"Liberal and Conservative Test": Attn: Dr. Jiten Roy
Mohammad Gani (USA).
I must be an intruder into this straight shooter's "Appraisal and Assessment Test (Exam?)" that likely to separate "Liberals" from "Conservatives". A very basic question should then promptly pop up, "Who are more acceptable to human society from these 2 different groups; Liberals or Conservatives?" You have broached some thought provocative, "Don't ask, don't tell" issues those have broad and colorful spectrum of momentums for years. Our politicians and freethinkers usually play cleverly in responding to these complex issues! However, there could be more exigent question before coming up with responses to all your 5 questions.
Before just saying "Yes" or "No" to your questionnaires, one must define and/or redefine what "RIGHT" is and what "WRONG" is and then agree upon to accept these definitions beforehand. Should there be any concept called "Right" and "Wrong" and why do we actually need this concept at all? Who shall define them and set standard in defining "Right" or "Wrong" and based what? Is "Right" or "Wrong" any differentiated "Moral Values" of an individual person alone, a group of people or collectively of many individuals? Aren't "Right" and "Wrong" meaningless until we bring up our "Morality" to stand between them? Does our "Moral Value" give us the direction of choosing "Right" from "Wrong"? Where did the term "Moral Value" or "Morality" come out from either? Why do we even have to have "Morality" at all on the first hand? Isn't "Morality" an obstruction to our absolute (individual) freedom?
At this time, I have no plan to write an in depth essay on these interesting issues but shall try to browse only that could give us out more questions than answers or reasoning. I think "Right" could be explained based on at least two different elements or arguments. (1st). "We (the human being) do not need "Right" or "Wrong" concepts to live in this planet, it should not even exist and this concept is entirely useless to many free thinkers. It is an obstruction to their (or our) individual freedom; and should thereby be rejected outright. Animal kingdoms have been surviving millions of years, been enjoying absolute freedom and with no concept of Right or Wrong! (2nd). Briefly speaking "Right is neither right or "Wrong" is wrong if there is no governing principle that could differentiate these two. In our "human society", we call this governing principle the Constitution and as in science they are called Laws, Postulates etc. This governing principle is the definition obviously derived from predetermined and perceived ideal states and standards experimented over hundreds of years during our day to day social lifestyles. Now, how could we possibly justify that a CONCEPT, DEED is "Right" or "Wrong" if any at all? It is perhaps only by establishing some governing principles where "Right" is actually neither right or 'Wrong" is not wrong! It is our own and unique "Morality" (?) that stands between "Right and Wrong" to segregate and differentiate "Right from Wrong"; and then "Right" and "Wrong" take desired meanings for our consumptions!
However, our life and civilization in this universe do not exist because of Moral codes at least to our many freethinkers. The concept of morality also was developed over time based on what "the majority" are reasonably comfortable with, but certainly it can not be "absolute" by any means. Morality did not exist before the introduction of human life that actually gave birth of Morality.
Now, if a couple (man and woman) have consensual sex in public at the sidewalk/Street, what could be so "Wrong" about it? One could say well, it is "Morally Wrong" or looks "Bad" and then how about legally? It does not "Hurt" anyone whatsoever except that it looks bad! Thus, this act could be morally wrong (bad) but legally not. Do we see a conflict between "Morality and Wrong" here? Isn't our "Morality" actually critical to our absolute freedom? No, not exactly! Morality, to the contrary, stops us from entering into the heaven (or hell) of "un-civilized" wild kingdom, a land of "absolute freedom" that we also love to enjoy these days!
Another example; Statistics have shown that "LOVE" kills (harms) more people every year worldwide than pornography does. Shouldn't our governments then restrict LOVE and set pornography free? Again, morality comes up there too that should not even exist!
If I were a "Liberal", I must say that homosexuality is an act between two mutually consenting adults and it is thus "RIGHT" by definition. So, why panic? Probably introduction of religions change the dynamic of this issue; calling homosexuality is a sin. O.K could be a sin but is there anything legally WRONG about it? Aren't we or the government must provide freedom to every human being and stay away from interfering people's free right of choosing or deciding to commit a sin or not to commit one if they wish to? No, "Wrong" again!! It is much deeper than only morally wrong. Our human civilization could extinct over time because of homosexuality as it goes against the natural progression of the evolution of a civilization (such as global warming +). The human race shall only be progressive and could sustain by maintaining a balanced way of life with the nature. The same arguments hold good to the SAME SEX-MARRIAGE too, though our privileges of rights and freedom should not allow the government to play any role in it. To me, obviously it is immoral, sickening perversion those could be called upon medical attention for physiological disorder like other mental illness. However, people simply do not become homosexuals by choice, making plans or schedule for it!
Abortion is just another kind of "killing" to me personally and thus can not say one killing is Wrong (crime) and another killing is "individual choice". I would not like to abort my own child. If someone is comfortable with as his/her choice of abortion, I have nothing to say about except that it is morally wrong. If I were a Liberal, I could say differently, more humanly like; "If you do not like to have a baby, just do not have (conceive) one!" Another reason of some liberals being not comfortable to get their own child aborted is not that much rational, instead are pretty much "physiological and emotional"; and thus it is their weakness rather strength of mind as freethinkers.
Liberals should not be selective in their choices like only supporting and promoting absolute freedom while simultaneously opposing others freedom of being gay, lesbian, performing abortions, same sex marriage……and being critical about them. This is another convoluted dilemma found among the freethinker's drama series. They would never like to keep their heads down, are always defiant and jump up to use their "power of freedom" to big-foot almost each and every issue EXCEPT those you have mentioned. They shall not talk straight on these issues/questions. Is it any hypocrisy? You bet!
My voluntary responses to all your questions are "BIG NO" except number 2 where I shall accommodate other cultures along with my own one and I think, I am NOT a conservative either!
Thanks and regards.
Mohammad Gani Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
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