# Correcting my understanding of Liberalism **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 12, 2011, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correcting-my-understanding-of-liberalism/602732 "2011-11-12T22:27:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2011, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correcting-my-understanding-of-liberalism/602732/141 "2011-12-21T23:06:23Z")
> [@rogerbox](#): > > This has to be the oddest thread in a while. It’s bizarre that the conclusion he draws from this fairly true statement is that liberalism is bad, when liberals would be the ones most likely to support using taxpayer money for social programs to help these communities. . . . This! The latest Westways magazine, for instance, had a short article on ceremonial masks and other items being returned to native Americans in British Columbia, after having been seized in the 1950’s when Potlatch Ceremonies were banned by law. It is the liberal viewpoint that got the ban removed, and it was the liberal influence that arranged for the return of the masks. Liberals are the ones who favor diversity; conservatives (in general) not as much. ---
**Author:** ![shakabroh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@shakabroh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shakabroh)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correcting-my-understanding-of-liberalism/602732/142 "2012-01-11T16:01:22Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > There is a positive side to having a strong **family.** Ethnocultural “roots,” not so much. So are you saying that Liberalism actively works to preserve the culture of Native Americans and Hawaiians? If Liberalism does do that, then perhaps I am mistaken about Liberalism then. I thought that Liberalism denied people their culture. > **[Culture and Health](http://nepalishealthy.blogspot.com/p/culture-health.html)** > > Question: How does the culture and language of a nation contribute to the health and well being of the people of that nation?    "Timro naa... ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correcting-my-understanding-of-liberalism/602732/143 "2012-01-11T16:10:49Z")
> [@shakabroh](#): > > then perhaps I am mistaken about Liberalism then. This is possibly the sole coherent statement you’ve made in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![shakabroh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@shakabroh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shakabroh)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correcting-my-understanding-of-liberalism/602732/144 "2012-01-11T17:16:23Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > This is possibly the sole coherent statement you’ve made in this thread. Don’t be hating. I created this thread to get edumacated. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correcting-my-understanding-of-liberalism/602732/145 "2012-01-11T17:22:09Z")
> [@shakabroh](#): > > Don’t be hating. I created this thread to get edumacated. Really? And what have you learned? In what way has your mind been changed? ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correcting-my-understanding-of-liberalism/602732/146 "2012-01-11T21:16:55Z")
> [@shakabroh](#): > > So are you saying that Liberalism actively works to preserve the culture of Native Americans and Hawaiians? If Liberalism does do that, then perhaps I am mistaken about Liberalism then. I thought that Liberalism denied people their culture. . . . Historically, conservatives have emphasized teaching native students in English; liberals have favored allowing students to go to school and learn their native languages. This is a pattern in the U.S., Canada, Australia, even in Japan, where the indigenous Ainu language is defended by liberals, but would be suppressed by conservatives. (Oops; can’t give a cite for the latter; just something I read once. Ignore if wrong.) ---
**Author:** ![shakabroh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@shakabroh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shakabroh)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correcting-my-understanding-of-liberalism/602732/147 "2012-01-12T18:56:15Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > Historically, conservatives have emphasized teaching native students in English; liberals have favored allowing students to go to school and learn their native languages. This is a pattern in the U.S., Canada, Australia, even in Japan, where the indigenous Ainu language is defended by liberals, but would be suppressed by conservatives. > > (Oops; can’t give a cite for the latter; just something I read once. Ignore if wrong.) If Liberals do that, that is good. I thought that were for the opposite. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correcting-my-understanding-of-liberalism/602732/148 "2012-01-13T04:40:33Z")
By and large. There are always exceptions. Neither liberalism nor conservatism are monolithic. For instance, some “Green” liberals oppose the right of northwest Indians to engage in whale hunting, whereas “cultural diversity” liberals favor it. Some liberals would like to make sure that small groups of people have access to the benefits of modern society, and thus would like to see every child have some education in English, as a kid who speaks only Hopi or Dineh will have trouble getting in to a good college. But I’ve never met a liberal who wants children not to be taught in Hopi or Dineh at all, if their parents want them to be. I have, however, met conservatives who strongly believe in “English-only” education, and revile bilingual education. (And…other conservatives who differ from this!) ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correcting-my-understanding-of-liberalism/602732/149 "2012-01-13T05:55:02Z")
> [@shakabroh](#): > > And in what way has the American government made things better for the Native Americans and the Hawaiians compared to when they were hunting, fishing on their own lands governed by their own people? It has made things better for them in that they no longer live by hunting and fishing. Not that the U.S. government can claim all the credit for that. ---
**Author:** ![WillFarnaby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willfarnaby/32/514_2.png) [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correcting-my-understanding-of-liberalism/602732/150 "2012-01-13T06:26:45Z")
> [@shakabroh](#): > > If history is any guide, I feel that your State governments will gain more importance in time as the culture in individual States “ferments” and gains their individual unique flavors. And each county in each state will further specialize in having it’s own flavor and color and mood of culture. And at that time you will see the importance of your State governments in a way that you don’t see it right now. Give it a few more hundred years. What would you say if the current trend is actually the opposite of what you are predicting? ---
**Author:** ![rogerbox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/76d3ee/32.png) [@rogerbox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rogerbox)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correcting-my-understanding-of-liberalism/602732/151 "2012-01-13T08:55:14Z")
> [@shakabroh](#): > > If Liberals do that, that is good. I thought that were for the opposite. So what country and/or religious compound are you posting from? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correcting-my-understanding-of-liberalism/602732/152 "2012-01-13T12:13:55Z")
He said before he’s in a third world country. Obviously one with lots of religious right propaganda. So … Maybe Uganda? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correcting-my-understanding-of-liberalism/602732.md?page=7)