Liberals just define success differently

Liberals do not hate success, Mr. Falk (Fence Post, May 10), we just define it differently than you do.

For us, "success" is not about making obscene profits from the sacrifices and suffering of fellow citizens during times of war and economic hardship. Rather it is about "the contributions an individual makes to her or his fellow human beings." (anthropologist Margaret Mead)

Although our current administration has made "liberal" a disparaging label, I wear it with pride. I will not apologize for:

• Demanding that the Bush administration put its responsibility to preserve freedom of expression, individual privacy, separation of church and state, and due process of law ahead of the interests of corporations and the wealthy.

• Barring the doors to our bedrooms and hospital rooms to keep the government from imposing its vision of family values on us.

• Valuing the individual differences that have been our nation's greatest strength.

• Challenging the government to level the playing field for the less fortunate through improved health care, education and job training.

• Insisting our soldiers not be put in harm's way for an unjust war and lacking fully armored vehicles and ammunition.

• Demanding the government protect our country's security without unnecessarily sacrificing constitutional rights and without torturing people in my name.

Liberal values are not to blame for our nation's diminished productivity and strength.

The blame belongs to those who put their personal interests above our nation's.

Sheryl Jedlinski

Palatine