No matter what a Democratic candidate says or does, no matter what record a Democrat runs on, the Bush Republicans and the GOP (greedy old party) disparagingly call all Democrats liberals. . . . as if this was a bad thing . . . . well, it's not.
When I was growing up and would ask my parents "what does this word mean?" they wouldn't tell me, instead they referred me to the dictionary, of all things, a parent directing a child to the dictionary!!!! So, according to Webster's Dictionary "liberal" means:
Main Entry: 1lib·er·al
Pronunciation: 'li-b(&-)r&l
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin liberalis suitable for a freeman, generous, from liber free; perhaps akin to Old English lEodan to grow, Greek eleutheros free
1 a : of, relating to, or based on the liberal arts <liberal education> b archaic : of or befitting a man of free birth
2 a : marked by generosity : OPENHANDED liberal giver> b : given or provided in a generous and openhanded way liberal meal> c : AMPLE, FULL
So, the next time someone tries to use "liberal" as a perjorative (if you don't know what it means, look it up) think ah, yes, liberal means free, generous, and open.
And I ask you, which do you prefer? generosity or greed? freedom or bondage? full or empty? openhanded or closefisted?
How about sharing some of your examples of liberal generosity?
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