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"Truth" #2. Conservatives are patriots, liberals are anti-American.

What is Liberal? What is Conservative?

The word “liberal” has now been so thoroughly vilified , that it instantly conjures up images of flag-burning, patchouli wearing, trust fund college students breaking GAP store windows. But just like the far Christian right has Rev. Jerry Falwell, the left has members that are extreme examples that don’t represent the majority. So what are real, day to day liberals all about? Indeed, what is the definition of liberalism?

Well, verbatim from good old webster's 9th edition:
“Liberalism” ­ 1. the quality or state of being liberal. 2. a movement in modern Protestantism emphasizing intellectual liberty and the spiritual and ethical content of Christianity b. a theory in economics emphasizing individuals freedom from restrain and usu. based on free competition, the self-regulating market and the gold standard. c. a political philosophy based on the belief of progress, the essential goodness of man, and the autonomy of the individual and standing up for the protection of political and civil liberties."

Wow . . . that’s um . . . who wouldn’t want to be associated with that? And did I really see the word “Christianity” in there?

Well, letsee what “Conservatism” says:
“Conservatism” - a: the principals and polices of a Conservative party b. the Conservative party 2 a: disposition in politics to preserve what is established b: a political philosophy based on tradition and social stability, stressing established institutions, and preferring gradual development to abrupt change 3: the tendency to prefer an existing or traditional situation to change."

So Conservative thinking by its nature runs counter to change. The things that stir up the public (like the printing press), or require experimentation (such as scientific discovery) or moral self-examination (such as civil rights), or examination of the status quo, (such as class structure) have always been stopped by traditionalists. Luckily, progressive thinkers have always ultimately won out, bringing us great things like “fire,” “the wheel,” “penicillin,” and “email.” Now progressives are trying to bring us stem cell research, tolerance for sexual differences, and new energy sources and, as always, traditionalists (who have brought you such things as “The Dark Ages”) stand in the way of progress. The reason I am a liberal, is because I believe in the ultimate progress of human kind. Standing in the way of progress? I can’t think of anything more un-American than that.

Historical Amnesia on the Meaning of Liberal

"If Americans have a common fault, however, it’s our tendency to suffer from historical amnesia. Too many of us have forgotten, or never learned, what kind of country America was under the conservative rule that preceded the century of liberal reform. And too many of us have no idea whose ideas and energy brought about the reforms we now take for granted. If your workplace is safe, if your children go to school rather than being forced into labor; if you are paid a living wage, including overtime; if you enjoy a forty-hour week and you are allowed to join a union to protect your rights - you can thank liberals. If your food is not poisoned and your water is drinkable - you can thank liberals. If your parents are eligible for Medicare and Social Security, so they can grow old in dignity without bankrupting your family - you can thank liberals. If your rivers are getting cleaner and our air isn’t black with pollution; if our wilderness is protected and our countryside is still green - you can thank liberals. If people of all races can share the same public facilities; if everyone has the right to vote; if couples fall in love regardless of race; if we have finally begun to transcend a segregated society - you can thank liberals. Progressive innovations like those and so many others were achieved by long, difficult struggles against entrenched power. What defined conservatism, and conservatives, was their opposition to every one of those advances. The country we know and love today was built by those victories for liberalism - with the support of the American People." - Joe Conason - “Big Lies” Page 3 “Introduction”

Patriots Question. Psuedo-Patriots Question the Patriotism of Other People.

Ok wait! I thought of one more thing more un-American than standing in the way of progress, and that is . . . questioning someone else's patriotism. That’s pretty un-American too! So what does being a “patriot” really mean? Putting a flag on your car? Not questioning the government at all? Fighting in a war? As comedian Bill Maher puts it, putting a flag on your car is “quite literally, the LEAST you can do.” Speaking of Bill Maher, when he did dare to question the government on some of his policies, White House Spokesman Ari Fleischer said “Americans should watch what they say, watch what they do.” (It is comments like this that make liberals continue to bring up the phrase “Orwellian”) As for fighting in a war, right wing attack ads, representing an administration that is largely made up of non-Veterans, dared to question the patriotism of liberals such as John Glenn (yes, the fighter pilot and astronaut), Senator Max Clelund (who lost both legs and an arm in Vietnam) and of course Senator John Kerry . . . because we all know that guy is a total wimpy bastard.

Loving America Like Adults

“If you listen to a lot of conservatives, they’ll tell you that the difference between them and us is that conservatives love America and liberals hate America. That we “blame America first.” That we’re suspicious of patriotism and always think our country’s in the wrong. As conservative radio and TV personality Sean Hannity says, we liberals “train our children to criticize America, not celebrate it.”

"They don’t get it. We love America just as much as they do. But in a different way. You see, they love America the way a four-year-old loves her mommy. Liberals love America like grown-ups. To a four-year-old everything Mommy does is wonderful and anyone who criticizes Mommy is bad. Grown-up love means actually understanding what you love, taking the good with the bad, and helping your loved one grow. Love takes attention and work and is the best thing in the world. That’s why we liberals want America to do the right things. We know America is the hope of the world, and we love it and want it to do well. We also want it to do good.” - Al Franken page 24 “Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them