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Infidel Awareness Month
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Remember + Honor + Stand Together

Day 19 — September 29

When Liberal Stopped Meaning Free

“Liberal” used to mean defending everyone's right to live free from violence. That definition moved — and people who still hold it get labeled bigots for defending victims.

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In brief

September 29

“Liberal” used to mean defending everyone's right to live free from violence.

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Remember + Honor + Stand Together

Day 19 — September 29

When Liberal Stopped Meaning Free

“Liberal” used to mean defending everyone's right to live free from violence.

In the early 2000s, something flipped. Peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians had just collapsed when Arafat walked away from Camp David to everyone's astonishment.

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Today's editorial

You'd expect that to cost the attackers public sympathy in the liberal West that had so prized the positive-sum, peaceful resolution of the conflict.

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Daily context

September 29

“Liberal” used to mean defending everyone's right to live free from violence.

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Sources

Readings & sources

  • Key texts: Paul Berman, Liberalism and Terror (2003); Sam Harris, The End of Faith (2005); Andrew Anthony, The Fallout (2007); Bernard-Henri Lévy, Left in Dark Times (2007); Nick Cohen, What's Left? (2007)
  • On the meaning of “liberal”: Isaiah Berlin, The Crooked Timber of Humanity; Karl Popper, The Open Society and Its Enemies; Arthur Mendel, Vision and Violence; Thomas Paine, Common Sense
  • Conversation theme: Bill Maher, above authors, Coleman Hughes
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