... and the proud, even boastful "Conservative" ended his part of the lively discussion with a condescending sneer as he labeled his opponent a "Liberal." Why does this sometimes seem so devastatingly disarming to a real liberal? I hit the dictionary to refresh my understanding of the terms, conservative and liberal.

Although an obsolete connotation of "liberal" is "morally unrestrained," obsolete is the operative term here. Liberal formally signifies promoting civil liberties and social progress politically, tolerant, generous, favoring democratic government rather than aristocracies or monarchies, free from prejudice or bigotry, open minded and rational, opposed to authoritarianism, debunking myths and superstition, the antithesis of dogmatism.

On the other hand, "conservative" means or signifies preserving the existing order, conditions and institutions, tending to oppose change, traditional and restrained. Even just this much identification of the conservative outlook seems alarmingly close to fearfulness and the denial of the outcomes of the rational process which frequently requires a surge of courage to acknowledge. And once one makes this connection, this cowering disposition will not be an infrequent observation for you within the ranks of the conservatives.

I've never identified wholly with the Democrats or Republicans but came up with my own label for myself- a Well-Informed, Viciously Patriotic Rationalist, for sure, a real liberal. So, fellow liberals, pop your buttons with pride and remind yourself daily that unless we have achieved nirvana and no improvement is possible, not a single advancement in the human condition, literally, not one, has resulted from the conservative's delimiting attempts to maintain the status quo. Boldly emphasize the superiority of the liberal approach necessary to continuing the existence of humanity.

By the way, I lived in Alaska 30 years until just recently and the myopic evangelical Palin poses a potential danger to America. Ken Kollodge Duluth, Minnesota