That Other ""L" Word

I thought I raised my sons to be good people. From their earliest days, they learned that all people were equal and they were to treat everyone with respect, kindness and fairness. They should show good character at all times and, whatever their spiritual beliefs, they should practice the basic tenets of the Bible: the 10 commandments and the golden rule. They were taught never to harm another living being, except in defense of their own being or that of those they love. They were raised to defer to those wiser and older than themselves and acknowledge authority. They were expected to help those in need or those less fortunate than they were. And, as difficult as it can be in this world, eschew superficiality; in other words, be real. I always thought those were the characteristics of good people. I guess I was wrong.

Now, because I also taught them to think for themselves, they, along with their father and I, have been labeled as bad, unpatriotic, something less than human. We are -- God forbid -- LIBERALS, and Kennedy liberals at that! Because we believe our government is supposed to care for the people and not inject itself into our daily lives, we are anathema according to the right, conservatives, moral majority, or whatever you want to call them. Strangely enough, while these conservatives may be in the majority, I've yet to see anything moral about any of them. We may be liberals, but we don't steal and lie; we don't cheat on our loved ones or manipulate others with deceit. Few if any members of that elitist group can make that same claim, yet we are the ones in the wrong.

A great man of words once said, "My government fears me because I think for myself." Perhaps if more of us thought for ourselves and spent less time following the flock, our country would not be in the predicament we are in today. Perhaps if the moral majority spent less time worrying about that other "L" word and more time caring for each other, our nation could be healed and strong once more.

I still believe I raised my sons correctly -- to be good people. We will continue to think for ourselves and practice our "liberal" ways that, strangely enough, have accomplished good in our community. We cannot change ignorance, but we can keep thinking, questioning and doing what is right (not what is expedient). And, as my sons teach their children these same values, I will know that I raised them right.