Apparently I am a liberal? Some people...

1. 62

   Bovine Currencyposted 14 years ago

   Recently, more than once or twice, I have been accused of being a liberal.  I say accused because the term has been used in such a term to indicate it as a term of ridicule.  I really am not sure how this assumption has been made.
   
   What are the opinions on liberalism?
   
   Anyone?
   
   I am not a liberal.  I challenge anyone to prove that statement wrong.

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      Marisa Wrightposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Bovine, when I came to Australia (a very long time ago), I was mightily amused to find that the right-wing Conservative party was called the Liberal Party.  Everywhere else in the world, being a liberal (with a small l) means quite the opposite.  Here's the dictionary definition:
      
      a.  Not limited to or by established, traditional, orthodox, or authoritarian attitudes, views, or dogmas; free from bigotry.
      
      b. Favoring proposals for reform, open to new ideas for progress, and tolerant of the ideas and behavior of others; broad-minded.
      
      Anyone less liberal than the Australian Liberal Party, I find hard to imagine! 
      
      Does that make you feel less insulted?

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         Bovine Currencyposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         LOL!
         
         I have often considered that fact re: the ALP.
         
         But no, it doesn't make me feel less insulted.  I know full well about both political liberal manifestations.  I am not liberal(.)
         
         I am not any of those things, liberal, conservative, whatever.  I will probably get a fine soon enough because I am now refusing to vote and I do that for several reasons.  One is it should be my right NOT to vote and two, that I feel my civil liberties are further undermined by the electrol roll system whereby any citizen can access my details by walking into the electoral office.  I like my anonymity as it is and I will not be assimilated into any crazy politics.  They are all mugs.

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            Marisa Wrightposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            Bovine, the point I was trying to make (which is clear in the definition) is that liberal with a small l doesn't have to be anything to do with politics. It's an attitude.

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               Bovine Currencyposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               ok, I get that.  I could go both ways in response.  I see the point you are trying to make.  Interesting and intelligent response Marisa.

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                  Bovine Currencyposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                  When I say both ways, I mean to say I could go further but you have made your point and it is perfectly valid. 
                  
                  I am rather hot and bothered at the moment.   Warm here in perth today.
                  
                  Errr.  Guess I am not in a laughing mood right now! But you have got me smiling

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   sneakorocksolidposted 14 years ago

   Well what do you want to be called? Anti-religion kinda puts you in with the liberal crowd. But if you are saying "liberal" isn't the correct classification, I agree! Anachist is more correct but I think liberal sounds nicer.

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3. 62

   Bovine Currencyposted 14 years ago

   Life without labels is a fantasy to you sneako?
   
   

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      sneakorocksolidposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I said pick one or if you would rather declare your position on an issue and we can go from there.

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4. 62

   Bovine Currencyposted 14 years ago

   I have constantly declared my position.  Holding a position does not require me to submit to your generalist views on humanity and reality ad finitum.

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   Ghost32posted 14 years ago

   I'm generally tagged a conservative on HP--probably with cause.  But I'm also pro-choice on abortion, follow a non-Christian faith, and remember standing up against racial prejudice against multiple adult opponents by the time I was ten. 
   
   Life without labels would be pretty cool, but most homo sapiens seem to have automatic label makers hardwired into their psyches.

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      Bovine Currencyposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      You are a rare entity Ghost.  I like that.

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   Cagsilposted 14 years ago

   There is no way for one individual to prove you wrong.
   
   Your individual ideology, beliefs and knowledge, are different from everyone else. How ever, our society loves to label people, so as to separate them from others. This happens mostly with religious people.
   
   The righteous, again mostly, religious indoctrinated people, come from all directions to either complain or place blame, and do whatever they can to discredit you and what you stand for.
   
   Especially, if it's a stance against "GOD", their mystical supreme entity. When you attack "GOD" or speak badly about him, as though, he is a real person, then they descend from the crawl spaces and wood work, just to strike out, because they feel wounded somehow? Like you attack a little child and you were a meanie and had to be dealt with.
   
   Please, anything anyone has to say about it- is subjective, at best, and biased based on their own sense of morality and views.

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      Bovine Currencyposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Well said.

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   Ghost32posted 14 years ago

   Thanks, Bovine.  The appreciation is appreciated. 

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8. 60

   Colebabieposted 14 years ago

   I have been told that as well Bovine. I am not sure what people mean by it either. Or by claiming liberals are destroying the world. I know I am a good person, and by no means am a negative force on this planet. But yes, many people here (and in general) love to categorize, label, generalize and then attack. I think it gives them a false sense of security, that if they have everyone labeled they can focus their negativity better?

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      Bovine Currencyposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      It is a false sense, yes.  It is easier to defend a position if you are part of a mob (or so is the delusion).  It is lazy in my eyes, a defense against personal responsibility.  These labelists or generalists, it is more about power than ethics, they refuse to look at anything particular with any depth and the thinking person is the enemy.

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9. 60

   Colebabieposted 14 years ago

   Yes and it is a constant battle of hypocrisy as well. Meaning one says "Everyone has the right to their belief and opinion" but then "You are wrong and I hope you realize it". Because they don't look at the whole person. They put them into little boxes and then make assumptions.

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10. 62

    Bovine Currencyposted 14 years ago

    Not suprising, the single hubber that stands out for me is also the first to reply to this thread.
    
    You can't beat them colebabie, I have reached an acceptance of that.

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       Colebabieposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       I haven't yet. And for me it isn't a matter of beating them, but rather a matter of understanding. Which I have failed to do so far, despite great effort It doesn't bother me the labeling so much, but how I am disregarding as a person because of it. Like my opinion, my existence, doesn't matter (or shouldn't).

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          Bovine Currencyposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          I get what you are saying.  For me I accepted that their opinion was that mine does not matter.  I can accept that.  I don't have to like it but I can accept it.  Other peoples opinion of me is none of my business.

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    wyanjenposted 14 years ago

    I'm a liberal.
    Slap away at me, hit me with that label.
    
    I used to call myself a moderate until I realized that even though I carefully analyze the candidates and issues, I vote far left, every damn time.
    
    Lefty, lefty, liberal.

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       tksenseiposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       I respect your honesty.

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          wyanjenposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          I'm OUT of the closet.
          You should see how much peanut butter I put on my toast. I spread it liberally

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             Cagsilposted 14 years agoin reply to this

             
             
             Hey Jen,
             
             How are you today?

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12. 62

    Bovine Currencyposted 14 years ago

    LOL!
    
    Good on you wyanjen, be as liberal as you like
    
    I have catholic friends, muslim friends, jewish friends, pentacostal friends, buddhist friends, athiest friends, liberal friends and all sorts in between.  Just don't like those who make it their business to decide my beliefs.  The word sociopath comes to mind.

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       wyanjenposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       And now you even have a neo-hippie friend

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          Bovine Currencyposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          Lovely
          
          You now have me, a friend(.)

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             wyanjenposted 14 years agoin reply to this

             moo-cow. yay

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    Will Apseposted 14 years ago

    Liberalism is the backbone of capitalism- free individuals pursuing their interests. Conservatives react against the unpleasant social changes that capitalism inevitably produces. People on the left think it is possible to harness the power of capitalism to do good for everyone.
    
    I reckon anyone who is sane, is a liberal a conservative and a leftist sometime in the average day, often in the same moment.

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