lib·er·al [lib-er-uhl, lib-ruhl]of or pertaining to representational forms of government rather than aristocracies and monarchies; free from prejudice or bigotry; tolerant: a liberal attitude toward foreigners;open-minded or tolerant, esp. free of or not bound by traditional or conventional ideas, values, etc.; characterized by generosity and willingness to give in large amounts: a liberal donor.
con·serv·a·tive [kuhn-sur-vuh-tiv]disposed to preserve existing conditions, institutions, etc., or to restore traditional ones, and to limit change; resistant to change; unimaginatively conventional; a person who is reluctant to accept changes and new ideas.
In this political season, leading up to the election of a new president and leadership for America (thank god!!!!), I thought I would take this opportunity to clarify the different categories of voters. You can add several adjectives to either of these: right wing conservative, moderate conservative, left leaning liberal, centrist liberal, on and on and on.
While those in the republican party would insist that America is a conservative nation, I would strongly beg to differ. There are pockets of staunch conservatives in America, no doubt, mostly in the South; but in my travels, I would say that most Americans are liberal in their beliefs. When I say liberal, I don't mean a nudist colony full of hippies who smoke dope and paint naturscapes all day long, while living off of hard working people's tax dollar.
I mean liberal in the sense that Americans are kind and generous people, who care about their fellow humans, love their dogs, love their own god, whomever he/she is, want a decent education with having to mortgage their future, want healthcare for everyone, care about global warming and the environment, and want equal rights for everyone, regardless of religion, skin color, sex, or sexual preference. Naturally, there are exceptions to this rule: I doubt Barack Obama will carry the white southern redneck male vote. A Democrat hasn't won this demographic since President Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act in 1964...pathetic, but true.
This country has suffered enough under the "conservative" rule...greed, selfishness, money, war, lies, fear mongering, governmental control...it's the offspring of the "me first" mentality that is so prevalent within this group of people. I am ready for a CHANGE...a refreshing alternative to this tight-fistedness that we have been slapped in the back of the head with these past 7 and a half years. I'm ready to get my civil rights back, to feel good about my country again, to help the needy and hungry, without the government sticking its nose in everything I do...I hope we never see another debacle like Katrina...I hope we never see another war/occupation for greed.
If you are conservative in your beliefs, that is ok; if you are liberal in your beliefs, that is ok, too. What matters is this: what is at the core of your belief? Why are you a conservative/liberal? Is it because you identify with a political party and feel you can't be represented any other way? Which definition describes you best? Take a look, do some inward examination. Are you happy with the condition of our country? Or do you want change...change that is for the better? These question will matter more in the next six months than they ever have before!
