Liberals, mostly.
So be it. It needs to be said. By a liberal. Who has been alternately so embarrassed or annoyed by liberals that I've stopped calling myself a liberal and started to call myself a progressive.
And, I'm pissed about that. So, if you're pissed after reading this, it will all even out in the end.
Yes, this is a bit of a rant. Consider yourself duly warned.
This is not going to be about that old canard about liberals being "too broadminded to take their own side in an argument". Been there. Done that. Got the T-shirt to prove my credentials.
In 12-Step Programs, they call that "Paralysis by analysis."
And, I'm not a "liberal who has been mugged" - the definition (intended in humor) to describe someone who is conservative.
I'd like to think I'm still a liberal, but for the love of Mike, these days, "liberal tyrants" send me running out of the room, screaming in frustration and anger.
"Liberal Tyrant" sounds like an oxymoron, doesn't it? Words such as liberal and liberty, all trace their root to the Latin liber, which means "free". Indeed, Wikipedia reports that, "One of the first recorded instances of the word liberal occurs in 1375, when it was used to describe "liberal arts" in the context of an education desirable for a free-born man".
Liberalism (from the Latin liberalis)is a political philosophy or worldview founded on ideas of liberty and equality. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally they support ideas such as free and fair elections, civil rights, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, free trade, and private property.
Liberalism first became a distinct political movement during the Age of Enlightenment, when it became popular among philosophers and economists in the Western world. Liberalism rejected the notions, common at the time, of hereditary privilege, state religion, absolute monarchy, and the Divine Right of Kings. The 17th century philosopher John Locke is often credited with founding liberalism as a distinct philosophical tradition. Locke argued that each man has a natural right to life, liberty and property and according to the social contract, governments must not violate these rights. Liberals opposed traditional conservatism and sought to replace absolutism in government with democracy and/or republicanism and the rule of law.I mean, how can you call yourself an American and NOT be liberal, right?
The revolutionaries of the American Revolution, segments of the French Revolution, and other liberal revolutionaries from that time used liberal philosophy to justify the armed overthrow of what they saw as tyrannical rule. The nineteenth century saw liberal governments established in nations across Europe, Spanish America, and North America. In this period, the dominant ideological opponent of liberalism was classical conservatism.
Makes me feel proud to call myself a liberal. Well, it did. Once. That was before the soft underbelly of liberalism began to be exposed in what I believe to be a reaction (vs. a response) to the fundamentalist (AKA "Tea Party" and neo-cons), rapidly growing and surprisingly resilient segment of conservatism.
The 'tyranny' to which I refer is very different from the pundits on Fox News describe, which is more the "tyranny of lawlessness". That is due, I think (at least in part) to the mistaken perception that liberals have no ideology or belief system.
Aristotle defined a tyrant as, "one who rules without law". A "liberal tyrant," for them, is not an oxymoron but, rather, an example of redundancy. To be a liberal is, for them, someone who rules without law. To be a liberal - especially one in power - IS to be a tyrant.
Which is a particularly frightening thing to Evangelical and Roman Catholic segments of conservatism, many of whom are neo-cons or part of the "Tea Party". The combination of the Calvinist notion of the inherent "wretchedness" of the human condition along with the Roman Catholic rigid understanding of "natural law" are two ingredients which lead to a significantly less than positive regard for the human condition, much less the ability to trust the human enterprise with such things as "justice and freedom" much less "the pursuit of happiness".
An example: It drove some of the conservatives in The Episcopal Church absolutely 'round the bend when, in 1994, Jack Spong and 90 bishops and 144 deputies signed the Koinonia Statement which declared sexual orientation "morally neutral". That made perfect sense to many liberals but for conservatives, nothing about morality is neutral - especially sexual orientation.
To the Fox News folks and the Tea Party and neo-cons who feed on their rubbish, Mr. Obama is the natural, nightmare result of liberalism.
He's a socialist. Someone who believes in reform and revolution. Someone who will develop a system of production and distribution organized to directly satisfy economic demands and human needs, so that goods and services are produced directly for use instead of for private profit driven by the accumulation of capital.
They see in him the potential for the destruction of the democracy as defined by "our founding fathers" (to the exclusion of women and people of color) and their understanding of capitalism (which keeps "The Benjamins" lining the pockets of the rich and "trickling down" to the poor at a rate determined by those who know best about such things).
