Opinion Can We Stop Using 'Liberal' as an Insult?

[Senzo Tanaka]

I've noticed that the word 'liberal' has basically turned into a slur over the past decade. It seems like when the word gets thrown around, it's usually targeted towards the crazies on the far left and the SJW movement.

Here is the best definition of liberalism I could find and the one I personally identify with:

Liberalism is a political and moral philosophy based on liberty and equality. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but they generally support civil rights, democracy, secularism, gender equality, racial equality, internationalism, freedom of speech, freedom of the press and freedom of religion

That's where it begins and ends for me. This new breed of liberals are not liberal. I don't know if I would even consider them on the left.

The SJWs for instance are blocking certain speakers on college campuses, promoting authoritarianism, socialism, safe spaces, anti-freedom of speech, identity politics, anti-freedom of press, anti-science, oppression as a virtue and some religions being more protected than others.

How in the world are these people liberals? They are the antithesis of being liberal. I prefer to call them 'Illiberals' or 'Regressives'.

I think most actual liberals are described by my definition and sit on the left of center. Unfortunately, it's the illiberals that make the most noise, grab the most headlines and make it seem like they are the majority of the left. They aren't and we shouldn't let them hijack the ideology.

 

[Ripskater]

Liberals often don't want to call themselves liberal. I have noticed that on this forum.

 

[Wet Blanket]

When I want to insult someone I call them a conservative.

 

[Only Here for Attachments]

Liberals should be required to have an identifying mark tattooed on their forehead

 

[Ripskater]

I think liberals have really exposed themselves since Obama got in office. They let the LGBTQ and progressive agenda, social justice against the white Christian males, take over their party.

So it seems like the people in favor of liberty are those with traditional American conservative values.

 

[Ripskater]

Liberals should be required to have an identifying mark tattooed on their forehead

The mark of the beast.

 

[babycart]

That's the problem. These "liberals" are willing to fight, yet the ones you describe as liberals don't fight to maintain the definition of the label.

 

[ultramanhyata]

"Liberal" has been a political slur in the US since at least the 1980's. Democratic lawmakers, almost to a man, ran from the word and avoided using it as an identifier from the time of the Reagan administration.

 

[machidafan99]

I just started using "the extreme left" as of yesterday but "liberal" flows a little more nicely.

 

[Big Nasty Edison]

I think liberals have really exposed themselves since Obama got in office. They let the LGBTQ and progressive agenda, social justice against the white Christian males, take over their party.

So it seems like the people in favor of liberty are those with traditional American conservative values.

I think conservatives have really exposed themselves since Trump got in office. They let the white nationalist and regressive agenda, with the angry bigots, take over their party.

So it seems like the people in favor of theocracy are those with modern American conservative values.

 

[Hognoxious]

Liberal is not an insult, but libtard certainly is.

 

[Falsedawn]

OP, you're doing the same thing you're accusing others of doing with liberals to "SJWs".

I've been to college, it's not that serious.

 

[nac386]

In general, there are a group of posters on here that rely heavily on name calling and labeling (labels that they cannot even agree on a common meaning for). They rely on these things, along with memes, because they are usually incapable of providing a better argument.

It's all part of the hive mind, or tribal aspect of politics. They believe that by using common phrases they are being a contributing member of their team. It's bizarre to watch, actually.

 

[Squarechoke]

The main problem is that so many that use the word don't even know what liberalism is, so they use it to describe things from entirely different political ideologies.

Of course it never hurts when people out themselves as ignorant so you don't have to wonder about it.

 

[Rygu]

Traditional liberals are generally fine, it's the loony left who gives them a bad name.

Such as the ones who think there's more than 2 genders, think open borders should be a thing, and that Islam is a progressive, peaceful ideology meanwhile being pro-LGBT at the same time.

 

[EradiatedHaggis]

I've noticed that the word 'liberal' has basically turned into a slur over the past decade. It seems like when the word gets thrown around, it's usually targeted towards the crazies on the far left and the SJW movement.

I always address Liberals and Leftists as two different things however until Liberals force Leftists to self identify and openly attack them on their bullshit, they deserve the negative connotation.

Republicans did this to Tea Partiers, yet it does not stop even Liberals from labeling all conservatives the same on everything.

Also, a words definition has no meaning when it comes to political ideologies, they have all morphed, switched sides on virtually everything at least once over the last 150 years...your definition of Liberal is actually that of "Classical Liberalism" and has not applied to Liberals for about 60 years just like "Conservative" hasnt applied to most Republicans over about the same amount of time.

 

[Lucifer Alpha]

The swastika was once a symbol of protection.

Shit changes.

 

[Lucifer Alpha]

I think conservatives have really exposed themselves since Trump got in office. They let the white nationalist and regressive agenda, with the angry bigots, take over their party.

So it seems like the people in favor of theocracy are those with modern American conservative values.

What is the white nationalist agenda? A stronger border? The same thing Democrats were pushing for less than a decade ago?

 

[bushman505]

Nah.

 

[Lucifer Alpha]

The main problem is that so many that use the word don't even know what liberalism is

Mainly the people who call themselves liberals.