According to Wikipedia, liberalism (from the Latin liberalis) is a political philosophy or worldview founded on the ideas of liberty and equality. "Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally they support ideas such as free and fair elections, civil rights, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, free trade, and a right to life, liberty, and property."
As one can tell, the concept of liberalism is an evolutionary concept that requires certain maturity level and a clear understanding of what is going on around. Every single word in the definition mentioned has different interpretations and has led to the development of the rule of law worldwide and specifically in the civilized world.
However, this word is repeated by many people in our society and mentioned under the political view of so many facebook users without really giving this word a good clear thought. Yes, the concept of liberalism versus conservatism can be place or time dependent This means, one could be conservative in the US and liberal in Lebanon but this only happens if some views have developed further in one place and still at late stages in another. This also means that one can have a positive opinion about something till a certain limit and a negative opinion about the same thing if that thing reached the limit that one has already determined. Also, one doesn't have to be completely liberal or completely conservative where one can actually pick and choose from the two concepts that best fit his/her way of life as long as no contradiction arises at any point. However, trying to cling to one concept has the serious price of really understanding the deep definition.
Unfortunately, the whole discussion about liberalism in Lebanon is reduced to sexual liberalism which I also believe is a real scam. Forget about gay rights, women rights, pro-life/pro-choice, free trade, small government/ big government, etc... The people's narrow understanding of a liberal is reduced to the degree of his/her sexual awareness. Moreover, many of those who claim sexual liberalism contradict their own views when confronted with cases that goes in harmony with the definition of liberalism and touches sensitive issues about their personal life. For many people, claiming sexual liberalism is nothing but a tool of seduction and a technique of self marketing as a civilized person with an open mind.
As one can tell, the concept of liberalism is an evolutionary concept that requires certain maturity level and a clear understanding of what is going on around. Every single word in the definition mentioned has different interpretations and has led to the development of the rule of law worldwide and specifically in the civilized world.
However, this word is repeated by many people in our society and mentioned under the political view of so many facebook users without really giving this word a good clear thought. Yes, the concept of liberalism versus conservatism can be place or time dependent This means, one could be conservative in the US and liberal in Lebanon but this only happens if some views have developed further in one place and still at late stages in another. This also means that one can have a positive opinion about something till a certain limit and a negative opinion about the same thing if that thing reached the limit that one has already determined. Also, one doesn't have to be completely liberal or completely conservative where one can actually pick and choose from the two concepts that best fit his/her way of life as long as no contradiction arises at any point. However, trying to cling to one concept has the serious price of really understanding the deep definition.
Unfortunately, the whole discussion about liberalism in Lebanon is reduced to sexual liberalism which I also believe is a real scam. Forget about gay rights, women rights, pro-life/pro-choice, free trade, small government/ big government, etc... The people's narrow understanding of a liberal is reduced to the degree of his/her sexual awareness. Moreover, many of those who claim sexual liberalism contradict their own views when confronted with cases that goes in harmony with the definition of liberalism and touches sensitive issues about their personal life. For many people, claiming sexual liberalism is nothing but a tool of seduction and a technique of self marketing as a civilized person with an open mind.
Excellent post. Manipulating what words mean in politics are part of the political battle. George Orwell wrote a lot about that problem. And NRO has an article about that issue today.
ReplyDeleteExcellent criticism and valid for many "transitory" societies not just the Lebanese. One question, though. What social mechanisms do you propose to put in place in order to extricate the Lebanese society from this existentialist morass that it afflicting it?
ReplyDeleteBlackcedar, thank you for the excellent article.
ReplyDeleteDear Lejnar,
ReplyDeleteYes I agree that this is the case in almost all society passing through the transition period. I use Lebanon cause this is my only experience with a transitory society as you call it.
The social mechanism that I have in mind is still idealistic and for this same reason I do not propose any. It has to start by strengthening the role of rationality (which I wrote about in several occasions) which leads to a justified decision making process without any social pressure. This will eventually lead to being able to identify yourself and your beliefs without any intimidation. Once this sequence of events is on track, I believe correction will naturally takes place.
Sam, I have no problem with idealism and indeed it is, as far as I am concerned, the motivating and running engine of change. I think we need more of it. But the question is not of intentions but rather methodology as you assessed it. Unfortunately, if I am understanding you correctly, "strengthening rationality" is not a mechanism. If "rationality," pure and simple is adopted as such as a tool in addition to being a goal, then we end up doing something called "social engineering." Historically that has been a utopic goal and from the Hitler and Stalin cases we know how that turned out. Personally, I think that the only valid mechanism is education. Everything starts there. Consider why for instance any political regime identifies it as the most important construct that needs to get its hands on. It brings legitimacy to the system in addition to raising an indoctrinated mass. I use the last term lightly and without the negative connotations usually associated with it.
