I am a "Liberal"

I know I have expressed this statement and my reasons why I consider myself a "liberal" (quotation marks necessary) to quite a few people. According to the constitution set by our forefathers, I am indeed a "liberal." In fact, Republicans as a whole are "liberals."
Last semester I took the course "Western Civilization: 1648-Present." The professor was from Spain, which he explained is a socialist country. He then further asked the students (between eighty and ninety students total) what makes a republican a republican. The responses varied, but a few answers were: "A republican wants as limited government interaction with the economy", "A republican believes all have a right to an education",  "A republican favors capital punishment", "A republican prefers federal limitations and a larger State role", etc...
The professor then told us that our constitution was founded by liberals and democrats and that the beliefs and values of the republican party follows that of the constitution, whereas the present-day democratic party followed that of the socialist values. Furthermore, he explained that according to the world (excluding America) to be a republican in the U.S. is to be a liberal or a democrat. To be a democrat or a liberal in the U.S. is to be a socialist.
The constitution of the United States of America was founded on the principles of the Enlightenment, which at the time was a radical and liberal. Within our very Pledge of Allegiance it states that the government is (supposed to be) a Republic. "...and to the republic for which it stands..." By this reasoning we must look at the values of the U.S. as a Republic and the values and laws set forth by the constitution. If our values are democratic by nature and we were founded as a Republic then it stands to reason that to be "republican" is in fact to be "democratic."
So when a republican calls a democratic in the U.S. a socialist they are actually correct. The constitution is democratic and liberal and the republican party adheres to it strictly speaking. The liberals follow the values of the socialist party. American liberals are socialist and American republicans are liberals.
Perhaps this view is a bit naïve, and I am by no means a politician. But it's a standard that the world holds for political parties, and many foreigners have expressed to me that the U.S. is becoming a socialist country. We cannot ignore this and we must question our own government and its values. People are adamant against being called "socialist." So if people do not want to be labeled as such then they should look at their own values and beliefs. One cannot expect to be called anything other than what they are.
Therefore I am an American Republican- worldwide a liberal.
And I'm not ashamed to say it.