answered by Tokoloshimani 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Your dictionary is way-off-mark. Liberals is twenty-first century North America are idiots.
2006-10-07 13:48:54 · answer #7 · answered by professionaleccentric 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It looks good on paper, but doesn't fly. If it was true, then OK, but that is not the way Liberals work (I'm sorry, few, if any, Liberals work at all). Being Liberal is always having to say you are sorry. It means that you feel the world OWES you a living. It means NOT taking responsibility for your own actions. And their deffinition of "open-minded" is not having ANY moral stand.
2006-10-07 09:23:06 · answer #8 · answered by Spirit Walker 5 · 2⤊ 3⤋
Well your dictionary's definition and the true liberal/demoncrat are poles apart. Just look how these "tolerant" people in the demoncrat party are gay bashing Mr Foley and his affair with a young man, !8 is not a child!
2006-10-07 09:22:13 · answer #9 · answered by Bawney 6 · 3⤊ 2⤋
You don't have to "strive" to become a liberal. All you gave to do is give up any sense of personal responsibility for anything and blame everyone but yourself for everything that you consider to be wrong. It's quite easily done, look at how many have done it.
2006-10-07 09:54:23 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