Saturday, February 6, 2010

What being a liberal means to me

And now, of course, a retort:

I look for solutions instead of letting the problems stop me in my tracks. I don't stop looking for solutions due to the superficial excuses of tradition, culture, belief, "that's how it's always been", etc. I am progressive.

I don't let the beliefs of others hamper my abilities to find new and better ways of living. I would not stop chopping a tree for firewood just because I live in a community of Wiccans, par exemple.

I value life. I value freedom from pain, anger, suffering, hunger, torture, etc. I believe everybody has a right to life, liberty, happiness and comfort. Anyway I can help bring that happiness and comfort, I'll do it.

I believe in the benefit of doubt. I will never know a complete story. I will never know enough to judge anyone. Therefore, everybody is innocent until proven guilty.

I believe in letting the punishment fit the crime. I do not believe in torture in any sense.

I believe that the ends justify the means. This belief can easily be taken to the extreme, but so can being stubborn.

That is what being a liberal means to me. That is why I'm proud to be a liberal. That's why I am proud to call myself progressive. I firmly believe that Jesus and Muhammad (blessings be upon them) would be classified as liberals today.


9 comments:

Unknown said...

nothing wrong with being a liberal so long as one doesn't get consumed with trying to fight every inch of the system.
there is the right to pursuit happiness, but that means people MUST pursue it. It does not mean that they will be taken care of by the government. We are all born equal...it's how we live, the choices we make and the roads we travel that lead us to success, happiness and freedom.
I respect that you want to fight for the underdog...but at some point, buddy, you're gonna wake up and realize you turned into that underdog and will need to fight for yourself. No one else is really going to do it for you.
Politics and passions wax and wane... the tide turns. Popular opinion affects us all.

Bry said...

People should pursue happiness on their own, yes. If and when I become the underdog I try to defend, I will take care of myself. But I don't know why I can't expect a little help.

Unknown said...

you'll get help as long as you show you're trying to also help yourself. :)

Bry said...

So, if I don't appear to be trying to help myself, I can be left for dead?

Unknown said...

oh, if you can't help yourself, you're then subject to being cared for by my overly Christian self, subject to the rules of my home and that's that. YOu will live as I suggest until you can finally snap out of it and get back on your own two feet and make your own way back into the world. YOu can't tell me that my way is wrong...because, who is the one who was face down in the dirt to begin with? :) So... take care of yourself....

Bry said...

Do you know the circumstances on whether or not I can help myself?

Unknown said...

not sure... likely it will never happen. :)

Jordan Robles said...

Not to be all messianic, but: That's why I'm here. =P

Unknown said...

...that's why i said it would likely never happen. :)