Hey, I've just been browsing afew of the message strands, and the one thing that alot of the posts have in common is that people seem to throw the term liberal around in order to totaly disregaurd a persons argument. When reading it always seems that when one person seems to be loosing an argument they retaliate with things like "well I wouldn't expect anything else from a liberal". To me this seems really bizarre, i'm not from america (UK actually) but I just wanted to know what people thought of the term liberal and what it means, to me it just seems to be a substitute for the word commie, so to immediatly discredit the person and to destroy their argument. But I dunno maybe it means something different in America, but in the UK, I would be flattered to be called a liberal. Any thoughts?

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"The real tragedy of war is that we inevitably steal from our future to pay the debts from our past"

Sounds like you’ve got a pretty clear understanding of what the term liberal means on these boards. It’s just a cheap and easy way to dismiss someone’s argument by throwing a label on them. Very much the same as what it would mean to call someone a commie.

I wouldn’t try and put too much time in figuring out what the term means on these boards because everyone who uses the term doesn’t have a clue what it means to be a “liberal”. So it doesn’t really matter. I just ignore it.

You’ll come to find that it doesn’t matter what your political affiliation may be or how educated you are on a particular topic, you’re a liberal or “commie” if you’re the least bit dissatisfied with our current administration or anything going on in Iraq.

That seems to be the current trend at the moment.

If the shoe fits...

Why do liberals consider it an insult to be called what they are? I dont whine about being called a neo-con.

I wouldn’t call it an insult. But like I’ve already said…
It’s just brainless name calling and labeling about 98% of the time to disregaurd a persons argument.

Liberal = mamby-pamby.

I remember "hippies" not as such colourful people, but lazy.

flackbait....

So it's kinda ironic to say the least that he/she is whining about it.

Catz

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I'll get nicer when you get smarter.

I’m pretty sure you’re just trying to bait me and get a rise out of me, but when have I called anyone a neocon and dismissed their argument? I don’t remember ever doing that…

What’s wrong with whining about it if you don’t condone using either?

Edit: especially if there does seem to be a difference between the two. That being that the liberal label seems to be used against anyone no matter their political affiliation VS neocon which seems to be used against a much smaller demographic here on the boards.

and would be happy to search for it and find it for you, if you'd like.

Catz

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I'll get nicer when you get smarter.

Websters Collegiate Dictionary;

Liberal- Noun; a. one who is open-minded, or not strict in the observation of orthodox, traditional, or established forms or ways. b. a member of a liberal political party. c. an advocate, or adherent to liberalism, especially in individual rights.

Liberal- Adj; 1.a. of or relating to the liberal arts (education). b. archaic: of or befitting a person of free birth. 2.a. marked by generosity or openhandedness. b. given or provided in a generous or openhanded way. c. ample, full. 3. Lacking moral restraint: licentious. 4. not literal, loose (translation). 5. broad-minded, tolerant: not bound by authoritarianism, orthodoxy, or traditional forms. 6. a. of, favoring, or based on the beliefs of liberalism. b. Associated with a party of liberalism as in the United Kingdom.

Modern slang; Liberal- 1. Anyone who disagrees with the conservative/supremacist agenda, even another conservative/supremacist!!! 2. An imaginary anthropomorphic object of hatred & discrimination, invented by Rush Limbaugh (Kinda like referring to anyone with long hair, as a "hippie"!)! An anthropomorphism in his own right!!


Conservative- adj; 1. preservative. 2. a political philosophy based on traditional and socialized stability, stressing established institutions, and preferring of gradual development, and against abrupt change. 3. a. tending, or disposed to maintain existing views, conditions, or institutions. b. Moderate, cautious. c. marked by or relating to traditional norms of taste, elegance, style or manners. 4. Relating to conservative Judaism.

Conservative- noun; 1. anyone belonging to a conservative political party. 2. a. one who adheres to traditional methods or points of views. b. a cautious or discrete person.

Modern slang; conservative- a word used to confuse individuals with traditional religious beliefs, into believing big business and totalitarian politicians, has their best interest in mind, so they will vote for republicans!!

It's really just a play on words to establish political opposites (ying & yang), to divide the American public, by creating hatred based on social discrimination, so our constitutional rights can be removed, and we can be controlled more easily. Those who follow their party blindly, anticipating an unachievable ideology, with no basis of reality. Simply put, if it is good for democrats or republicans, it is bad for Americans!!!

Buck S. N.

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There are only two things wrong with this great nation of ours, democrats and republicans!

Not necessarily in that order.

Liberals rarely adhere to the dictionary definition of the word anymore. Thats the main reason why a lot of neo-cons are no longer liberals. Liberals dont really believe in liberty IMO. They want to impose their will on the masses.