It's not difficult to see a reflection in those who claim "biblical orthodoxy" with those who have a very narrow "orthodox" view of the "history of the Republic" and interpretation of the Constitution.
That's a very simple (but I trust not 'simplistic') explanation of my perspective of things on the other side of the fence from my neighborhood and world view.
That is due, at least in part, to the fact that there is, for liberals, a wide interpretation of the pragmatics and practical application of the principles of liberalism. It's not that we don't have a set of guiding principles. We do. It's that we allow for freedom of expression in their application.
That, at least, has been what I love about being liberal.
I think - across the board and in many aspects of life - we're going through an incredibly challenging time of "identity crisis". Everything is being redefined - "big ticket" items such as what it means to be an American. Or, "Religious". Or, Middle Class. Or "Poor" vs. "Working Poor".
It includes things like Marriage. Gender. Sexuality. Minimum wage vs. Living wage.
Even my beloved Episcopal Church has been swept up by the winds of change. What does it mean - if anything - to be an Episcopalian who is part of the Anglican Communion? A Protestant who embraces parts of catholic liturgy and theology or vise versa? (Some would say this is an Anglican.)
Further, what does it mean to be a religious person who supports contraception and reproductive rights but is conflicted by - and inherently, personally, opposed to - abortion? Or, is a bit uneasy with abortion but draws the line firmly at late term abortion?
Can you be pro-life and pro-choice at the same time?
Can you be a liberal with conservative leanings or is that better described as a moderate conservative?
What are we to make of those who refuse to identify as 'religious' and insist, rather, on 'spiritual' - as if the two are mutually exclusive?
Mind you, none of these questions keep me up late at night. I rarely, if ever, consider such questions.
My, my, my.
At first, I was as distressed as everyone else about her remarks. However, as the controversy dragged on and on and on and as more and more companies were dropping their endorsements of her, I said "Enough!"
I called for a boycott of all those who had dropped their endorsement of Paula Deen, and posted it on my FaceBook page.
Like I've got the power or influence for that to be effective! It just felt right to say it. Blowing off steam, is all. I never thought anything would come of it. And, in fact, nothing has. No surprise here.
Look, I'm all for holding people - especially public celebrities - accountable for their actions. They - and the media they have at their command - are a powerful force to shape and form our culture. That's an amazing currency, the worth of which is inestimable.
"To whom much is given, much is expected".
But, Walmart? Really? Are they a bastion of concerns for social justice? Or Smithfield Foods - which is now in hot water for wanting to sell their company to China. And, Target and Little Cesar's Pizza? Really? Last time I checked, their employees were barely making minimum wage, much less a living wage. Their CEO's however, are multimillionaires.
Regular giants of justice.
Oh, Home Depot dropped her, too, but because they also were early supporters of domestic benefits for LGBT people and Marriage Equality, I apparently angered some folks.
Have you ever been to Home Depot on a Saturday morning or Sunday afternoon? It's "church" for many in the LGBT community. You can pretty much find the lesbians in the 'power tool aisle' and the gay men in the 'home and garden aisle', literally kneeling before saws and seed spreaders.
Wake up! Wake up! Wake up! It's a BUSINESS deal, people!
Yes, of course, I'm glad when companies do things to shed a positive light on LGBT people, but you have to know that the major competitor of Home Depot is Lowe's and you have to know that the CEO of Lowe's is a stanch, conservative Republican whose annual salary and compensation is more than $11 million. He would never EVER endorse "marriage equality".
Ka-ching! (For Home Depot) I know I must sound cynical and jaded, but really, folks! It's pretty clear that this has become all about money. Not social justice. Not race.
That's what I was objecting to. This issue was no longer about racism and more about corporate greed. Yes, let's hold Ms. Deen accountable for her words and actions, especially since it seemed pretty clear that while she reported, under oath, that she had said the words 30 years ago and had ceased from using it, racism continued to infect her business, which was being run by her brother.
Oh, and if you read the deposition, so did sexism. In fact, there were more incidences of sexism than racism in the deposition. Not that that makes one better or worse than the other or excuses any of it.
And, apparently, racism continues to infect her dreams of a fantasy "Traditional Southern" wedding. Yes, let's hold her accountable for that. Absolutely.
All that having been said, in my estimation - and that of a lot of others - the media had taken it too far. It was now a media "goat rodeo," roundin' up the pretty little lady as their scapegoat.
