The "L" Word
Hey Folks,
Everybody knows the “L” word, Right!!???
Yeah, “LESBIAN.”
But seriously, Folks.
Up until recently (when the nut-cases started hating Lesbians even more than other L-Folks), “L” stood for “Liberal” – and it was (some would have us believe) a “dirty” word.
Well, “Liberals” certainly ARE – and justifiably - open to criticism: too often they talk the talk but don’t do much to back it up. Clinton talked the union, Black, underprivileged talk and then “triangulated” his way to popularity, deftly failing to deliver while also managing to avoid being found out – which isn’t to say that Billy wasn’t a WHOLE lot to be preferred to Georgie – he DID screw us a lot more slowly; and with class, charisma, and a saxophone (ouch).
Still, were I a “Liberal,” I wouldn’t be boasting that I am more sophisticated, circumspect, and cunning when kissing Rupert Murdock’s ass than are Conservatives.
Liberals can be criticized, too, for hubris. Too many of them – while often well-meaning – take it upon themselves to decide what is “best” for their “less-blessed” brothers and sisters. Too often, they have way too much confidence in their own “wisdom” for the good, health, and well-being of those they are “blessing” (see “the White-man’s Burden”).
Having said all that, let me ask you (Phil Ochs-fans* like Steve, Phyll, and Pam not included): have you heard any such criticism of Liberals lately?
Probably not. No.
Liberals, according to the Right, are much worse than THAT; they supposedly make Satan look like a Cub Scout. I mean, just look at that Michael Moore!!!
It IS possible that Liberals are actually as bad as we are told they are, but we just don’t notice it because of the contrast with Conservatives. Could be . . .
So, let’s look at what Conservatives stand for.
Conservatives:
Burned, hanged, and ostracized men and women for “witchcraft.”
Instituted slavery in the “New World.”
Allowed only white men with property to vote in America
Instituted “Jim Crow” laws and practices to continue racial segregation and exploitation after slavery itself was ended.
Instituted and maintained the Ku Klux Klan and other White-Racist/Nazi organizations.
Kept women from voting until 1920.
Had union organizers and union members (and sometimes their families) threatened, beaten, and killed to maintain their untrammeled domination.
Resisted the formation of National Parks.
Blamed contemporary Jews for the historical death of Jesus.
Resisted the reform of child labor.
Argued, on Hitler’s behalf, to stay out of WW II – it was good for business, and to hell with the Jews.
Opposed Social Security, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, Medicare, Medicaid, interstate highways, fluoridation of water, and the Post Office.
Worked to impeach judges who declared racially-segregated schooling, lunch counters, busses, and other public-services unconstitutional.
Imprisoned thousands of innocent Japanese Americans and stole their property during WW II.
Ruined thousands of careers and lives of innocent Americans during the Joe McCarthy communist witch hunts.
Helped have democratically-elected foreign leaders assassinated.
Demand that homosexuals be denied the rights held by other Americans.
Work tirelessly to reduce both taxes on the wealthy and services to the poor.
Speaking of getting tired, I think that’s enough for now about what Conservatives stand for. AND, it ought to be enough to make it perfectly clear:
“Liberal” may be a dirty word, but compared to what Conservatives have stood for since time began, Michael Moore looks damned good!
- Uke Man
* Love Me, I'm a Liberal
By Phil Ochs
....E A E A
I cried when they shot Medgar Evers
....E C#m
Tears ran down my spine
....E A E
I cried when they shot Mr. Kennedy
....F#7 B7
As though I'd lost a father of mine
....E A E
But Malcolm X got what was coming
....G#m A
He got what he asked for this time
....E C#m A B7 E
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal
I go to civil rights rallies
And I put down the old D.A.R.
I love Harry and Sidney and Sammy
I hope every colored boy becomes a star
But don't talk about revolution
That's going a little bit too far
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal
I cheered when Humphrey was chosen
My faith in the system restored
I'm glad the commies were thrown out
Of the A.F.L. C.I.O. board
I love Puerto Ricans and Negros
As long as they don't move next door
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal
The people of old Mississippi
Should all hang their heads in shame
I can't understand how their minds work
What's the matter don't they watch Les Crane?
But if you ask me to bus my children
I hope the cops take down your name
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal
I read New Republic and Nation
I've learned to take every view
You know, I've memorized Lerner and Golden
I feel like I'm almost a Jew
But when it comes to times like Korea
There's no one more red, white and blue
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal
I vote for the democtratic party
They want the U.N. to be strong
I go to all the Pete Seeger concerts
He sure gets me singing those songs
I'll send all the money you ask for
But don't ask me to come on along
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal
Once I was young and impulsive
I wore every conceivable pin
Even went to the socialist meetings
Learned all the old union hymns
But I've grown older and wiser
And that's why I'm turning you in
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal
Everybody knows the “L” word, Right!!???
Yeah, “LESBIAN.”
But seriously, Folks.
Up until recently (when the nut-cases started hating Lesbians even more than other L-Folks), “L” stood for “Liberal” – and it was (some would have us believe) a “dirty” word.
Well, “Liberals” certainly ARE – and justifiably - open to criticism: too often they talk the talk but don’t do much to back it up. Clinton talked the union, Black, underprivileged talk and then “triangulated” his way to popularity, deftly failing to deliver while also managing to avoid being found out – which isn’t to say that Billy wasn’t a WHOLE lot to be preferred to Georgie – he DID screw us a lot more slowly; and with class, charisma, and a saxophone (ouch).
