Liberal

The word liberal was relegated to the four-letter category about 12 years ago. It is now companion to a multitude of pejoratives; some of which, like liberal, have become negative by proximity to our contemporary ways. I use ways instead of culture because the latter is part of a root system of words that could be traced back to liberal. And so for clarification’s sake, the Webster’s II, New Riverside University Dictionary defines liberal as follows:

1. Holding, expressing or following political views or policies that support civil liberties, democratic reforms and use of governmental power to promote social progress. 2. Holding, expressing, or following views or policies that support the freedom of individuals to act or express themselves as they choose.

So as not to appear discriminatory, there is more to the definition. But given this, I wonder why it was decided that we should distance ourselves from this dirty word.

SARAH E. TRINGALI

Laguna Beach