No matter how often I said that, I was not to be excused or forgiven by some of my "liberal" friends for their sense that I was, somehow, "supporting Paula Deen." Or, confusing them because I was "taking it so personally" (An updated version of the sexist, "Don't worry your pretty little head.")
Here's where the 'liberal tyranny' comes in. It goes a little something like this:
Paula Deen said and thought some racist things.At least, that was the inference. And, if not a racist, then clearly you have a problem with racism. And, oh, by the way, your liberal credentials are called into serious question and are in danger of being revoked. Apparently, calling for a boycott of those who dropped their endorsements of her was seen, even in a small way, as supporting Paula Deen.
Paula Deen is a racist.
If you support anything about her, you are racist.
Let me be just a tad vulgar in order to make myself perfectly clear: Bullshit!
Not that I don't know what a racist looks like.
Are the KKK racist? Absolutely.
Aryan Nation? Nationalist Movement? Phineas Priesthood?
Check, check and check!
Does having said the 'n-word' or having a fantasy about a 'traditional Southern wedding' complete with African American servants make you a racist? I think it makes you a person who has not done the deep anti-racism work required of a person in the public spotlight with a responsibility to do that difficult, often painful work.
Call me a liberal but I think there is a middle ground between being a racist and not having completely recovered from a bad case of racism. (Insert your own 'ist' / "ism" for other applications)
One person said that she considered herself a racist and that, as far as she was concerned, "we should all be wearing a scarlet letter" of racism.
I appreciate the sentiment. I do. The only way for racism to end in this country is for people of privilege to do the deep anti-racism, anti-oppression, multicultural work required to live in the present realities of "the land of the free and the home of the brave".
Accordingly, I do believe we ought to call out racism - or any prejudice, bigotry and/or oppression - whenever we see it. And, hold people accountable for it. Especially celebrities.
As I have been carefully taught in feminist liberation theology, it's important to first do a power analysis. You begin with voice: Who is talking? What are they saying? Who is not talking? Whose voice is not being heard? Why? Who is speaking for them?
And: Context. Context. Context.
Because I am a liberal and a feminist, I saw in Paula Deen a woman who struggles with her own racism - just like the rest of us - who admitted to having once said and thought some really stupid, inappropriate stuff which revealed that she - just like the rest of us - has been infected with racism.
I saw the media beating up on her as they did, in another context and on another issue, to Martha Stewart and Hillary Clinton.
Was Martha Stewart found guilty of financial misdoing? Yup. Did her time, too. Did she do anything different than hundreds of men are doing every day? Nope. Does that make her less guilty? Nope.
Is Hillary Clinton a strong woman? Yup. Does she stand up to men? Yup. Does that make her a "nut cracker" or a "ball buster"? As a liberal and a feminist, I think you know my answer.
And, if it's a slow news day.
Because it is also about the media as an industry. People actually make this their life's work. And, they get paid for it.
Somebody has to feed the machine.
That's why I responded with, "Enough!"
It wasn't about supporting racism or a "racist"
(Pul-eee-se!).
It was about supporting a sister - not her racism - who was clearly being excoriated in public - because she is a woman - by male-dominated corporations with track records that provide clear evidence that they have no concern for any social justice issues.
I was saying enough to the hypocrisy. Enough to the duplicity. Enough to the scapegoating.
And, here's what I'm saying enough to right now, with this post: I'm saying enough to the kind of liberal tyranny that pretends to embrace diversity of opinion but, if you disagree, devalues, demeans and, if they're feeling particularly generous, simply dismisses what you say.
I'm saying enough to all the - you should excuse the language - "black-and-white" thinking. Last I heard, liberalism is not about absolutes. It's not about either/or. We strive, when it is possible, for both/and. That kind of thinking is typically found in the Tea Party and neo-con segments of conservatism, not among liberal.
I've also seen this black-and-white, rigid, fundamentalist thinking shape and form the changes to The Episcopal Church's Title IV canons which deals with clergy misconduct. It is clearly a liberal over-compensation for the wrongs of the past which now presumes the clergy guilty until proven innocent. It dangerously places even more power in a Very Powerful episcopacy and has ruined innocent people's careers and, oh by the way, is patently un-Christian.
Enough!
I'm saying enough to the inference that there are degrees of "goodness" to being a liberal and that I or anyone else is a "lesser liberal" if they don't meet your standards or expectations. Liberalism is about casting our philosophical net wide and including - and honoring - differing views.
