Saturday, August 19, 2006
Liberal Tolerance
The term liberal was coined during the enlightenment. It was derived from the word liberty with a connotation of tolerance. The first liberals fought for universal suffrage and the abolition of slavery. In Europe, liberals fought for greater economic freedom; the kings’ dominance of commerce stifled the people. Anyone who claims to be a liberal and wants to forcibly remove 11 million people from the borders of the United States is suffering from an identity crisis. There are reasons to eschew immigrants, but tolerance and liberty are not among them. One might fear for the resiliency of our institutions. One might believe tomorrow’s problems can be met with yesterday’s solutions. These are the attitudes in our House of Representatives where I fear there is not a liberal left.
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I've run into an interesting breed of liberal in Seattle. They are very open to your ideas as long as you agree with them. I wonder if the beatings that liberalism has taken in the past decade has driven them to dig in their heels. Have they always been there? It's probably a combination of both.
Both liberalism and conservatism are vital parts of our society. I liken the relationship to a tree. Strong conservative roots give us a sense of identity, something we can always come home to, like Mom's cooking. Those roots cannot survive without branches and leaves that reach upwards; risking disease, pests, weather, and men with axes. Not every branch makes it. Not every liberal idea can bring enlightenment. Yet how will we succeed as a people if we don't reach up and try grasping the sun?
Let's go back to the aformentioned liberals. Their intransigence cuts off the flow of sugars down to the roots which will eventually cause them to weaken and crack. This ideological back biting is the Dutch Elm disease of our society.
P.S. I love you very much, Sonny.
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