The other day, for the millionth time, I read conservatives viewpoints on Liberals. I was reminded of a quote by the late President Kennedy and decided to look it up and refresh myself, with how insightful he was.
A liberal, someone who looks ahead not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reaction, someone who cares about the welfare of the people-their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil right and their civil liberties- someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicions that grip us in our politics abroad, if this is what they mean by a Liberal, then I am proud to say I am a Liberal. JFK September 1960.
I look at the above quote and agree with everything said. I do not see anywhere in the definition of a Liberal where it states one single idea of giving away anything. It is about the promise of America that we will work together to solve the problems and issues that face us as a nation. The Conservative plan, driven by the Tea Party and large corporations, is that we are all on our own. I do not advocate for the Federal government to solve each problem, but I agree with President Kennedy, that we, the people should all care and help each American.
Currently the Conservatives, side with businesses and drive their agenda through them. The opposite should occur. They should be driving the nation forward through the people. Today we look at problems and say, "They should do it themselves." Do what ourselves? Educate ourselves? Produce our own food? Protect ourselves? Create our own businesses? Fight our own fires? Is this the definition of a country? A country is a team. There are individuals within the system and they have rights, but they also have obligations.
When we look back at our history, our best and most productive times were when we worked together. The colonization of America. The American Revolution. The establishment of the United States. The World Wars. When we brought America's economy back after the Great Depression. The Civil Rights movement. After 9-11 and after any man made or natural disaster. This is when America shines the brightest. Individuals working together, not all of us going our own separate ways. This does not diminish the single person, it strengthens them into an unbeatable force.
We are expending too much energy into fighting with each other. The debate should be had, but then we quit talking and start working. Rethink this part of Kennedy's speech: Someone who looks ahead not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reaction and someone who cares about the welfare of the people. Why should this be a Liberal idea and not the forward idea of all America?
