"Liberal"

This is the one word in politics no one really understands what it means, except it is BAD.

Uh huh.

Corporatists would also like you to believe that War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, and Ignorance is Strength.

But it is not so. It is exactly the opposite. And we know precisely what 'liberal' means. Observe:

lib·er·al /ˈlɪbərəl, ˈlɪbrəl/

–adjective

1. favorable to progress or reform, as in political or religious affairs.

2. (often initial capital letter) noting or pertaining to a political party advocating measures of progressive political reform.

3. of, pertaining to, based on, or advocating liberalism.

4. favorable to or in accord with concepts of maximum individual freedom possible, esp. as guaranteed by law and secured by governmental protection of civil liberties.

5. favoring or permitting freedom of action, esp. with respect to matters of personal belief or expression: a liberal policy toward dissident artists and writers.

6. of or pertaining to representational forms of government rather than aristocracies and monarchies.

7. free from prejudice or bigotry; tolerant: a liberal attitude toward foreigners.

8. open-minded or tolerant, esp. free of or not bound by traditional or conventional ideas, values, etc.

9. characterized by generosity and willingness to give in large amounts: a liberal donor.

10. given freely or abundantly; generous: a liberal donation.

11. not strict or rigorous; free; not literal: a liberal interpretation of a rule.

12. of, pertaining to, or based on the liberal arts.

13. of, pertaining to, or befitting a freeman.

–noun

14. a person of liberal principles or views, esp. in politics or religion.

15. (often initial capital letter) a member of a liberal party in politics, esp. of the Liberal party in Great Britain.

[Origin: 1325–75; ME < L līberālis of freedom, befitting the free, equiv. to līber free + -ālis -al1]

—Related forms

lib·er·al·ly, adverb

lib·er·al·ness, noun

—Synonyms 1. progressive. 7. broad-minded, unprejudiced. 9. beneficent, charitable, openhanded, munificent, unstinting, lavish. See generous. 10. See ample.

—Antonyms 1. reactionary. 8. intolerant. 9, 10. niggardly.

Compare this to Conservative:

con·serv·a·tive /kuhn-sur-vuh-tiv/

–adjective

1. hostile to progress or reform, as in political or religious affairs.

2. (often initial capital letter) noting or pertaining to a political party advocating measures of corportist warmongering and profiteering.

3. of, pertaining to, based on, or advocating authoritarianism.

4. favorable to or in accord with concepts of minimal individual freedom possible, esp. as guaranteed by law and secured by governmental interference with civil liberties.

5. opposition to freedom of action, esp. with respect to matters of personal belief or expression: a conservative policy toward dissident artists and writers.

6. of or pertaining to aristocracies, monarchies, and dictatorships rather than representational forms of government.

7. embracing prejudice or bigotry; intolerant: a conservative attitude toward foreigners.

8. closed-minded or intolerant, esp. hidebound by traditional or conventional ideas, values, etc.

9. characterized by terminal selfishness and unwillingness to give in any amount except to corporatist Republican campaigns and televangelists: a conservative donor.

10. not given freely or abundantly; ungenerous.

11. strict and controlling; unfree; a conservative interpretation of a rule.

12. of, pertaining to, or based on opposition to the liberal arts.

13. of, pertaining to, or befitting a totalitarian.

–noun

14. a person of reactionary corporatist principles or views, esp. in politics or religion.

15. (often initial capital letter) a member of a radical right-wing party in politics, esp. of the Republican party in the US.

[Origin: 1350–1400; < LL conservātīvus, equiv. to L conservāt(us) (see conservation) + -īvus -ive; r. ME conservatif < MF < L, as above]

—Related forms

con·serv·a·tive·ly, adverb

con·serv·a·tive·ness, noun

—Synonyms 1. reactionary. 8. intolerant. 9, 10. niggardly.

—Antonyms 1. progressive. 7. broad-minded, unprejudiced. 9. beneficent, charitable, openhanded, munificent, unstinting, lavish. See generous. 10. See ample.

Honestly, which is good and which is bad?

"I never meant to say that the Conservatives are generally stupid. I meant to say that stupid people are generally Conservative. I believe that is so obviously and universally admitted a principle that I hardly think any gentleman will deny it."

- John Stuart Mill

Must have been a bunch of liberals who wrote all those damn definitions.

They had to. Conservatives aren't particularly literate.

Alas for the South!

Her books have grown fewer.

She was never much given

To literature.

Remember that human progress is created by progressives.

I'm no fan of religious states like Iran, and still hold out hope the US won't become any more of a 'Christian' version of Iran than it already is. That would be awful.

But has anybody noticed that some of the questions posed to the president of Iran could at least equally be asked of Bush and US political leadership?

Try these:

Why have women, members of the Mormon faith, homosexuals and so many of our academic colleagues become targets of persecution in your country?

Why are you so afraid of US citizens expressing their opinions for change?

Why do you support well-documented terrorist organizations that continue to strike at peace and democracy in the Middle East, destroying lives and civil society in the region? [Not to mention a number of brutal dictatorships?]

Why does your country continue to refuse to adhere to international standards for nuclear weapons in defiance of agreements and treaties that you have made?

Anybody asking Bush questions like these is likely to get tasered. Or worse.

Bollinger's speech contained a number of apparent contradictions:

"... I want to say that I understand your perspective and respect it as reasonable."

Which, of course, he doesn't.

"We do it in the great tradition of openness ..."

With a series of insults?

"Lastly, in universities, we have a deep and almost single-minded commitment to pursue the truth. We do not have access to the levers of power."

Which is total baloney, in view of the pork that goes to favored schools - and Bollinger knows that, because as a big-time research school president, influencing politicians for academic pork is what he does.

Totally toxic. Amerika should be ashamed, but probably isn't capable of it anymore.