Growing up, I never realized that the term ‘liberal’ could be a derogatory term (ignoring the obsolete definition of one with loose morals). Per dictionary.com, the definition of ‘liberal’ is:

• Not limited to or by established, traditional, orthodox, or authoritarian attitudes, views, or dogmas; free from bigotry.
• Favoring proposals for reform, open to new ideas for progress, and tolerant of the ideas and behavior of others; broad-minded.

Hmmm, “free from bigotry,” and, “broad-minded.” Those always seemed like good things to me, but there are those that don’t agree and consider us liberals to be freaks.

Of course, I also got into punk and ska during high school and it will forever have an impact on me politically. There’s something about being a teenager that just begs to stand out from the crowd and be different (of course, I retained my computer-geek skills throughout). Everyone was considered a freak in some way, so why try to be ‘normal’?

Why bring this up? Emily’s parents are taking us out to see Al Franken perform at the Flynn Center in Burlington, VT, for a Bernie Sanders fund-raiser. I’ve been fortunate enough to see Bernie speak a couple of times, including on such important topics as media, and am happy to support him.

It’ll be entertaining to see Al Franken perform as well… why else would I be going? I don’t listen to The Al Franken Show on Air America, but I do adhere to a strict regiment of “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” and “The Colbert Report” (via the iTunes Music Store) to keep my mind limber. And, a big thank you to John Gruber of Daring Fireball for pointing me in the direction of theshow with zefrank (thinking so I don’t have to). Al definitely fits right in with this crowd and will put on a good show.

Seven Days, our local paper, interrogated Al recently in preparation for him being in town. A good read.