The new wave of liberalism

This short chapter is to initiate the idea that liberalism has changed over the past 20 years, and that society has created an atmosphere that you cannot be offended any more without reason.

 The Liberals and the left have served there purpose throughout politics in the past. From the supporters of the suffragette movement in the United Kingdom in the 1920's, to the civil rights movement in America. But have they become so powerful and untouchable that they actually hinder progress?

  The liberal movement in the past 20 years has sort to point out any form of racism. The uprise against the violence committed by Police in both the UK and the USA has been documented and caused some changes, as well as the development of new legislation and discussions. But, there is a certain blindness of leftist liberals that can be exposed through there inability to allow even a conversation of blacks using offensive language against whites, as if they are a horse with blinkers, who's rider can only show them the one way. Also, should Liberals not be shown that racism is not only reserved for one group, for example the murder and persecution of whites under Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe. Is this not racism?

  The most soul crushing and disruptive force that liberals carry is there inability to allow the sharing of ideas and views. For example, they have been so blinded by their quest to create a pseudo utopia that we cannot debate religious ideology, as it may offend followers that are not their own people. The ancient Greeks, the society to which all societies should look up to, would hold mass debates and discussion. Should the human race now deny itself this gift as if it were the forbidden fruit from the garden of Eden? Why must people have to be prevented from providing a way of solving a problem, and be shun as something they are not? true Liberalism is the freedom to ask the questions we are afraid of, not block our ears when we hear the questions we fear.

Liberalism and democracy is not a thing to fear, but their true natures should always be remembered and cherished.

Author's Note

All criticism is welcome, especially on the writing style.

Reviews

[James Hines]

I would like to offer a review and a response.

Review

This like the last comment demonstrates a well thought out topic that shows insight in to these matters. You have a great writing style. It is thought provoking piece that will stir up some fire in the bellies of those who are hard left and liberal, as it did myself a left leaning possible liberal thinker. The next part is by no means a criticism of your writing, its merely my take on a subject,as i too I have had much thought over this.

Response (Not as well thought out as your piece, but a response nonetheless)

My first point I would like to raise, if I may, is who do we speak of when addressing a group of people as left, liberal or both? If we narrow down the question to Britain in particular this somewhat becomes something of a challenge. Labour, the assumed left, when looked at closer we find that this is not the case. New labour under Blair saw the grassroot left utterly stamped down, with the aid of the 80-90% right wing media we saw the death of the left liberal progressive labour and in with the propped up central, more conservative opposition. It is Margaret Thatcher’s biggest accomplishment, she even said this herself, in came Tony Blair and the new labour movement that utterly destroyed the real labour, the liberal and left opposition. In the last 20 years we have had no effective left in this country. The liberal democrats seemingly a glimmer of hope in this s**t shovel if a system, got into bed with the conservatives that really was the only glimmer of hope we really had throughout the last 20 years or so.
I turn our attention to Corbyn and the media, as this seemly fits in very well with the piece you write and aids me in explaining how crippling the right wing media are on liberal or left wing politics. For the first time in the last 25-30 years we actually have a Liberal leader who is hard left and look at the white wash of the right wing media and their attempted destruction of him and the ideas he brings forward. I argue we have not had a liberal government, or an effective left in or out the government for a very long time (The unions were also destroyed during thatcher’s era).
Finally, your main point about the inability of the left to address the issues of racism and inequality on the flipside, I totally agree that your point holds some weight. I myself have self-censored due to a fear of reprisal, causing offence or whatever it may be. This can be seen with politicians also. There’s a couple of reasons I can think of, if we go back to the so called media, and their witch hunt approach to anyone that stands up from the left side with progressive ideas, we find the media is predominantly conservative and un-progressive, and stamps down on anything that challenges the long standing societal norms. But mainly I feel that the main reason is through choice not to deal with it in the same manner is because As it stands minorities are still being oppressed and discriminated against, in the UK and in the USA do face problems from institutional racism from the police, the media, and in the work place. We have far right movements, white supremacy and so on. For us to hold public debate, and question things at the moment would be a lethal cocktail, especially with the media we have. I think I myself I fear reprisals for those that are minority and are discriminated against because once the mistake happens, it is irretrievable and those minorities in communities with racial tension and division would be those hit hardest.

[Rose Whitelaw]

thank you. your opinion is well written and interesting. My main target group, which I find high among young people, is this shift in which what central and liberalism is. it seems in the UK the left, especially socialists, have become new liberal norm (i.e. the centre on the political line). Also, take for example Corbyns government. This is a government that has focused so much on pointing social problems in other parties and in society without mentioning they're own. For example, they have talked about how other parties dont have enough minorites in their parties whilst only having a small number of minorites. Even the Tories have at least one chinese MP. Also, they have spoke about religious freedom and that all religious group should be expected, whilst they have had some accusations of anti- Semitism. There is also the current mayor of London who once said, and I quote, "anyone who describes themselves as a moderate muslim is an uncle tom", which shows even the Liberals have some skeletons in the closet.

[Paul]

I liked reading about your yearning for open and thorough debate. Real debate can be difficult when people are afraid that their views are "racist" or "too liberal" or "too conservative". It would be wonderful if we could comment that someone said something that was offensive to a particular group or person without shutting down the whole debate. I like your the sense of an overall optimism in this piece.
Some practical matters: check the use of "there", I think you may mean "their" at several times in the piece; In the first sentence of the second paragraph I am confused by "has a sort to point..", how is "sort" used here?

[Gray]

I'm not too much into politics but what you've said here is well thought out and your writing style seems professional to me.

[Rose Whitelaw]

thank you very much