Summary

The author of the article expresses a personal resolution to abandon political labels, advocating for a focus on leadership qualities and collective values that transcend partisan divisions.

Abstract

In the article titled "I’m Done Being a 'Liberal' and Why That Gives Me Hope for the World," the author outlines a commitment to move beyond binary political labels such as 'liberal' and 'conservative.' This resolution for 2022 and beyond is driven by the belief that such labels perpetuate a simplistic and divisive understanding of complex human beliefs and values. The author emphasizes the importance of leadership that prioritizes interconnectedness, future generations, integrity, and freedom from ideological constraints. By rejecting the binary approach, the author aims to contribute to a more nuanced and constructive dialogue that focuses on the collective good of humanity and the planet, rather than partisan politics.

Opinions

The author criticizes the binary thinking that reduces political identity to either 'liberal' or 'conservative,' arguing that it oversimplifies human complexity and serves the interests of those who benefit from partisan division.
Leadership should be evaluated based on its ability to build systems that recognize the interconnectedness of life, consider long-term consequences, resist corruption, and uphold the highest good for humanity.
The author believes that the words and labels we use have a profound impact on our culture and values, and therefore should be chosen with care to avoid perpetuating harmful stereotypes and divisions.
Instead of engaging in the 'Red Rover' game of political tug-of-war, the author encourages a focus on integrity, planetary future, and humanity's survival as central to any discussion about leadership and governance.
The article suggests that by rejecting limiting labels and engaging in meaningful conversations about values and leadership, society can unlock a more functional and hopeful future.
The author invites readers to envision a world beyond traditional political labels and to articulate the kind of leadership they wish to support, seeing this as a crucial step in creating a better future.

I’m Done Being a “Liberal” and Why That Gives Me Hope for the World

A resolution for 2022 and beyond, to help my country climb out of its partisan graveyard

Photo by ©ChristianChan from Getty Images and created by the Author, via Canva.com

I’m guessing one of your first thoughts when you saw this headline was along the lines of, “WTF? Who would become a conservative in this day and age?”. Or, I suppose it could have been “Yay, another one down!” Either way, somewhere in your thinking lurks an opposite of what you think liberal is.

Why? Because we’ve been trained to think in binary terms.* If someone is not a liberal, then they must be only one other thing: a conservative. This kind of thinking is ingrained in us, as my intentionally provocative title hopefully demonstrates:

You say left, but think right for the context.

Don’t look up means you probably glance down.

If it’s not black, it must be white.

Turn it off implies it’s already on.

Even though there are a million points and possibilities in between the opposite ends, our brain tends to reduce and simplify.

And when we lazily go along with such binary thinking, we play right into the hands of politicians and media profiteers who feed off of “us” and “them.”

Well, I’ve decided enough.

I’m determined to help us shift away from this dumbed-down version of humanity. If I can do even a small thing from my little pinpoint in the world, then I will. Because frankly, such simplified, limited thinking is beneath our intellectual complexities.

Leadership over labels

From here on out, I refuse to call myself a liberal — a label that just signifies I’m part of one club and not another. Instead, if and when the topic comes up in conversation, I will respond by explaining (without labeling) the kind of leadership I believe is worth promoting:

I am for leadership that builds and supports systems where all life is seen as interconnected. This kind of leadership understands the deep, simple truth that what affects one ultimately affects all.
I am for leadership that weighs decisions by considering consequences that affect future generations. This includes avoiding harmful repercussions on the planet.
I am for leadership that is strong enough not to be bought. It bypasses “favors” owed, subtle bribes, ego strokes, or any kind of influence that runs counter to doing what’s best for the community.
I am for leadership of heart and mind that follows the highest good for humanity and communicates that clearly. It talks the talk, walks the walk. And just as important, it’s got a strength of character that can admit when it errs.
I am for leadership that is forward-thinking even as it honors achievements, sacrifices, and lessons from the past. This kind of leadership focuses on what we can become, yet doesn’t kneel to the way things have always been.
I am for leadership that believes in hope over despair, love over dispassion, and daring solutions over band-aid quick fixes.
I am for leadership that breeds freedom not imprisoned by an ideology.

This doesn’t mean that whenever the “Liberal or Conservative” topic comes up I’ll stand on a soapbox. But it does mean that I will avoid the label game, which keeps the same deadening binary approach in play. And even if I were to refer to myself as an Independent, that still says “I’m okay with this binary labeling game — I just don’t feel like playing.”

Choose words with care

Instead of passively accepting a label and playing the bipartisan game, we can at least stir thought, prompt reflection, and promote discussion with our words. This means both the words we use and the ones we intentionally avoid.

Words are powerful. They sustain our culture by guiding our thoughts, while also influencing our feelings and actions. Our words shape who we are, and they help determine our collective values (like I’ve described earlier, regarding gun culture).

When it comes to labels — particularly political labels — words are sticky. They get drummed into our subconscious. That’s why name-calling works. (For example, Google Trump + name-calling to better understand the insidious use of nicknames and labeling.)

So instead of an endless game of Red Rover — pushing and pulling between two teams who vie for power — I propose we guide such conversation to what matters: integrity, leadership, our planetary future, humanity’s survival. Enough with “business as usual” and the “liberal vs conservative” laziness.

Create a better vision

When I picture my country (the US) and much of the world caught between the binary ideas of left/right, win/lose, conservative/liberal, I see a giant, beautiful set of doors trapped behind chains and a padlock. And I envision that every time we rip off a label or refuse to engage in communication that perpetuates the binary game, we loosen the chain and pick at the lock.

When enough of us stop playing the old game, the proverbial doors can swing wide open. What lies beyond them will need to be discovered and created, but at least we won’t keep pounding our heads against the impasse of a dead end.

If *you* were to move beyond the labels of liberal and conservative, Democrat and Republican, Us and Them, what would that look like? Instead of falling in line with a label, how would you describe the leadership you’d get behind?

Declaring what it is we want to see as we move into 2022 is a crucial first step toward creating a functional future, and I hope you’ll join me.

*Use of “Liberal” and “Conservative” in the media was intentionally created to divide us. Please read my comment from 3/31/22 to discover more about this new insight.