It's just that words change meaning with languages and geography. Especially in politics were the winner may try to degrade the views of the opponent.
Liberal is slightly on the right wing here, but may be understood as left wing in the US, and I've met americans who cant understand how we can have a socialist government in a democracy. They think it is the same thing as communism. DagT > fra: "John Forbes" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > So an innocent word has been highjacked by the illiberal to mean something > else? > > Perhaps we need language police. > > John > > On Wed, 28 Sep 2005 00:19:33 +0100, Tom Reese <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > John Forbes asked: > > > >> The word (liberal) comes from Old French, and originally meant > >> "pertaining > > to a free > >> man". Its very root means "free". > >> > >> So why is it that in the land of the free, many people seem to like > >> freedom for everything except thought, and consider "liberal" to be a > >> dirty word? This baffles the rest of us, many of whom tend to accept, > >> more or less, the definition of the Oxford Dictionary (original > >> edition), > >> which states: > >> > >> "Of political opinions: Favourable to constitutional changes and legal > >> or > >> administrative reforms tending in the direction of freedom or > >> democracy." > >> > >> Surely this is what all Americans want? Isn't it? So what's wrong with > >> being liberal? > > > > It's almost impossible to answer your question without setting off the > > politics powderkeg. > > > > When used as a dirty word, "liberal" is an accusation that means "one who > > advocates higher taxes and excessive government." That is what the person > > making the accusation wants the electorate to believe. It can go much > > deeper. > > > > This touches on issues that people are extremely passionate about and it > > could easily turn ugly. Abortion, guns, separation of church and state > > and > > economic policy are some of the issues. > > > > I tried to keep this opinion free to avoid setting off the arguments. > > > > Tom Reese > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > Using Opera's revolutionary e-mail client: http://www.opera.com/m2/ > > > -- > No virus found in this outgoing message. > Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. > Version: 7.0.344 / Virus Database: 267.11.7/112 - Release Date: 26/09/2005 > >
