LIBERALS AROUND THE WORLD

People always denote and associate LIBERALISM with the most overused term and concept of “freedom”. Throughout the entire span of time, likewise, liberalism gained a wide spread of definitions from different perspectives rooted out of history, of race, and of nation.

Where does it come from?

The word LIBERAL, derives from the Latin word liber, which means free, is associated with the word "liberty" and the concept of freedom. However, it was not until the eighteenth century that signified the word liberals only of worthy of a free man.

Being “liberal” got people to be intellectually independent, broad-minded, upright, frank, and open. It is once believed that this transpired mostly on people who were and are becoming occupied with a higher social position, on account of their wealth and education.

Politically and generally speaking

Politically speaking, liberalism acts as a system to combat or to oppose possible threats of centralization, absolutism, and tyranny. It asserts an absolute and unrestrained freedom of thought, religion, conscience, creed, speech, press, and politics. However, some critics do believe that the very essence of this absoluteness of freedom is now being widely abused and is being manipulated by a few to gain their own personal interests.

Looking in a much general sense, liberalism forwards and champions freedom, dignity and well-being of individuals; acknowledges and respects the right to freedom of conscience and of choice, and the right of everyone to develop their talents to the full; and aims to disperse power, to foster diversity and to nurture creativity.

Are you a liberal?

How “liberal” are you? Here are the ten standards, proposed by a Chicago University law professor Geoffrey R. Stone, that LIBERALS BELIEVE:

1) …individuals should doubt their own truths and consider fairly and open-mindedly the truths of others…

2) …individuals should be tolerant and respectful of difference…

3) …individuals have a right and a responsibility to participate in public debate...

4) …"we the people" are the governors and not the subjects of government, and that government must treat each person with that in mind…

5) …government must respect and affirmatively safeguard the liberty, equality and dignity of each individual…

6) …government has a fundamental responsibility to help those who are less fortunate…

7) …government should never act on the basis of sectarian faith…

8) …courts have a special responsibility to protect individual liberties...

9) …government must protect the safety and security of the people…

10) …government must protect the safety and security of the people, without unnecessarily sacrificing constitutional values…

Now, can you consider yourself one of them?

“A liberal is a conservative whose conscience is on display.”

-Jerome Gioia

“A liberal is a man or a woman or a child who looks forward to a better day, a more tranquil night, and a bright, infinite future.”

-Leonard Bernstein

MERRY CHRISTMAS

and

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Submitted by:

Bitang, Maria Lucila d.R.

Calugay, Sam Terence

Mapanao, Joan Michelle B.

Sapallo, Careen L.