In a time where politics has become more a spectacle of loyalties than a debate of ideas, I have reached a personal and ideological turning point: I no longer identify with the group to which I once proudly belonged, the liberals. It is not a decision taken lightly, but the result of a long and disillusioned observation of how what I once considered a bastion of freedom and integrity has become deformed.
My book “The Unthinkable”, published in 2018, was the beginning of my ideological loneliness. In it, I highlighted the eternal vigilance that Jefferson mentioned as the price of freedom, a vigilance that, unfortunately, has been neglected by many who call themselves liberals. I observed howor principles were abandoned in favor of political and economic opportunisman inclination towards a capitalism devoid of freedom in other areas of human life, such as the social, moral and sexual.
What began as a subtle deviation became an overwhelming current. Many of those who were in the liberal trenches until recently have changed sides, seduced by the promise of power and recognition, adopting positions ranging from restrictive conservatism to neo-fascism. This mutation of liberalism into clerical nationalism, a disguised neoconservatism, is a betrayal of the ideals of freedom, diversity and respect for the individual.
I have been a witness and, in some ways, a victim of this change. My criticism of these deformations has earned me the label of dissident, of ‘crazy’, in an environment that once valued freedom of thought. However, far from discouraging me, this resistance has only reinforced my conviction in true liberal values: individual freedom, respect for cultural, moral and sexual diversity, and the separation between Church and State.
In my reflection on these changes, I find a worrying parallel with the social experiments of the last century, where the manipulation of opinion and group pressure led people to adopt positions contrary to their personal judgment and ethics. This situation is not unique to one country or one region; It is a global phenomenon that has manifested itself in various ways throughout the world.
However, I see this crisis as an opportunity for greater clarity. Perhaps it is time to ask ourselves what it really means to be liberal in the 21st century. ¿Is liberalism simply an economic doctrine, or is it something deeper and essentially linked to human freedom in all its forms?
Because of all this, I have moved away from what is today called ‘liberalism’ in certain circles. Not because I have changed my beliefs, but because I firmly believe in defending an authentic liberalism, one that respects diversity, promotes individual freedom, and maintains a clear separation between religion and the state.
Today, my commitment is to freedom in its purest form and to those who, regardless of their political label, value and fight for the dignity and freedom of the individual. My voice may be one among many, but it is a voice that refuses to be silenced by conformity or fear of dissent.
From there, This government, arising from these same ideological deviations, is not to my liking. Despite my criticisms and my lack of affinity with their origins, I remain hopeful that they can make wise decisions in key areas that are crucial to the well-being of society. However, this does not mean that we should sacrifice universal and non-negotiable principles for temporary conveniences. It is not a question of exchanging a set of fundamental values, which I have defended tirelessly, for a bowl of soup, or even for a banquet.
by José Benegas
