Thread: Please define "liberal"

Political liberalism with economic overtures presumably.

Originally Posted by Storekeeper

Liberalism? Are you talking about classical liberalism ? Contemporary liberalism ? Modern liberalism ? Are you talking about liberalism in regards to politics ? Religion ? Economical liberalism ? Some bright guy or gal please be specific here.

Yes SK, be more specific in your liberal use of the term "liberals" in your comments please.

Originally Posted by Dougal

I would like to comment directly to SK that to me at least you have seem to have a very, shall I say, 'Gung Ho' attitude.

While I suspect that in the environment that you currently find yourself i.e. the American military that attitude might be accepted as the norm amongst your peers and even be desirable from a career viewpoint, I suspect that when you enter civilain life you may find that such a standpoint is not accepted quite so unquestioningly.

I don't think you intended it that way but I believe your point about being "Gung Ho" in the civilian world can slice both ways. Some won't like it and some will. I can tell you I also think that there are people both in the military and many who have never been in the military who don't like the "Gung Ho" attitude.

Since I'm going to Thailand I do believe you're on the right track though that most expatriates I come in to contact with won't like my view on politics in general and on GWB specifically.

Overall though matey I think it's wrong to make this generalization as there are lots of occupations that would love to have a person from any background with a gung ho attitude.

^ a sailor gogo bar maybe ?

I am not sure this will be true for those who have been on the battlefield and faced the horror of death everyday. I am sure we are going to keep hearing stories of veterans going ballistic on their friends and family.

Originally Posted by Storekeeper

Since I'm going to Thailand I do believe you're on the right track though that most expatriates I come in to contact with won't like my view on politics in general and on GWB specifically.

I think so, too. But rest assured that politics is not a big theme in expat life, specially when your nearest expat neighbour is 2 hrs drive away.

Originally Posted by stroller

But rest assured that politics is not a big theme in expat life

That's good to hear.

Howard Thurman:
"During times of war, hatred becomes quite respectable, even though it has to masquerade often under the guise of patriotism."

"Margaret Snyder compares American "liberalism" with Communism and Fascism and concludes: "So it is that liberalism has taken away the self-respect of whole classes of people. It has done so by the same elitist mentality that characterized the two vilest socialisms of the twentieth century. Most people who consider themselves liberals consider their motives to be pure, and I don't doubt that they are. But by their attitudes and policies, they encourage dependency on the state and ultimately do much more harm than good."

Snyder - 2003, September 24

Originally Posted by Storekeeper

"Margaret Snyder compares American "liberalism" with Communism and Fascism and concludes: "So it is that liberalism has taken away the self-respect of whole classes of people. It has done so by the same elitist mentality that characterized the two vilest socialisms of the twentieth century. Most people who consider themselves liberals consider their motives to be pure, and I don't doubt that they are. But by their attitudes and policies, they encourage dependency on the state and ultimately do much more harm than good."

Snyder - 2003, September 24

You can't compare liberalism with communism or fascism. They are completely different.

I gave you the title of books. Now, Mr. Unread, ya need to start reading.

Originally Posted by Milkman

You can't compare liberalism with communism or fascism. They are completely different.

I gave you the title of books. Now, Mr. Unread, ya need to start reading.

You must think pretty highly of yourself if you think for one minute I'd choose to read the recommendations of a forum poster with an unverifiable fourth tier undergraduate education at best over authors who I can research and verify their credentials.

So Margaret Snyder reads a book written by the neoconservative Joshua Muravchic and writes an article about how she now has seen the light.

And now you have also seen the light by reading her article ?

You could at least have read Joshua Muravchic¨s book and stated your own conclusions.