Proactive Progressives

by the Rev. Dr. Randolph W.B.Becker

I am saddened (and angry) by how much we are being duped and used by the present administration.

But, I am more profoundly saddened (and mightily angry) by how much we are letting them do this to us.

We are victims, not of "them," but of ourselves!

Here's the scenario I keep seeing over and over again:

1. We progressives begin to speak about the core values and their concomitant actions that we believe should inform our American (and global) future.

2. The regressives announce some new part of their agenda for America (call it fundamentalism, call it fascism, call it imperialism, whichever you wish).

3. We progressives immediately do a knee jerk, focusing our attention and energies on the regressive's agenda.

Over and over, "they" set the pace, "they" set the agenda, "they" garner our energies, stealing those energies away from our vision.

We have become reactive progressives (oxymoronic?).

We will continue to be bombarded with all kinds of initiatives, legislation, and executive orders which point away from progressives values. If all we do is react to them, we will be playing a defensive game.

It is time for us to get back to our own game plan, engaging our nation in a renewed proactive progressive agenda.

This is the model that every American Patriot knew at Lexington and Concord. Responding to the moves and strategies of the British on the British's terms would have meant continued servitude to a Crown which cared not for individuals, nor for liberty.

But when they drew out those Redcoats so that they had to respond to colonial initiatives from every side--from behind every rock wall and tree--a seemingly insurmountable force was divided, distracted, and ultimately defeated.

So, let's take brief note of what the administration is up to. But let's focus more on what we would hope our nation would be up to.

To begin, what if each of us were to name, in positive terms, one initiative we would like to take to the public arena--one initiative that we think expresses a core American value.

One of the core values I uphold is equality as expressed through universal education. I believe in the right of every person to receive a quality education in preparation for a life of both personal fulfillment and meaningful service to the larger good. I believe there should be a common, universal system of quality public education reaching from preschool through graduate school, open to all. To do this, we need new initiatives of funding for the institutions, the research, and the providers of education that will adequately support this value.

Let's research, analyze, produce, publish, and place in the public discussion such a plan for the future, and let's force the regressives to have to respond to our proactive initiatives on education.

That's one of my values expressed in an action plan in an attempt to take control of the discussion of our national direction.

What are yours?

Let's be dupes and tools no more!

Let's be proactive!

Let's get back on track... the progressive track!

Posted by Elissa Bishop-Becker at November 23, 2004 7:31 PM | TrackBack