Why is being called a Liberal an insult?

[OccamsRazor]

Certain people on these forums use the term Liberal as if it were a weapon. I have been told that I am a Leftie or a Liberal and by implication I should be insulted by such a label.

Here is a quick definition

1. Not limited to or by established, traditional, orthodox, or authoritarian attitudes, views, or dogmas; free from bigotry.
2. Favoring proposals for reform, open to new ideas for progress, and tolerant of the ideas and behavior of others; broad-minded.

I would feel complemented to be labelled such.
In fact some years ago my wife called me "liberal to the core", she meant it as a complement and I was proud to be described in this way.

Which leads me to my question. Why is being called a liberal used as an insult and would people would use it in this fashion be insulted if they were described using the definition above?

[The Persnickety Platypus]

More often I hear "tree hugger" used as an insult.


"It is senseless to let shortsighted economic endeavors overide more sustainable plans. We owe such responsible practices to our future generations."

"Yeah.... well...... your just a hippy tree hugger!"


Whoah, take it easy there slugger. That cuts right to the bone. What are you going to accuse me of next? Caring about the world? Come on now, I have feelings too....


I just don't get it.

[Nirvana-Eld]

Honestly I try not to pay attention to what someone labels me. Let them label as they want, that doesn't change what I know I am. Whenever I enter a political conversation I try not to reveal my persuasion (left or right) because right then and there I am subject to a rediculous amount of biases and prejudices that come with that label. It may be a bit eccentric, but to have genuine descussion I find it necessary.

Peace

[OccamsRazor]

Nirvana-Eld, that is probably a good way to think about this. Largely I also ignore people using labels as insults.
My main confusion is why people think that the term 'Liberal' is an insult in the first place? As I say, why would people see the dictionary definition given above as an insulting term.

I would also add that the Poll in this thread has recieved a vote of 'Insulted'. Could the person who supplied this vote suggest the reason for the feeling? I simply would like to understand the reasoning behind this position. My apologies if you wish to keep your view anonymous however.

[kctheshootinfool]

Largely I also ignore people using labels as insults.
My main confusion is why people think that the term 'Liberal' is an insult in the first place?

I agree, and here's a friendly comment from a "conservative":

The tree-hugger remark, for example, is the intellectual equivalent of another kid in 2nd grade calling you a poo-poo head. I'm sure we've all spent many days pondering how we needed to change our lives because of that staggering insult as well.

No, I'm NOT a liberal, in the political sense, though I certainly believe I am liberal-minded. I do not take ALL conservative viewpoints, though I do tend to lean more often in that direction. We should all be open minded to the fact that conservatives and liberals both have good ideas, and let's hope we ALL strive to maintain good intentions. Bush and Reagan were not evil men, nor were Kennedy or Clinton, but most people would have VERY strong 1-sided opinions of each.

The negative connotation of the word "liberal" is unfortunate, just as the negative connotation of the word 'ignorant' is unfortunate.

[micatala]

1. Not limited to or by established, traditional, orthodox, or authoritarian attitudes, views, or dogmas; free from bigotry.
2. Favoring proposals for reform, open to new ideas for progress, and tolerant of the ideas and behavior of others; broad-minded.

From the free dictionary

con·ser·va·tive (kn-sûrv-tv)
adj.
1. Favoring traditional views and values; tending to oppose change.
2. Traditional or restrained in style: a conservative dark suit.
3. Moderate; cautious: a conservative estimate.
4.
a. Of or relating to the political philosophy of conservatism.
b. Belonging to a conservative party, group, or movement.
5. Conservative Of or belonging to the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom or the Progressive Conservative Party in Canada.
6. Conservative Of or adhering to Conservative Judaism.
7. Tending to conserve; preservative: the conservative use of natural resources.
n.
1. One favoring traditional views and values.
2. A supporter of political conservatism.
3. Conservative A member or supporter of the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom or the Progressive Conservative Party in Canada.
4. Archaic A preservative agent or principle.



con·ser·va·tism (kn-sûrv-tzm)
n.
1. The inclination, especially in politics, to maintain the existing or traditional order.
2. A political philosophy or attitude emphasizing respect for traditional institutions, distrust of government activism, and opposition to sudden change in the established order.
3. Conservatism The principles and policies of the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom or of the Progressive Conservative Party in Canada.
4. Caution or moderation, as in behavior or outlook.

