Like the title of this entry why should I have to be ashamed of being what I have been called a liberal...which ultimately means why should I be ashamed of being a Democrat? More often then I like actually my Republican friends have said things like "It's only because you are young that you are Democrat, you will learn." or "Why are you a liberal?" To "You will learn and become a Republican." One of my Republican friends has even asked me "I bet you would vote for him again wouldn't you?" (Like it was a bad thing). I hate to break it to my Republican friends no it's not because I am young, I am a liberal because I am a proponent for social change and I believe all men are created equal...hmm where have a seen that phrase before? I hate to tell you that in high school I did in fact register Republican and then I learned and registered Democrat and a proud one at that! And yes in fact I would vote for President Obama again! It is just too bad that they have a term limit, but if you would like to know that if I have it my way I will be voting for Hillary and am very proud of that! But hey that's just me.
Here is what Webster's Dictionary has as the definition of Liberal, (yes I did indeed look it up.)
1lib·er·al adjective ˈli-b(ə-)rəl\
: believing that government should be active in supporting social and political change : relating to or supporting political liberalism
Liberal : of or belonging to the liberal political party in countries like Canada and the United Kingdom
: not opposed to new ideas or ways of behaving that are not traditional or widely accepted
By that definition I wouldn't be ashamed to be called a liberal. That being said I have always been someone who wanted things to be fair, and always told my guy friends that just because I was a girl didn't mean I couldn't do what they can. I believe in women's rights and that we should be treated equally and fairly. I have also always been someone that has cheered for the underdog and that they were treated dignity and respect as well. So I am sitting here writing this coming to the conclusion that it is a very respectable thing to be considered a liberal.
This also just came to me as I was reading the definition of liberal again. Especially the part that says "not opposed to new ideas or ways". This may be a stretch but in his time Abraham Lincoln was probably considered a liberal especially when it came to freeing the slaves, I am sure that there were many who opposed that type of change. And yes I know that he was a Republican but what one needs to remember that those who were Republican back then would more than likely be Democrats today. I have told a couple of my Republican friends this and they shudder at the thought, but if you look at what each party stood for back then it is true, back in the 1800s I probably would have been a Republican and my Republican friends would have been Democrat. (this is just something to think about).
I guess what I am trying to say is that if someone calls you a liberal and they want you to be ashamed of that don't be because it is a good thing and it brings about change no matter how slow or how little it comes it does happen.
