Anybody out there this morning??? Thoughts...Questions...

[TuckandStuiesMom]

I am waiting for the Oven Repair guy to show up so I am basically blowing 8 hours of leave time, procrastinating on doing the dishes, AND am stuck here in the house until whenever he shows up.

I am in a questioning state of mind this morning. (Look out Mr. Sears Oven Repair Guy -- you do NOT know what you're walking into. )

Given the national discussion last week surrounding Senator Craig, I got to wondering and thinking about our collective use of language... "Family Values" and "Liberal" come to mind immediately.

How come the right wing has the franchise on "Family Values" and why is "liberal" a pejorative? When you look up liberal in the dictionary, this is what you find under contemporary non-specific usage:
lib·er·al (lbr-l, lbrl)
adj.
a. Not limited to or by established, traditional, orthodox, or authoritarian attitudes, views, or dogmas; free from bigotry.
b. Favoring proposals for reform, open to new ideas for progress, and tolerant of the ideas and behavior of others; broad-minded.
How on earth can anybody think those are not excellent characteristics that , as human beings, we all should strive to embrace?

The "Family Values" thing is less definitive -- to be sure. I am not sure that I know what the heck people are talking about, when they puff up and start spouting off about "Family Values". I DO know that I've been blessed with a wonderful family that I value highly, myself. and from your posts, I know many others here have been, as well. Does this mean WE should claim the higher moral ground on this hot-button issue?

Uh-Oh! Talk amongst yourselves -- my goat is giving me the evil eye from the patio. He's looking for his morning Honey Nut Cherrios treat which is sadly lagging behind schedule this am.

 

[rosiep]

Lordy! Such questions before I'm even awake! (ok it is noon here but still).
I tried to look up "pejorative" but it's not in my dictionary here at work. Help a girl out?
As for family values...when I ws growing up all I ever wanted was a family like the one in Father Knows Best. Not the Mom, Dad 2.5 kids family, but the family that talked, cared, nurtured. (My mom and dad were married but did not espouse any of these ideals) the holier than thous who have this mindset are dead wrong. A marriage does not equal "family value".
I consider anyone in my home "family". I consider my neighbors and friends my "extended family". The fact that from the outside my family "looks" like a traditional family is just coincidence.

now.....where's my coffee????

 

[TuckandStuiesMom]

12:50 pm here and the the Oven Repair Guy hasn't shown up yet. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if his name is Godot...

Here is part of what Wiki has to say about Pejorative:
Pejorative
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A word is a term of derision, or a phrase is pejorative, if either implies contempt or disapproval. The adjective pejorative is synonymous with derogatory, derisive, and dyslogistic. When used as an adjective, pejorative has two meanings: (1) tending to make or become worse, and (2) tending to disparage or belittle. [1] When used as a noun, pejorative means "a belittling or disparaging word or expression".[2]

Well -- that's odd. I,sure as heck, had never heard of "dyslogistic" before but apparently neither has Wiki (!!!) The Freedictionary defines it as:
dys·lo·gis·tic (dsl-jstk)
adj.
Conveying censure.

 

[Aaronbox]

I do not think most folks know the dictionary definition of the word liberal. I suspect they mean the political use of the term. It could be similar to that below:

The political description that
fits me best is...
.
LIBERAL

LIBERALS embrace freedom of choice
in personal matters, and support significant government oversight of the economy.
They generally support a government-funded
"safety net" to help all, including the disadvantaged,
and advocate strict regulation of business.
Liberals favor environmental regulations,
defend civil liberties and free expression,
support government action to promote equality,
and celebrate diverse lifestyles.

 

[TuckandStuiesMom]

Ahhh...It's now 3:07 and the Oven Repair Guy just called. One more stop and then he'll be here.

Aaronbox --
Again, traits/beliefs/characteristics that (IMHO at least) that embody a civil society.

 

[Kevin&Randall]

Uh-Oh! Talk amongst yourselves -- my goat is giving me the evil eye from the patio. He's looking for his morning Honey Nut Cherrios treat which is sadly lagging behind schedule this am.

a GOAT

I'm sorry, I got through that whole thing as was dereailed by a goat?

I'll try and recompose myself and answer your questions later.

A goat?

Randall.

 

[TuckandStuiesMom]

He's just a squatty little goat. I got him last spring to eat weeds but he infinitely prefers the horse's high dollar alfalfa hay, his morning cherrios, and the occasional nacho cheese dorito.

 

[hematite153]

Coming a little late to the discussion, but....


I agree with your general take on it.


If I'm in a calm enough mood, I tend to reply to people arguing for "family values" by saying something along the lines of:

"Well, yes, of course I'm for family values. I am happily married and my wife and I hope to have the opportunity to teach our children the family values of love, respect and acceptance for all."

If pushed beyond that, I'll get to something like:

"You couldn't possibly be trying to say that ignorance, discrimination and hate are values that we want to promote in society, could you?"


However, I should also say that I have a tough time staying calm during these types of conversations.