Liberal Semantics

We need to reclaim the word "liberal." It has been politicized to such an extent that it is beginning to lose its meaning. It has been used for too long as an epithet. To many people, the word "liberal" means "bad," or "naive," or "wrong," or "communist," or even "evil." In its most generous usage, it simply means "Democrat." What I'm trying to get at is that in our common vernacular, "liberal" means whatever we want it to mean.

The American Heritage Dictionary has the following definitions relevant to a political context: "(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." Here's how Webster's defines it: "Not bound by orthodox tenets or established forms in political or religious philosophy; independent in opinion; not conservative; friendly to great freedom in the constitution or administration of government; having tendency toward democratic or republican, as distinguished from monarchical or aristocratic, forms."

Nice, huh? What's not to like about being a liberal once you know what it means? I think almost all Americans are liberal. I think most Americans would define themselves as liberal if the stigma were removed from the word. If we were to take out the word "liberal" and just ask people, "Are you open to new ideas for progress? Are you tolerant of ideas of others? Do you consider yourself to be limited to established traditional attitudes?" I think they'd line right up and identify themselves as having all the traits of a liberal. Who wants to say that they are bound by authoritarian attitudes? Or that they aren't open to new ideas for progress? Everyone want to be independent in thought. The one definition up there that isn't particularly helpful is "not conservative." Well, duh.

I know the debates were a lousy forum to really talk about things with any real substance, so I shouldn't be complaining that they weren't better used to argue semantics. But it bothered me a little that John Kerry just sat there and took it when Bush called him a liberal. Both Bush and Kerry acted like Bush just called him a dirty word. Bush said Kerry was the most liberal member of the Senate like he was saying Kerry was the ugliest member, or the stupidest member. And Kerry responded the same way. His statement that it isn't helpful to sling labels around was like saying "sticks and stones may break my bones."

So here are a few things I particularly like about being liberal. First, it means I also get to be conservative. I am open to new ideas. I believe in reform, and I am not closed minded about considering the best ideas to get there. Which means I am open to considering conservative ideas. Note the definition - I am not limited to conservative ideas. I consider them among other ideas. My job is to look at all the options and find the ones that I think will work the best. By definition, being a liberal means I am willing to sit down with conservatives person and listen to them, and that I might just accept their ideas as being right. Tradition and orthodoxy persist often because they work. So as a liberal, I have to give those ideas their fair weight.

Second, being liberal means I must stay optimistic. Being liberal literally means I favor proposals for reform and am open to new ideas for progress. In order to favor reform and be open to progress you have to believe that the world is capable of being made better. No matter whether you think things are currently great or lousy, being liberal means you know things can always be made better. That, to me, is the definition of optimism.

Being a liberal is a wonderful thing. We need to start treating that word like the compliment it truly is. "You're the most liberal member of the Senate," needs to be greeted with, "Thank you. I don't know if that's true or not, but I sure try to be."