Bill Cosby gained a few extra seconds of fame recently when he decried the self-perpetuating cycle of negative and stereotype reinforcing behaviors among African-American youth.
For this Cosby was criticized, and that’s understandable. But — love it or hate it — Cosby has a point. When people use negative words to describe themselves and their group they reinforce the negative image of their group in the minds of others.
And that’s why I will now refuse to use the following words when describing myself and our program: 1) “liberal” and 2) “left.”
First, let’s take “left.” Properly, a person on the “left” is a socialist or other Marxist. While there are socialist elements in my thought, I do not consider myself a socialist. “Left” has become a perjorative, a convenient way for Republicans to label their opponents. The word has lost its original meaning and taken on a new, negative connotation in the minds of many. Fighting to get America to understand the true meaning of this word (and “right”, it’s companion … which really means “classical liberal”) is a battle we can’t win on our own. So, je refuse.
Now for “liberal.” This word is a greater challenge. I do consider myself to be, in the most classic, technical sense of the word, a liberal. However, this word has been conflated by social conservatives with “left,” and come to mean “a supporter of the specific kinds of socialist policies enacted under the New Deal and the Great Society.” This word, I want back.
So I put it to you, Bruno and the Professorheads. Learn to use the word liberal properly, and then embrace it, make it your own. We liberals can succeed in forming a group of radical centrists that will cut across party lines. Leave the socialism to Nader and the theocratic wet dreams to Ashcroft, Limbaugh, and the like. We liberals will take the center, where we belong.
