There has been an upswing in certain sections of the press of the condemnation of a particular demographic: the ‘liberal, metropolitan elite’.
When did ‘liberal’ become a dirty word? Why is it being used as a word to mock, or incite loathing? It is defined by the OED as a willingness “to respect or accept behaviour or opinions different to one’s own…” and as someone who is “open to new ideas“. That all sounds great. Perfectly reasonable.
It’s concerning, then, that the word is being twisted to suit an agenda that runs on stoking fear and hatred. When it becomes disgraceful to show empathy with those who are suffering, just because those people are not from your country of origin, that is scary. When people who have gained positions of responsibility are told that it is because they are part of the ‘system’ (alright, sometimes that’s correct!) rather than because of their own merits and work ethic, that’s disturbing. And when a politics of scaremongering, scapegoating and ‘other-ing’ becomes acceptable, and electable, rather than a politics of understanding, rationality and inclusivity, then I worry for the future of the world.
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