It seems to me that while these definitions are contrasting, they are not necessarily opposites, nor mutually exclusive. One can certainly be open to reform, to new ideas, be free from bigotry, and tolerant of the behavior of others, while still having respect for traditional institutions, and even have a tendency towards preferring the status quo. Caution or moderation does not necessarily imply fear or a lack of willingness to change. Both those who describe themselves as liberals and conservatives often rail against government actions, its just that they rail against different particular actions.


As to whether being called a liberal should be perceived as an insult, I guess it depends somewhat on how one views liberals, and on the intent of the person calling one a liberal. If George McGovern calls me a liberal, I take it as a compliment (whether I really am a liberal or not). If Pat Robertson calls me a liberal, I know he probably means it to be an insult or denigrating in some way, and I am probably annoyed.

[1John2_26]

Certain people on these forums use the term Liberal as if it were a weapon. I have been told that I am a Leftie or a Liberal and by implication I should be insulted by such a label.

Here is a quick definition
American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language wrote:
1. Not limited to or by established, traditional, orthodox, or authoritarian attitudes, views, or dogmas; free from bigotry.

2. Favoring proposals for reform, open to new ideas for progress, and tolerant of the ideas and behavior of others; broad-minded.

And of course the North America Man Boy Love Association chose the ACLU to represent their rights to pedophilia.

Since liberals:

2. Favoring proposals for reform, open to new ideas for progress, and tolerant of the ideas and behavior of others; broad-minded.

I'm sure the sweethearts at PETA, that truly believe animals have the same rights as humans can presnt the world with a whole new idea about changing the definition of marriage.

Liberals have no problem changing the immutable for number 2.

Number one has been violated by the bigotry Liberals have for Christians that believe the Bible without editing and rewriting.

Why do liberals call the police about anything? Aren't criminals just "liberals?"

1. Not limited to or by established, traditional, orthodox, or authoritarian attitudes, views, or dogmas; free from bigotry.

[micatala]

And of course the North America Man Boy Love Association chose the ACLU to represent their rights to pedophilia.

What does this have to do with anything?

And I was just thinking what a nice thread this was.


Here, it seems to me, we have another example of an attempt to insult liberals, not by using the word itself, but by incoherent association of liberals with any other handy insult. Since almost no liberals have anything to do with NAMBL, and only a small minority at best are members of ACLU, this statement has essentially nothing to do with liberals in general. It seems to me to be nothing more than an attempt to smear a large group by associating all members of the group with the actions of a few, some of whom have no association with the group whatsoever. It seems I have seen this tactic quite a bit in posts under this moniker.

2. Favoring proposals for reform, open to new ideas for progress, and tolerant of the ideas and behavior of others; broad-minded.

Describes Jesus and early Christians very well. Jesus was all about reform. He was reacting against the conservatives of his day, the Pharisees, and sought to replace their legalistic religious framework with a doctrine of love, an emphasis on the heart, and a desire to help his fellow human beings. He was tolerant of all sorts of people, notably people the Pharisees were not tolerant of. He encouraged his followers to be open to new and, at that time especially, extremely radical ideas for human progress. He came so that we might have life and have it abundantly.

Jesus was clearly free form bigotry. He had no qualms about pointing out the bigotry of others as well. He cared little for orthodoxy or the authoritarian tactics of the Pharisees. If he was intolerant of anything, it was exactly the status quo power structures of his society.



Jesus, the prototypical liberal. We should include his picture next to the definition, I think.

[The Persnickety Platypus]

And of course the North America Man Boy Love Association chose the ACLU to represent their rights to pedophilia.

Which reminds me, which political faction does the Ku Klux Klan coddle up to?


Anarchism starts to look pretty good when judging both lines of thought by their extremists....

[Nirvana-Eld]

I think that if we are to really get to the bottom of the issue, we need to see how the the dictionary term liberal got twisted into being synonomous with Anne Coutler's (a wolf howls in the background ) use.

First I think it necesarry to have someone with an atagonistic view of a liberal to define one. That would be good starting ground for seeing how the term liberal came to be an insult. Just a thought.