I'm saying enough to the "white liberal guilt" that masquerades as concern and care for the oppressed and those who experience prejudice and bigotry. White liberal guilt, in the final analysis, is about white people who are more concerned with how they are being perceived than the plight of people of color. It is insulting to the intelligence of people of color who can tell the difference.
Feeling guilt about your past racism? Good. Do something about it to promote justice for the oppressed - locally, systemically, politically, legally, globally. Wearing a hair shirt and publicly thumping your breast in contrition is not convincing anyone that this is really about justice. It's all about you and your guilt.
In the final analysis, it's a power trip. As a co-worker in the city of Boston, MA once said to me at a soup kitchen, "Don't be surprised when the people you serve here do not appear gracious and appreciative of your 'generosity'. Whenever you place a poor person in the position of feeling that they need to say 'thank you', that's not about your generosity, it's about your power."
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| Rachel Jeantel |
She has been described as "inarticulate", "hostile" and "thuggish". That was when they were feeling generous.
If liberals don't stop wasting precious energy and time beating each other up, we'll never get on with the work of repairing the damage done by SCOTUS to the Voting Rights Act.
We'll never make any progress on eradicating racism in our society.
We'll never get on with the hard work of anti-oppression work.
We'll never be able to organize effectively to set forth the organizing principles of what it means to be a liberal:
Respect for and trust in the human enterprise in all of its diversity.
Liberty and justice and equality for all. And, all means all. Even those with whom we disagree.
As a dear liberal friend once said to me, "You have the absolute right to wave your hands as wildly as you want. That right, however, stops at the end of my nose."
That, for me is a great definition of the philosophy of liberalism.
And, and, and ..... we've got to work to stay in conversation with people "across the aisle" but especially with people like Paula Deen who have fallen from grace. Repentant sinners who experience forgiveness are so filled with gratitude, they often become the best allies in the struggle for justice and equality.
Let's take off our hair shirts, get our heads out of our butts and get on with the work of justice.
Enough!
Elizabeth, ever since Jesse Jackson spoke out in her defense, I´ve had the feeling that the rush to condemn Paula Deen (of whom I´ve never been a fan) was eerily like a scapegoating exercise. Somehow it became a litmus test for some un-named court to judge whether a corporation is racist or not: Did you drop Paula Deen? Her denials are sad, but aren´t they like those of most white people? Like the ones that are boycotting her? Where are these corporations on workers´ rights and on sweatshops in India and Bangladesh, and human rights for the undocumented (almost all of whom are brown, don´t we know)? And of course, as you point out, on lgbtq rights. We can´t wash away our sins by washing our hands of Paula Deen. It´s gonna take more soul-searching and traumatic effort than that.
ReplyDeleteYour post took me back to the months before I went to South Sudan. I had some friends--good liberal friends--who were angry at me for going because of the official stance of the Episcopal Church of the Sudan. They pushed at me that I was allowing them to continue their anti-LGBT agenda.
ReplyDeleteYou know what? When I got to South Sudan, I discovered the rank and file folks there didn't give a damn about it other than they knew the church told them "Homosexuality is wrong"--but I sure saw people looking with a very blind eye at the closeness of a lot of same sex friendships. They didn't give a damn that I wore slacks, or that I appeared very butch looking--they loved me, and I loved them. I could tell a lot of people knew the difference between the truth and the "right answer." It hit me in spades that the archbishop of ECS makes a big show of dis-inviting ++KJS, but no one said "boo-sic-em" about the relationship between LGBT-affirming DioMo and ECS Diocese of Lui. Why? Because those people are hungry, oppressed, and need our support. No one is going to turn down sustained financial and personal support. And there is real love between the people of DioMo and Lui. I have to continue to stay of a mind that in the end, love wins, and staying in relationship with people who, on paper, disagree with us, uncomfortable as it is, is part of spreading the Good News in Christ.
So glad you wrote this. I am an out gay man but honestly, either because of how I was raised or my parents, I have struggled with my own unconscious racism and am offended at some of the assumptions I have made over the years. Being around different people than I has helped because they have pointed out my own racism or challenged me and I have grown because of that. Barbara Brown Taylor described it as sanding off your rough edges. Even though I am gay I have also struggled with my own transphobia and am much more comfortable with it than I was years ago. Being able to recognize your own issues is important and being around others helps. One of the biggest problems I have especially with the Paula Deen controversy is that the "sting" of racism is so revolting and deplorable that no one dares admit to it anymore. We go around saying, "I'm not a racist" like a formula because only being an ax murderer is worse, which simply drives it underground. Its not a sin people will cop to like jealousy, materialism, etc. because its so dreadful but we need to talk about it. I'm not proud of my own behavior but I'd like to think I should at least be given a chance, and hopefully also forgiven.
