Goblin Market

Come buy, come buy:

Our grapes fresh from the vine,

Pomegranates full and fine,

Dates and sharp bullaces,

Rare pears and greengages,

Damsons and bilberries,

Taste them and try:

Currants and gooseberries,

Bright-fire-like barberries,

Figs to fill your mouth,

Citrons from the South,

Sweet to tongue and sound to eye;

Come buy, come buy.”

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It is often said that liberalism is an attack upon tradition.  But this is not so – qua (small “t”) tradition.  In fact, it’s quite the opposite.  Liberalism is very serious about its own traditions – consent of the governed, voting as love of country, liberty, equality, etc.  When folks bemoan the passing of the good ole days when freedom of speech and religion “actually meant something” what they are bemoaning is a passing of the days when it was easier for liberals to lie to themselves about the “freedom” part of freedom of religion. Today’s modern freak show is a result of liberal traditionalists.  Liberalism matures, and the Goblins take notice of the lukewarm.