The dictionary defines a liberal person as one who is broad-minded: i.e. tolerant of different views and standards of behavior in others. I can think of some well-known people from the bible who fit that description: Amos, Isaiah, Jesus, and Paul to name a few. Then there were Plato, Socrates, and most of the Greek Philosophers. That sounds like pretty good company to me. I guess the opposite of broad-minded is narrow-minded. Which one describes you?

A person is said to be liberal if they are generous: i.e. generous with money, time, or some other asset. The opposite of being generous is being stingy or greedy. Which one describes you?

When considering the Arts, being liberal means being culturally oriented: i.e. concerned with general cultural matters and broadening of the mind rather than simply professional or technical study. In education, we do this by studying the liberal arts. The study of science and mathematics are important, but the study of literature, history, and music round out a person more fully than technical studies. By studying the liberal arts, you become a liberal person. I was trained as a mathematician, but in my later years, it is the arts that capture my imagination. What about you; would you rather add fractions or listen to beautiful music?

Now we get to politics. My dictionary defines liberalism as being progressive politically or socially: favoring gradual reform, especially political reforms that extend democracy, distribute wealth more evenly, and protect the personal freedom of the individual. Well, let's see; that would include people like Franklin, Jefferson and the other framers of the constitution of our country. It would include United States presidents such as Abraham Lincoln, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Dwight David Eisenhower, and John F. Kennedy to name a few. Would you vote for most of them?

I think most of us would classify ourselves with the four liberal definitions mentioned above. I know that I would. I suppose that makes me a flaming liberal. Yes, I'm liberal and proud of it. Don't let narrow-minded, greedy, uneducated, non-reformers make you feel guilty for being liberal. Liberate yourself! You have much more to offer than they do.