ReplyDeleteWell, here is one (unlabelled) person you have not pissed off.
ReplyDeleteI have been absolutely astounded by the magnitude of liberal hypocrisy I have read in relation to the Paula Deen case. I agree with you on almost all your points. I fear for this country and the direction its going - actually two polarized directions with seemingly no ability to have a civil conversation anymore.
Personally, I am so sick of people telling other people how to live, think and feel like they have some God given right to do so. Especially those whose lives are not exactly the epitome of their self labelled principles. They live in glass houses yet throw boulders. And when called on it, they refuse to acknowledge their own sins. Worse, as you say, they then belittle and demean or dismiss anyone with a differing opinion.
The one thing I don’t agree with in your post is that celebrities have some special category of accountability. I have seen sentiment in many places, this “to whom much is given, much is expected.” Personally, I think that is just another form of discrimination and somehow lets the average person off the hook. They say “ Paula Deen apparently has not paid a big enough price because, look, she is still living in a mansion! But I once apologized for my racism so I’m okay.” I don’t understand it. Isn't it our ideal that justice should be blind? Rich or poor, black or white, access to media or not? What is the price for using racist language? I don’t know the answer to that, although I think it should focus more on education than punishment. But whatever the price is, it should be administered to all, equally. Where is the outrage for Jesse Jackson’s anti-semitic language?? We should all be accountable. Equally. In my opinion.
Personally, I am trying to live by a simple principle- always face the direction you want to go. If you want a society of equal opportunity and respect for all, respect EVERYONE. It’s pretty simple. But if you’re going to call people ugly names for calling other people ugly names, belittle people who disagree with you, hold different standards of accountability depending on your celebrity status (or any other difference of status or power), well then, I don’t think you’re working toward equality, you’re working toward power. And when the person next to you stumbles, would it not be better to help them in the right direction rather than trample them into the ground?
Tyranny. It’s not just for the right wing anymore.
Mother Paula - Thank you. I was beginning to think I was the crazy one. Not only was it scapegoating, it did become a litmus test for racism. That's what I was protesting.
ReplyDeleteKirke - When I was in Ghana for three weeks, I experienced a similar situation. It's all about relationships, not labels. Several women said to me, "If women were in charge of government and the church, we would NOT be having this discussion." That was so reflective of the truth I saw.
ReplyDeleteMatthew, Oh, honey, even after all these years, I still struggle with my homophobia and sexism. Prejudice is in the ether of the environment in this country. We breathe it in every day. It's so much work to deal with it all - and, your own class status and privilege. I don't believe I'll ever be done with this work.
ReplyDeleteDoes that make me a racist or a sexist or a homophobe? God forbid! God is not done with me, yet, but that doesn't mean that I should be summarily dismissed because I'm not yet perfect.
If you want perfect, check with me on the other side of Eden. You will be, too.
8th Day - I say that celebrities have a special responsibility not because it should leave any of us off the hook but because their celebrity status gives them the power of influence. That's pretty huge. I think they, like public officials like myself who have the trust of the public, ought to be held to a higher standard.
ReplyDeleteBut, I agree, we all should be held accountable.
A rant done with intelligence becomes an essay on principle. Brava for this one.
ReplyDeleteHere's what I think is the best article yet on the entire issue, both as it involves Paula Deen and beyond:
http://afroculinaria.com/2013/06/25/an-open-letter-to-paula-deen/
It's the facing the gauntlet together that makes the difference.
Nan - Thanks so much for your kind words. I will read the article but I agree: The only way out of this is together. Shaming and blaming is what Puritans do.
ReplyDeleteYour post resonates with my own reaction to Paula Deen's public shaming. I second Nan's recommendation on the open letter to Deen. It was the best, bar none, response to the entire commotion about the sad story. Penance in action--hand in hand.
ReplyDeleteThis blog post is way too long and rambling. Did you consider asking a spouse or good friend to read it first? They might have clued you in that you need to cut this endless diatribe in half.
ReplyDeleteI would have liked to get to your point, whatever it is, but life's too short...
Thanks, Prairie Soul. I have read it and it is really good.