Still, were I a “Liberal,” I wouldn’t be boasting that I am more sophisticated, circumspect, and cunning when kissing Rupert Murdock’s ass than are Conservatives.
Liberals can be criticized, too, for hubris. Too many of them – while often well-meaning – take it upon themselves to decide what is “best” for their “less-blessed” brothers and sisters. Too often, they have way too much confidence in their own “wisdom” for the good, health, and well-being of those they are “blessing” (see “the White-man’s Burden”).
Having said all that, let me ask you (Phil Ochs-fans* like Steve, Phyll, and Pam not included): have you heard any such criticism of Liberals lately?
Probably not. No.
Liberals, according to the Right, are much worse than THAT; they supposedly make Satan look like a Cub Scout. I mean, just look at that Michael Moore!!!
It IS possible that Liberals are actually as bad as we are told they are, but we just don’t notice it because of the contrast with Conservatives. Could be . . .
So, let’s look at what Conservatives stand for.
Conservatives:
Burned, hanged, and ostracized men and women for “witchcraft.”
Instituted slavery in the “New World.”
Allowed only white men with property to vote in America
Instituted “Jim Crow” laws and practices to continue racial segregation and exploitation after slavery itself was ended.
Instituted and maintained the Ku Klux Klan and other White-Racist/Nazi organizations.
Kept women from voting until 1920.
Had union organizers and union members (and sometimes their families) threatened, beaten, and killed to maintain their untrammeled domination.
Resisted the formation of National Parks.
Blamed contemporary Jews for the historical death of Jesus.
Resisted the reform of child labor.
Argued, on Hitler’s behalf, to stay out of WW II – it was good for business, and to hell with the Jews.
Opposed Social Security, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, Medicare, Medicaid, interstate highways, fluoridation of water, and the Post Office.
Worked to impeach judges who declared racially-segregated schooling, lunch counters, busses, and other public-services unconstitutional.
Imprisoned thousands of innocent Japanese Americans and stole their property during WW II.
Ruined thousands of careers and lives of innocent Americans during the Joe McCarthy communist witch hunts.
Helped have democratically-elected foreign leaders assassinated.
Demand that homosexuals be denied the rights held by other Americans.
Work tirelessly to reduce both taxes on the wealthy and services to the poor.
Speaking of getting tired, I think that’s enough for now about what Conservatives stand for. AND, it ought to be enough to make it perfectly clear:
“Liberal” may be a dirty word, but compared to what Conservatives have stood for since time began, Michael Moore looks damned good!
- Uke Man
* Love Me, I'm a Liberal
By Phil Ochs
....E A E A
I cried when they shot Medgar Evers
....E C#m
Tears ran down my spine
....E A E
I cried when they shot Mr. Kennedy
....F#7 B7
As though I'd lost a father of mine
....E A E
But Malcolm X got what was coming
....G#m A
He got what he asked for this time
....E C#m A B7 E
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal
I go to civil rights rallies
And I put down the old D.A.R.
I love Harry and Sidney and Sammy
I hope every colored boy becomes a star
But don't talk about revolution
That's going a little bit too far
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal
I cheered when Humphrey was chosen
My faith in the system restored
I'm glad the commies were thrown out
Of the A.F.L. C.I.O. board
I love Puerto Ricans and Negros
As long as they don't move next door
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal
The people of old Mississippi
Should all hang their heads in shame
I can't understand how their minds work
What's the matter don't they watch Les Crane?
But if you ask me to bus my children
I hope the cops take down your name
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal
I read New Republic and Nation
I've learned to take every view
You know, I've memorized Lerner and Golden
I feel like I'm almost a Jew
But when it comes to times like Korea
There's no one more red, white and blue
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal
I vote for the democtratic party
They want the U.N. to be strong
I go to all the Pete Seeger concerts
He sure gets me singing those songs
I'll send all the money you ask for
But don't ask me to come on along
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal
Once I was young and impulsive
I wore every conceivable pin
Even went to the socialist meetings
Learned all the old union hymns
But I've grown older and wiser
And that's why I'm turning you in
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal
2 Comments:
Hey Uke Man -
Thanks for sharing Phil will even MORE folks !
I'm amazed how many people do not know of him and more importantly, his contributions to society whether musical in nature or just vocal stances on causes and such.
It is so incedibly sad the issues Phil wrote and sang about 30+ years ago are still too much in the news - again, another opportunity to say that those that don't learn from the past are doomed to relive it.
YEP - I wear the L - The BLUE Badge of Courage so to speak - with pride - not ashamed to say it, share it, believe it, live it, breathe it!
Time for the ringing of the revolution!
If you don't put a stop to the 'C's', the bell will be tolling to mark the end of freedom, choice, and all those other things documented on that 'just a goddamned piece of paper' thing the founders of our nation threw together!
Take Care -
Have a great holiday all!
Phyll
Ah Mr. Uke Man. I can always rely on you to tell it like it is. I'm one of those critics of the big-L Liberal for being spineless little prigs who are afraid to cause controversy for fear of alienating a few other Liberals who go around proclaiming "love I'm a Liberal!" They are afriad to meet the Conservative agenda head on because they are more concerned with not offending than they are with telling the truth.
Uh oh. I'm about to go off on one of my "if you can't be part of the solution then get the hell out of my way" rants. That's your job here!
Thanks for the mention and for spreading the gospel according to Phil.
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