liberal– adj

tolerant of change; not bound by authoritarianism, orthodoxy, or tradition. Favorable to or in accord with concepts of maximum individual freedom possible, esp. as guaranteed by law and secured by governmental protection of civil liberties.

Conservative– adj

favoring the preservation of established customs, values, etc, and opposing  innovation or change. A person who is reluctant to change or consider new ideas

When I read the definition of these two words I wonder “who am I, a liberal or a conservative?”  I strongly believe in and value customs and traditions. I am religious, I dress conservatively- what does that make me?

These are my personal beliefs and choices, and I believe that each person has the right to their personal beliefs, whether those beliefs or choices are liberal or conservative.  It seems that in order to ensure that I can keep my individual, conservative choices, I HAVE TO BE LIBERAL.

Being liberal or conservative is not about YOU. It should have very little to do with  your views on gay marriage,  or abortion, or whether you go to church or not, or how you dress. Being a Liberal or Conservative is about how you view others choices.

If you believe your opinion, whether liberal or conservative, has the right to exist, then how can one be a conservative. If you are a conservative then you have given someone, somewhere in the world,  the right to extinguish your opinion and bulldoze their own: that someone can be a priest, a Taliban, a preacher, a follower, a fascist, a racist or a terrorist.