ReplyDeleteJadeGrande - Ah, first time here, yes? You may not know that I'm an Episcopal Priest. Writing in this style is an occupational hazard. You should see what I cut out of this piece before I hit "publish". LOL.
ReplyDeleteIf you look around at other posts, you'll see I do tend to go on a bit. It's my blog, not an essay I'm doing for a creative writing class. Neither am I a journalist, limited by the dictates of a paper's column size. So, I just write when I've got something to get off my chest. It's very cathartic.
You have a choice not to read it. And, that's perfectly fine with me. I write for myself. Some people find that interesting. Your choice. Take care.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI came to your blog on the recommendation of a priest friend of mine.
I won't be back.
JadeGrande said it all, really--life is too short.
Thank you, Elizabeth, for assembling here the thoughts you posted on Facebook. While I agree with you with regards to the "black-and-white" thinking that infects current "liberalism" (making it, in my opinion, no longer liberal), I believe the problem is not so much with liberalism as with the "tribalism" that seems to have taken over all of American social thought and civic behavior (including behavior in the church).
ReplyDeleteTribes group around and define membership on the basis of some type of purity - purity of thought, purity of belief, purity of blood, purity of precious bodily essences, purity of whatever. Stray even a little bit from that purity and, like white blood cells, other members of the tribe will attack. A liberal voicing illiberal opinions, a conservative embracing a liberal point . . . they will be pilloried by their co-tribalists much faster than by the "opposition."
This kind of tribal thinking has infected both political parties, many churches, the liberal and conservative political camps . . . name some segment of current American society and you can identify its tribal attributes.
I'm not the least bit convinced that the solution is a change of name, by the way. We can relabel ourselves as "progressives," but I'm afraid that all that's going to do is eventually give rise to yet another tribe.
Some guy several thousand years ago said something about "Let he without sin cast the first stone."
ReplyDeleteThese guys say this stuff and we build giant edifices to worship them, but don't bother listening to what they said. The edifices take on a life of their own.
Anyhow when Rush Limbaugh called a Sandra Fluke a slut and a prostitute, I wanted to string him up by his ankles and take him on nationwide tour and have people wail rotten tomatoes at him. No stones, just rotten tomatoes. And guess what, I still do!
Brings to mind another saying that guy said: "cast not pearls before swine."
Great post Elizabeth! One of your best.
The left wants to control your money, the right wants to control your actions. I am completely unconcerned and uncaring if a LGBT person wants to get married. Mazeltov! I am somewhat more ambivalent about abortion, but that's because there are two lives involved. Please spare me the argument about potential v actual life. My daughter was a person the minute I found out my wife was pregnant My point is that I and most of my friends would just like to be left the hell alone by the right and the left. WILL NOT HAPPEN!! You know why? Because legislation is about POWER. As an example, legislation regarding Climate change will, if every government on the planet agreed to it, POTENTIALly lower the average annual temperature something like .0006 degrees or thereabouts, maybe, but the legislation gives the government enormous new areas to tax and control. Obama care does the same thing. Abortion restriction do the same thing. We now in the United States have a ruling class and ruled class. We are no longer citizens in any meaningful way. We are subject of an increasingly totalitarian, and in many respects fascist government. Not a slam against Obama. I don't like him but he is just carrying on a long term strategy of ruling elites, both right and left
ReplyDeleteHi Brian - what I said to JadeGrande. But, not surprised if your identity is so connected with gts
ReplyDeleteEric - I think the tribal insight is a good and important one. Thank you for that. I agree with you about the rebranding. I think we need to.take back the word.
ReplyDeleteThanks, sextant. I've had a few harsh critics which have balanced out your praise. TBTG
ReplyDeleteRobert - I don't share your perspective - which I consider pessimistic - but then again, a liberal would say that, right?
ReplyDeleteheheheh--- I gave up being a liberal a long time ago --and am no longer a progressive either.
ReplyDeleteIf I were to chose a label, it would be radical fringe anarchist or something of the sort, knowing that too is probably not right, but closer to the work of my soul.
I think the crucifixion of PD is a sign of much more --the bitter and rabid tension in this Nation... we have no room for anything but slice and dice... and I hardly think she is a Democrat, either. But, she does love butter....
Margaret - hehehe. I think you have to be waaaay beyond liberal/progressive to work on the Rez. Waaaay beyond labels. You know. Not even give a crap about them. Make up your own. Like Jesus.
ReplyDelete