Is this the essence of Liberalism?

[Goldensilence]

A response to some hippie bashing.

"Tell that to the USA's enemies. Lol...nice hippy thinking."

I find it funny that people chide "hippie thinking" for trying to find a meaning in your wars. That you chide peace. That you chide those want to lead with knowledge and understanding and not with a sword and for that you will die by it as history teaches us. Those who are willing to learn from it anyway.You chide those who want to work together to make the world a better place for all. How you dismiss the messenger before hearing the message.

I find it funny those who are ok with war prolly never have nor will ever see a front line. If you are so gung ho with these policies join up. Defend those borders. Defend these policies. Defend your flag. But you won't do it on your soil, you won't do it in your backyard, you won't do it in your streets, and you won't be defending your own home. While others do. When you do join up look in the faces of those caught in the middle of and tell them you have their best interests at heart. Tell them that in the rubble that was once their home. Tell them that in the graveyards lined with their brothers sisters, fathers, mothers, husbands, daughters and friends. After you do that go home and tell your fallen comrade's family that if was worth it too.

I find it funny that whose of us awake and aware enough realize what it costs are belittled. Those of us who do not romanticize this cost. That the price for your gasoline is shattered dreams. That the price of sweatshop labor is the youth of a child who will never know the youth you had. That the price of an empire is the blood of innocents caught in the middle of your power struggle and ego trips. Those of us who realize that freedom at the cost of another man's is not freedom.

I find it funny that liberal thinking is what this country was founded on. That you would spit upon the face of our founding fathers. That your words tear the fabric of the constitution.

I find it funny that you chide those who think that the price of the war on terrorism shouldn't be our freedom.

The essence of liberalism is this. We don't understand each individuals own experience in the human condition. But we try our best to and that is the point. What you see as blaming society is understanding that few things in this world are black and white. That you can't see through another person's eyes and know if they didn't make the best decision they were given. That sometimes we are all victims of circumstance. That maybe working together we can change things to make the only world we have now a better place.

But you my friend obviously lack the understanding, compassion and empathy for your fellow man as any liberal does.

[mark414]

1. agreed and nominated...

[dusmcj]

2. you need to be afraid of your own weakness

and be prepared to "fight, boy, fight" (that movie, and that scene ("Father Flanagan" in "Boys' Town" ?) sums up the mentality for me - a grouping that doesn't understand that civilization is here so that within its bounds we -don't have to- continually running around all bloated up with life's juices so we're capable of defending ourselves. Maybe people who advocate the mentality come from socioeconomic circles that had inadequate access to the benefits of civilization, and so never had the luxury of not struggling for one thing or another. But as all cultures, this one is also self-perpetuating, even when it is no longer a pertinent response to prevailing conditions. Behaving like you live in a stall and then asserting that everyone who doesn't appreciate the mode is an effeminate pansy who needs to get it up seems to be a matter of honor for some of them. That would be fine, but they insist on soiling our lawn with their modality. At that point they're impinging on my civil rights. But of course, by their reasoning, I should be prepared to defend those, and if not, I'm confirming the pansihood of liberals.

It's like when one person is walking along the road, and another runs up and throws mud at them. Who's the bigger asshole ? The mud thrower, or the person who got the mud thrown at them, if they don't "defend" themselves ? Conservatives have forgotten how to criticize the mud thrower, and instead concentrate on whether his target is strong or not. In so doing, they become one with the mud thrower.

[guidod]

3. I stand with you...

I'm 58 years old. If the people who are between the ages of 20 and 35 years old saw and heard the things I saw and heard in the 60's and the early 70's I guarantee you we wouldn't be anywere Iraq. You have my vote. Three posts and three votes, not bad.

[gordontron]

4. exactly

:patriot:

[guruoo]

5. "The modern conservative is engaged...

in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy;
that is, the search for a superior
moral justification for selfishness."
--John Kenneth Galbraith