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Progressive Values Stories: Metaphors of Progressive Values
Linked to groups: What are Progressive Values? Study Group
"An idea is a feat of association, and the height of it is a good metaphor." Robert Frost
When I interview people about progressive values, I've also asked them to create a metaphor of those values. Sometimes creating an image to represent some feeling or thought can shed some new light on it. It can illuminate some aspect that you may not have thought of before. I also find metaphors to be fun and creative. Here are several metaphors of what Progressive Values are like.
Progressive Values are like:
Mimi Kennedy - like a Progressive Flowing River versus Conservative Stagnant Pond
Well, a river comes to mind – slow, movement, beauty, but not in stasis. I would think of a right wing control as being a pond that might look great when it first starts and gets real stagnant and attracts mosquitoes and eventually dries up because there’s no living spring or flow to it.
I was actually thinking today that the donkey for the Democratic Party with the stubbornness should maybe go – now we’re ready to go for a racehorse. We got to get ahead of the game and stop just being stubborn. We got to go forward.
Scott Henderson - Progressive Aspen Grove versus the Conservative Lone Oak
Several metaphors come to mind. One is the conservatives would probably say they’re like the mighty oak, because they stand alone and stand up for the all the elements that might attack the oak. A progressive would say they’re more like a grove of aspens, because they’re all joined at the roots, and they spring up and can be very beautiful – their shimmering leaves in the fall, and the wind blowing through them. And they’re very strong, because if you kill one aspen tree, the rest are all joined at the roots, and they can still sustain.
Henry E Hall - like a Mist of Spray
You know, I’m not as artistic as some of your friends, but progressive values are like the spray of mist on the peak of the surf waves that as you are walking along, feeling alone in your own thoughts, you are reminded by this refreshing mist of spray, that reinvigorates you and reminds you that you are a part of nature, and that you must remain alert and ever vigilant.
JC Stiassni - like Beautiful Changing Trees
Something that’s unique, something that’s different, that is always continuously changing. I’d actually have to go with a tree. Because is always shedding, always changing. It’s beautiful, always changes colors. At any point it can change its ideology, and the thing about progressives which I love is that their ideology can be adopted to any topic they want to at any point. And I think it’s great. And that’s why I believe trees, because they can be beautiful, adopt, and are also able to remain stable, and their roots are in the ground. It’s strong – a very strong community. That’s what I attribute progressives to.
Mary L Jacobs - Progressive Butterflies versus Conservative Diamonds
Progressives? Probably butterflies. Because butterflies are free, butterflies help pollinate, go from flower to flower, create beauty, and create life with their pollenization. And they’re just beautiful in and of themselves. They’re just gifts.
I would say that progressives symbol would be the butterfly.
Edwin: And a conservative metaphor?
Answer: A diamond. Hard, rough, flashy. Beautiful too, but cold. Very expensive. You know, if people who can buy a diamond ring, they always admire it and respect it. And a lot of people look at butterflies. And do you think butterflies would win? Or do you think diamond rings would win? I think butterflies.
And then you have to think of how useful they are. What do diamonds do? They dazzle. I have diamonds myself. I’m not politically correct. I’ve gotten very tiny ones. You do want to believe diamonds are forever, but the point is that diamonds, it sort of like they teach you to like diamonds. Nobody has to teach somebody to love a butterfly. A child gets fascinated by butterflies.
The metaphor is probably the most fertile power possessed by man.
Jose Ortega y Gasset, Spanish philosopher
Metatphor Defintion:
a figure of speech in which an expression is used to refer to something that it does not literally denote in order to suggest a similarity;
http://www.freedictionary.org/?Query=metaphor
1 a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to something to which it is not literally applicable
(e.g. food for thought).
2 a thing symbolic of something else.
http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/metaphor?view=uk
Wikipedia
Metaphor is language that directly compares seemingly unrelated subjects. In the simplest case, this takes the form: "The [first subject] is a [second subject]." More generally, a metaphor is a rhetorical trope that describes a first subject as being or equal to a second subject in some way. Thus, the first subject can be economically described because implicit and explicit attributes from the second subject are used to enhance the description of the first. This device is known for usage in literature, especially in poetry, where with few words, emotions and associations from one context are associated with objects and entities in a different context.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metaphor
Let's try out your creativity. Can you create a metaphor for what Progressive Values are like and another one for what Conservative Values are like?
Edwin Rutsch
What Are Progressive Values? Documentary Project
http://ProgressiveSpirit.com
and Study Group
http://www.dfalink.com/group.php?id=2285
Show: Expand All Reply
Linda B Wrote:
John is clearly lefter, uses left sources, and does get argued with a good bit. But he doesn't call the rest of us down for being stupid.
I guess I'm "lefter" than most current BFA bloggers--perhaps it's the Canadian influence.
I see myself as typical of the "Democratic Wing", which Tom rather narrowly defines as those who cling doggedly to every position Howard Dean has ever held.
Like the vast majority of BFAers, I admire Howard greatly, but disagree with some of his positions.
I will say this for Howard. His 04 campaign (unlike the current Dems') dealt with all issues in a forthright an unambiguous manner--probably what turned the Democratic establishment and the media against him
9:20am
Tom wrote:
I wouldn't take Mike's comments too seriously. He's just upset that the Hurricanes are at home watching the Wings pounce on Nashville on TV.
If he was referring to Mike's perspective on the ME, we should all take him very seriously.
From 1950 onwards, the US has been wrong wrong wrong in the ME, and it's costing us bigtime.
