Truly Liberal?

Recently, it has become “cool” to be liberal. The ideal of course, is to be tolerant of other people and their views and to care for the needs of others. To support world equality and to look after the planet and the environment.

It has come to my attention, however that the world is full of people who like to be unpleasantly self-righteouss and put on a fluffy liberal front, without really fulfilling the ideals at all. People who are only liberal and tolerant where it suits them, and where it doesn’t cause any inconvenience. People who are liberal in the way that Henry Ford might have been (“you can have any view you like, so long as it’s mine”) and who view the need to be tolerant in a manner worthy of Animal Farm (“all people must be tolerant, but some must be more tolerant than others”).

You might not think that any of this applies to you, of course, or you might not quite see what I am getting at. So let’s consider a few specific examples, some of which I have mentioned before here in my corner of the Blogosphere.

I’m talking about people who:

…went to Live8 (remember that?) in the name of eradicating world poverty but don’t pay attention to where their last cup of coffee came from or how much the person who made their trainers was paid.

…feel that it is OK to criticise the Bible, but who have evidently never read it themselves, and who would never dream of criticising the Koran or other Holy Book.

…support gay Civil Partnerships “in the name of equality” but couldn’t give a damn about the lack of security (financial and otherwise) provided for others who cohabit and depend on one another where ‘Civil Partnership’ would not be appropriate.

…don’t have a problem with Sikh’s wearing certain jewellery articles to school but refuse to allow other pupils to wear a crucifix.

…campaign for a reduction in the use of cars, but feel that the way they use a car is always perfectly justifiable. Somehow it is always fairer and easier for someone else to adapt their lifestyle.

…want to encourage religious and ethnic diversity but feel the need to rename Christmas to avoid causing offence. If you don’t like it, don’t celebrate it.

…want to encourage religious and ethnic diversity, but feel the need to ban the St George’s flag. How is it fair and inclusive if everyone but the English to be allowed to be patriotic? And how is it encouraging diversity if no-one is allowed to be patriotic?

…nominally encourage tolerance but refuse to allow certain viewpoints to be held. (The gay Bishop debate highlighted this one).

...get so annoyed with something which they perceive to be intolerant that they themselves demonstrate intolerance towards it.

The list, worryingly, could go on and on. This disease of hypocrisy has pervaded all levels of society – our current government seems particularly bad. The trend is always towards a person’s rights, and responsibilities conveniently get brushed under the carpet or passed on to someone else. If you fit in to one or more of my specific examples then shame on you. Perhaps a good New Year’s resolution for 2006 would be to have a bit of integrity.

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As you know, I always prefer to end the heavier posts with something a bit more light hearted. Continuing the trend therefore I would like to inform my readers that apparently John “Mr Grey” Major’s father was a trapeze artist. Heehee.