ReplyDeleteIn the case of Lebanon, as far as I know from it, education could potentially bridge the sectarian and many other social gaps and inequalities in addition to raising a responsible citizenry. Lofty goals more often than not have small and very "normal" beginnings. It will however, the way I see it, take more than a generation, but in the end, if there is commitment, I see it to be successful. My point is that one should see this as a self-sustaining feedback loop which generates incremental but certain change.
Hi, I'd like to make an observation if I may...as Lejnar correctly stated education is always the ultimate solution and eventually through time and experience, change and development in any society is always the consequence. The problem in Lebanon as I see it, is that it's society is still segregated in a sectarian fashion and the advantage that larger western societies have is that those societies are based on a more diversified mix of people and culture. As a result, people are forced to adapt and be more tolerant of one another for the greater society to function, even if their own personal ideals are of a more conservative nature. This is what is missing in Lebanon, there is no tolerance and as long as society remains divided into little pockets of a sectarian nature, change will take a very long time to occur.
ReplyDeleteActually, I disagree that any education can actually solve the problem. We are considered a highly educated society and still those problems persist. It is the integration of analysis and problem solving in education that matters.
ReplyDeleteTrue Wissam, but don't take the term of education so literally, yes the Lebanese are very educated when it comes to the books but education is much broader than that . When a government or any organization wishes to introduce something new or implement a tide of change then education specific to that issue is critical and when it comes to liberalism and making a society more open
ReplyDeleteminded on various issues it obviously is a step by step process. That was my interpretation of Lejnar's comment in regards to education. I am Australian and education both at school and at home through advertising on
television or bill boards or on the back of buses etc is commonly seen whenever the government or an organisaton wishes to get a message of change across to the public for example PETA lobbying people not to
wear real fur....this is just a small example, but specifically in my previous comment when I said tolerance is the key, tolerance comes from being educated and in my society with it's array of multiculturalism education has come by being exposed to the variety of races and religions and with this education has come tolerance.
I am grading my students' final exams now, but I'll log on later in the day or tomorrow to better explain what I mean. From what I read of Nicole's posts I tend to agree with her especially about the fact that knowledge of books and education are not the same thing, but let me finish these exams (which are brain-cell killers) and will post later
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe problem with education is that most people now see it as simply the gateway to get a good job with a great (or as great as possible) starting salary. Yet, in addition to this, there are two things to consider: social responsibility and civic duty. Most conflate these into a single dynamic yet there are as far apart as day and night. Its the latter that interests me the most. Civic duty refers to raising responsible cadres who later serve either as state administrators and leaders but also as socially responsible citizens and captains of industry. These are people who serve the state and the predominant morals and values of the society which they perpetuate through time. Think for instance of JFK, Lincoln, Johnson's "Great Society" or nowadays even Obama (regardless of what one may thing of him). This may be the idealism you were thinking of - a certain sense of Kantian "Enlightenment." This is not merely academics, but reflections on how to improve society and make the individual contribute to it through service to the state.
ReplyDeleteIn the case of Lebanon, I am thinking of individuals who, for lack of a better term, reflect constructively and go to the root of the Lebanese problem, which in more ways than one goes to the sectarian issue. What if these individuals put their service, not to furthering their own narrow interest, financial or otherwise? What if if they say "Sectarianism has f-ed Lebanon to kingdom come ever since European missionaries came in the 19th century and French colonialism f-ed Lebanese society by favoring one specific demographic over the other and thus perpetuated a deep fissures in Lebanese society and politics." What if they say "Fcuk this sh!t. Enough." What if they see their performance to the state and society along these lines. This is what I call education, and if our conversations in Philly have born fruit this is the source of the West's supremacy that you so admire. It may be idealistic and perhaps even fanciful but... need it be really? History knows plenty of successful cases of the sort. Admittedly, it will not happen so because people look after their self-interest more, but people ready to serve can be found and they can and will make an impact. Gradually this will take root. Unfortunately we are building a society where the heroes of today are the likes of Britney Spears, Jessica Simpson, of "The Bachelor/ette", reality TV and "Teen Moms." What happened to spending 55 cents to buying newspapers and informing oneself about real issues? What happened to real heroes who performed real service whether military or civic service? How many know of instance of Peace Corps, Americorps or their equivalents around the world? My students do not know how to spell at the college level! How insane is that? I passed one a couple of semesters ago by giving him a D and he threw his arms up exclaiming in ecstasy: "I passed." I felt like ripping his jugular vein away.