Comments on: Prairie Humanism: The (Just Now) Emerging Progressive Movement

By: Glenn W. Smith

Glenn W. Smith — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 23:59:32 +0000

Let me say first and most importantly: Your work, out front or behind the scenes, should be recognized and honored, and by drawing a distinction between a resistance and a movement I’m not discounting what you’ve done or what I’ve done, for that matter. It’s an artificial distinction, but an important one. Worldview can be left for last, because you can’t adequately “control what issues come up” without speaking the values (which come from worldview) as an integrated part of the issues discussed. Until we’ve coped with the core, the worldview, we’re vulnerable to hijacking, which is how some corporate apologists, for instance, can describe themselves as progressives.

I meant the distinction to be jarring, and while I believe in the truth of it, it’s also a distinction employed as a rhetorical strategy. I think we’re in agreement generally, and I want to thank you for your work, your attention, and your kind words re: this piece.

By: Dan Ancona

Dan Ancona — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 23:49:35 +0000

@Glenn Yeah we probably agree on a lot of the substance, and I’m reading through your stuff now and it’s great. I just don’t see the rhetorical value of denying the movement exists, when it does, it’s just small and has a long way to go.

Re: post-resistance, you familiar with the 3 dimensions of power? Mark Scmitt wrote a good quick summary piece of this in the Prospect a while ago. Basically phase I is resistance, being able to stop bad things. Phase II is being able to control what issues come up, and Phase III is shifting worldview. So we’ve got ok phase I power, occasional phase II power, and are just barely starting on III. In that analysis anyhow.

By: Glenn W. Smith

Glenn W. Smith — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 21:04:25 +0000

Well, that’s what I’m saying, that we’re just getting going as a movement, a step beyond a resistance. Maybe should have made that more clear.

By: Dan Ancona

Dan Ancona — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 20:12:26 +0000

Great piece. Yes!

But rather than saying the progressive movement doesn’t exist, maybe we could agree to say “we’re just getting started?” I’ve been writing about progressive worldview issues since 2005 or so, and working full time on progressive infrastructure since ’06, as have a lot of people. Toiling in obscurity has been fun and all, I’m fine with that and I’m glad Zack’s putting this on everyone’s radar now, but I take less kindly to being told I don’t even exist, and that’s twice now. (one of Zack’s recent pieces did the same thing)

That being said, I’m not so sure empathy is really the cornerstone. It has a bit of a weird privilege connotation to it that I find less than helpful. I’d suggest the concept of interdependence instead: it’s not just that we progressives care about other people, it’s that we realize our all of fates are bound up together. Interdependence is, in my view, a little more MLK, and a little less Lakoff & Rifkin, although they’re all important. I have a few preliminary thoughts on this here:

http://danancona.blogspot.com/2009/01/foundations-i-interdependence.html

Glad to see this discussion happening, interesting stuff!

By: David Kaib

David Kaib — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:37:51 +0000

Also except these parts of Leviticus:

Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself.

But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself

By: Glenn W. Smith

Glenn W. Smith — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 05:41:47 +0000

‘Cept they skip the part where Paul erases racial and national identity barriers.

By: Jim Cullen

Jim Cullen — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 04:58:09 +0000

They read through Leviticus, then skip to the epistles of St. Paul.

By: Glenn W. Smith

Glenn W. Smith — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 04:33:29 +0000

They don’t actually read the Bible. They just, well, uh, I’m not sure what they do….

By: J.P. Whitefield

J.P. Whitefield — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 04:26:10 +0000

To quote Jesus Christ: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Christian Right????