Is the Charlotte Observer liberal? You be the judge: http://t.co/ULittI3XYh
— Taylor Batten (@tbatten1) May 18, 2015
It’s an article of faith among the denizens of the Far Right that “Liberal” is code for “evil,” though few could provide a cogent explanation for why they might feel that way. That’s just the way it is, and it’s always been thus. “Liberal” has for many become an epithet along the lines of “sexual predator,” “child molester,” “atheist,” “communist,” or “socialist.” It sometimes seems as if every bad thing in this world can be blamed on Liberals and Liberalism. This is all well and good, but WHAT makes Liberalism to be just this side of sodomy and blasphemy? Turns out the assumption of evil and the unquestioning belief that Liberals are just this side of child sexual predators couldn’t be more wrong. It’s just what you assume when you’re a low-information Conservative Fox News Channel addict.
An interesting question- “Why do you support such a Liberal agenda?”- was posed to the editorial board of the Charlotte Observer. The responder, Taylor Batten, did an excellent job of answering the question while also making it clear that proceeding from the assumption that “Liberal” means anything even remotely negative is sorely mistaken. Point by point, Batten reinforces the argument that being a Liberal means caring for the whole just as much as the individual and recognizing that individual rights are no more or less important than collective rights. Being a Liberal means recognizing that you’re part of a community and that each of us bears a responsibility toward that community. It’s not “what can the world do for me,” but rather “what I can I do for the world.” It’s not about selfishness and self-interest; it’s about all of us pulling together in an effort to try to make our world a better place. Conservatives can afford to be lazy and not care about anyone but themselves; for them it’s a dog eat dog, sink or swim world- ain’t nobody helped them; why should they help anyone else? Hmm…perhaps because it’s the humane thing to do and recognition that we’re all in the same boat?
I was so impressed with Batten’s response that I copied it and pasted it in its entirety after the jump. I think you’ll see, as I hope many readers did, that “Liberal” isn’t bad. It’s not about something for nothing, or refusing to work, or sucking at Big Government’s teat. “Conservative,” as you’ll come to see as you read through Batten’s response, has deserved developed a connotation for anger, ignore, reaction, mean-spiritedness and a lazy lack of concern for anyone but themselves.
Then again, it’s easy what you don’t understand and can’t be bothered to learn about.
Ain’t karma a bitch??
“To: observer editors
“Question? Why do you support such a liberal agenda?
“Remember you’re supposed to answer honestly.”
Well, rules are rules, so I suppose you deserve an honest answer for Honesty Day. Here goes:
We believe that everyone is created equal.
We believe that children should not bear responsibility for the sins of their parents.
We believe that prevention is a heck of a lot cheaper than a cure.
We believe people should not be treated as lesser citizens, with fewer rights, because of whom they love.
We believe a thriving city, state and nation rests to a great degree in the quality of its public schools, and that every child deserves a dedicated, dynamic teacher, regardless of what ZIP code that child lives in.
We believe discrimination is wrong in every instance.
We believe in consistency, so if you are going to drug-test recipients of public assistance, drug-test them all, including the corporate chieftains who are the biggest beneficiaries.
We believe that police officers should act professionally, under incredibly difficult circumstances, regardless of a suspect’s race.
We believe taxes should be kept as low as possible while still providing a sound safety net for the neediest, a robust education for all, decent health care for the elderly and the destitute, and other basics.
We believe politicians of any party should keep their promises, avoid the appearance of personal gain from the public trust, and look out for the general welfare, not that of any one special interest.
We believe there are people of worth beyond our tight circle and there are neighborhoods beyond our own, with different histories, perspectives and needs.
We believe offenders have paid their price when their sentence is up and should be helped to assimilate back into society. And that that’s better for the community than neglecting them and watching them commit another crime.
We believe there are peace-loving Muslims.
We do not believe President Obama was born in Kenya.
We believe in the separation of church and state.
We believe Moore Place, built with public and private money, and its housing-first approach is a model for how to help the chronically homeless.
We believe Charlotte will need effective mass transit to handle its continually swelling population.
We believe if you’re a fan of a politician solely because he has a ‘D’ or an ‘R’ after his name, then you’re not paying attention.
We believe we have only one planet, and we should protect it for our grandchildren.
If that earns us the label “liberal” in your eyes, Mr. Fry, so be it. We approach the issues of the day with an open mind and guided by those principles, not by blind devotion to any political party. And that’s the honest truth.
