I’m Taking Back the Word Liberal
I catch a lot of flack for admitting I’m a liberal on social media, like that’s a bad word. So here’s a primer why:
I was raised in a strict Catholic family and was taught about Jesus by a devout Presbyterian woman and I’ve read the New Testament cover to cover twice. It is because I learned to emulate Jesus at a young age that I’m liberal, care for others, serve those in need, protect those who can’t protect themselves, and give willingly without asking anything in return. Care for others, forgiveness and acceptance, and service to all are in my blood now.
I was a soldier in the US Army. There, we had free health care, dental, vision, and life insurance. Our housing and meals were taken care of because we pledged our commitment to the nation. We gained rank solely on merit and longevity, not on money, family history, color, or creed. We lived in diverse groups, working shoulder to shoulder with people of different classes, races, religions, genders, and sexual orientation. And we were stronger for it. Diversity and egalitarianism is in my blood now.
I came from a broken home where our family needed government assistance at times. I walked to elementary school alone and ate free breakfasts there. We were on welfare when we needed it and went off as soon as we could. I watched my single mother go without so we didn’t have to. Giving back and paying taxes so others can pull themselves up from the depths is in my blood now.
After my time in the service, although I made less than poverty level income and held a 4.0 GPA, I still didn’t qualify for any student aid or grants. I applied for and received the Presidential Scholarship and was able to attend university for free, with the G.I. Bill payments picking up the tab for my books. I am educated now because of government programs and I willingly accept that my taxes go toward helping others achieve their dream. Paying it forward is in my blood now.
I’m a business owner and the founder of several corporations. I have used government services to get my businesses off the ground. The SBA and SCORE have helped me form a lasting success that allows me to own the American Dream, a self-sustaining job of my own design that lets me do what I love and work the hours I want and I make enough to live comfortably. We even have a show on PBS that teaches and encourages other people to start small businesses. Business and market-based economics are in my blood now, and I’m happy to help others up instead of pushing them back down the ladder.
And as a former 1–101st Armament Tech with a fond attachment to 30mm chain guns and hellfire missiles, my brothers in arms and I know a thing or two about weapons. We have shot everything from machine guns to grenade launchers to depleted uranium armor piercing bullets the size of beer bottles. And it’s because of this that I understand the need to keep military weapons out of the hands of would-be murders, mentally unstable lone wolfs, and yes, even that guy that marches up and down in front of my kids’ elementary school in black fatigues with an AR-15 strapped to his back making kids cry. Defense is in my blood now and I’m fine restricting certain weapons not because I’m a fragile snowflake, but because I know what they can do. I wasn’t the best shot in the world, but I still could knock down a 300m target without a scope, and that shouldn’t be an easily acquired weapon to someone without a background check.
And I’m a straight, white, married man with three boys and a beautiful wife. We have a cat and a dog and nice house in the suburbs and I grill out back while my kids play frisbee. I’m an auxiliary police officer, volunteer for the VFW, work the local 4th of July parades, and help out my local downtown development authority whenever possible. I couldn’t be more square and straight laced and cliched Americana if I tried. And yet, here I am having to defend my honor and beliefs on a daily basis, just because people hear that I voted one way instead of another. I’m called a retarded liberal cuckold communist fag bastard that is a traitor and should die for my beliefs. Those are individual verbatim quotes over the years. Not paraphrasing. Verbatim.
So, how about this? Fuck you. I’m taking the word “liberal” back. You can’t have it anymore to spit like a swear word. I am liberal in the same way that Jesus was liberal, the Founding Fathers were liberal, those who fought slavery were liberal, those who fought for civil rights were liberal. I am liberal like every soldier who earned rank through merit while living off the government is liberal. I’m liberal like every cop who opposes assault weapons is liberal (and they do). I’m liberal like every businessman who respects regulations that protect the little guy and stop multinational corporations from stomping on us small businesses. I’m liberal because I believe in the goodness of people and believe in the greatness of our nation as one, not just as a huge collection of rugged individuals our for their own. No. I am liberal in my blood and you can’t have that word anymore.
