Interesting Republican reaction to my ltte.

Here's the letter:

Personally, I am tired of the liberal bashing letters I have been reading lately here. The writers seem to think that "liberal" is a horrible insult, a slur of amazing proportions. They have forgotten what liberals have done for this great nation.

Liberals fought against slavery and oppression of all peoples. Liberals got women, over half of our population, the right to vote in 1920. Liberals got laws passed to keep little children from working to death in the factories and mines as well as basic standards of workplace safety for all, not to mention the 40 hour workweek now under attack.

Liberals fought for food and drug safety so that corporations could not sell known poisons to an unsuspecting public. Liberals, like President Nixon, fought to get a national health care plan through but were defeated, settling instead for Medicaid and Medicare, which help millions have access to care.

After seeing our rivers catch on fire and our children die from horrible cancers, yes, liberals fought for environmental protections and safety. If our oil companies choose to reap in the largest profits in the history of oil and pay their CEOs half a billion dollars instead of building new refineries that meet basic health and safety standards for the people who work and live there, that's their choice. Liberals just don't want people dying so we can have cheap gas.

I am proud to be a liberal. I am proud of our liberal tradition in this country, one of looking forward and working for the best for the least of these, not just for those who can pay for it.


I was talking with my best friend this morning, and she said that her husband's grandmother, a dyed-in-the-wool Republican her whole life, went out of her way to tell my best friend that she loved my letter. Not only that, she thought it was best explanation of being liberal she'd ever read. If that got through to someone like her, there's hope. :D

Great letter, and I'm glad to hear that at least one person had a change of heart - at least somewhat - because of it.

when a lot of honest, if misguided, conservatives are open to hearing our message. You've inspired me to try my hand at something like this too.

I don't know if she'll be there, but if she is, I'd love to talk with her about it. :D

Jolly good :thumbsup:

An outstanding letter

:applause: :toast:

I want to see someone defend the vile word 'conservative'...

just to see what they claim

I think of their political song and dance as psychotic nationalism.

Of course, the psychotic nationalism is just a cover for the corporate greed underneath.

THey usually say shit like, "If it weren't for conservatives we'd all be speaking French/Spanish/French right now," then they bring up the fall of the Berlin Wall, military shit, then the discussion inevitably veers into anti-tax rhetoric, racism, sexism, homophobia, and blind hatred of liberals.

In other words, Conservatism has brought us big muscles at the expense of our heart and brain.

eom

easier job to do.

and an inspiration to us all.

I wish every newspaper would print it! I guess we each have to write our own version though. Thank you k4d!

:blush:

Thanks, though. It's a small town, so it was nice to hear some positive feedback.

:thumbsup:

.

Can I plagerize it for my local RW rag?

I got so mad at a couple of horrible letters, so that's why I wrote it. Feel free to pass it on.

I am not a big Wes fan, but I really admire his common sense approach to talking about why he is a Democrat -- which sounds a lot like your letter.

:toast:

I hate it when Dems get all wordy and philosophical. I think we need to keep things simple, like how I had to when I taught high school English. Oh, and we have to repeat everything at least three times. ;)

I'm not saying the electorate is stupid, as I don't think we are--I just think that getting too wordy puts people off. I really think that's one way Bush got so many votes: he spoke simply, used metaphors people understood, and didn't get too complicated. Now, he's at the far end of the spectrum, but I do think we can do that same thing.

we need to follow it up with longer, more thoughtful (still accessible) presentations.

I think, though, that, people who talk 'up' to citizens won't be disappointed -- Ross Perot had charts and graphs and important ideas, bought TV time and got a heck of a following.

I think 'lack of core principles' sometimes masquerades as 'complexity.'

I think 'simple language' sometimes masquerades as 'having core principles.'

Bush has simple language and NO principles.

Dennis Kucinich has integrity to the 100th power. His messages are advanced and reflect clear guiding principles.

Kerry and Kucinich have started posting video of their speeches on their websites -- if the evening news won't show more than 30-seconds, then posting the speeches on their website is a good option.

Thom Hartmann does a beautiful, beautiful job of talking up to his audience daily on his radio show (noon-3 EST). And he has progressive lawyers, and Democratic truckers, and Republican teachers call in to ask questions and give opinions.

Thom is on 24/7 at: http://www.whiterosesociety.org/Hartmann.html

I really liked Dean--he just was marginalized by the media. Everyone I knew who actually listened to him liked him. Same with Wes Clarke and pretty much every other Dem.

Yes, things are complicated, but sometimes I think our pols make them too complicated in their initial talk.

Yes liberals did all of these things and more, but without the strong presence of Unions in the workforce, a lot of these things may not have happened. Everyone must stick together! Power to the people!

:toast:

I thought about putting that in, but I was hoping just to blow their minds with using the term "liberal" in a positive way. :D

:thumbsup:

We should all write our own version & send to papers across the country. The word 'liberal' has been demonized. Yet millions of bush supporters were happy to support this administration's claims that we went to Iraq to 'liberate' the people from Hussein.

Both words are derived from the same root word, liber meaning free. We must take back the word liberal by re-educating the people of it's true meaning.


From www.dictionary.com:

lib·er·al (lbr-l, lbrl) adj.

Not limited to or by established, traditional, orthodox, or authoritarian attitudes, views, or dogmas; free from bigotry.
Favoring proposals for reform, open to new ideas for progress, and tolerant of the ideas and behavior of others; broad-minded.
Of, relating to, or characteristic of liberalism.
Liberal Of, designating, or characteristic of a political party founded on or associated with principles of social and political liberalism, especially in Great Britain, Canada, and the United States.


Synonyms: liberal, bounteous, bountiful, freehanded, generous, handsome, munificent, openhanded
These adjectives mean willing or marked by a willingness to give unstintingly: a liberal backer of the arts; a bounteous feast; bountiful compliments; a freehanded host; a generous donation; a handsome offer; a munificent gift; fond and openhanded grandparents. See also synonyms at broad-minded

Antonyms: stingy

:yourock:

nicely done

OK maybe thats a stretch, but the stars seem to be coming closer to alignment!