9:26am
well, I have to say that none of the 'conservative' metaphors seem to apply very well to the folks I know here in the outback of Vermont. just as 'liberal' once 'became a dirty word', so apparently has the term ''conservative'.
I think it's great to have this long discussion and fleshing out of our progressive values, but rather than focus so much on our differences, how about what we all have in common? if we truly are so progressive we should be looking for ways to improve the situation, not enlarge the wedges that we already have. in the end, few if any of us really fit either 'category', ya know?
9:27 AM EDT
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/7337384.stm
Page last updated at 20:06 GMT, Tuesday, 8 April 2008 21:06 UK
Fifa gives Sierra Leone more time By Mohamed Fajah Barrie,Freetown
Fifa are unhappy with the dressing rooms and the state of the pitchWorld football's governing body Fifa has given Sierra Leone more time to improve the country's only stadium.
The Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) says it hopes the venue will be ready for the 2010 World Cup qualifiers in June.
The arena was banned last month because of sub-standard dressing rooms and a poor playing surface.
...
in response to some lazy bloggers on Bluehampshire who are always looking for information to be handed to them on a platter, I went looking for some information on the BRAC process and found this lovely summary put out by the American Enterprise Institute.
i've archived it on Hannah. Here's a quote I picked to be particularly telling:
The history of the United States is a case study in expansionism. From its origins in a diverse and often squabbling handful of English colonies in the western wilds of the British Empire to its current position of global hegemony, Americans have established the habit of looking outward to solve their security problems. Our “security perimeter” has grown beyond recognition, and it continues to grow. The past century saw the expansion of our perimeter into the air and space; the new century is pushing our interests into cyberspace. There is no immediate reason to expect American expansionism to end.
It's a mistake to assume that Republican candidates don't know what they are talking about. Playing stupid has worked really well for them.
9:31 AM EDT
3.Jo*in*Vermont
Fri, 04/11/08
Reply to this
well, I have to say that none of the 'conservative' metaphors seem to apply very well to the folks I know here in the outback of Vermont.
...
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Jo -
Come on, face the music.
You're a square peg that will never fit other peoples's triangles. [smile]
MICHAEL GORDON CONTINUES AS BUSHCO COURT STENOGRAPHER.....
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/11/world/middleeast/11sadrcity.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin
3:32AM
er, that was 9:32am
What went wrong with the Clinton campaign?
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/horsera...
This also spurned a top rec diary over at Daily Kos.
rdorgan - it's nice to see they're giving SL some time. I bet if the pitch and the dressing rooms were in great shape yet the bleachers/stands were rotting, they would have already gotten a pass. just look at the dilapidated structures in stadiums all over the world - and folks outside the US do really fill their stands! at times it seems they don't care so much for safety as they do for a dry level playing field.
What conservatives prefer is to have other people make decisions for them. There's nothing to be gained by blaming them for this preference. It's actually how virtue was defined for a long time--not to be self-centered or selfish but to live for and by the interests of the community. That such people are more liable to being abused than others is not their fault. That such people are easier to be abused isn't their fault either.
Our failure to recognize abusive behavior when it occurs and put a stop to it is our fault.
Bombing people until they agree to give up or lease us their land is abuse of the highest order.
rdorgan - square peg, huh?! my Mom would say that I'm more like the polygon that doesn't quite fit anywhere, but has some lines in common with many other shapes.... ;)
9:42 AM EDT
Jo -
Yes, a 10-year civil war in SL didn't do much to help the situation with the Freetown football stadium (only one in country).
The biggest problem in SL -- crumbling infrastructure.
At least they have a war to point to for the demise of bridges, etc. -- what is America's excuse ?
9:45 AM EDT
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Jo*in*Vermont
Fri, 04/11/08
Reply to this
rdorgan - square peg, huh?!
...
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Jo -
Just ribbing ya. I was experimenting in the psychoanalysis that goes on in this blog at times, about candidate's intentions and about other bloggers.
Squares, circles, polygons, triangles are what makes the world go round:
http://www.answerbag.com/images/answers/100652/180930/tmb_squarepeg.jpg
Frankly, I've never liked the term progressive. When you consider that humans have their eyes on the front of their heads and going forward, in the direction they can actually see, rather than backward or sideways, is really a no-brainer. Moreover, considering that we're mobile creatures who move around on an individual basis, unlike fungi that move in a body, or slime, mobility is a given, a natural characterisitic and not something we choose. Staying rooted in one place would be an aberration and, by extension, expecting humans to stay in one place is a hopeless cause. Which is not to deny that a lot of humans are expending a lot of effort fruitlessly, trying to get their fellow man to stay put. LOL
Monica Smith
Fri, 04/11/08
.......
”...The history of the United States is a case study in expansionism....
The past century saw the expansion of our perimeter into the air and space; the new century is pushing our interests into cyberspace. There is no immediate reason to expect American expansionism to end.”
It's a mistake to assume that Republican candidates don't know what they are talking about. Playing stupid has worked really well for them.
---------------------
“Playing stupid” works well until someone reveals lie and stupidity. Our lovely Demos candidates definitely are not those who are willing to reveal the truth, they rather helping to hide it.
On the other hand there is (at least was) one Republican candidate, Ron Paul who ALREADY DID just that.
So, I would correct, Monica, your statement a little to say: “It's a mistake to assume that Demos candidates don't know that they are lying by not telling the truth they know”.
The biggest problem in SL -- crumbling infrastructure.
At least they have a war to point to for the demise of bridges, etc. -- what is America's excuse ?
people everywhere prefer to make something new, rather than maintain the old. Maintenance is rather restrictive. It forces one to conform one's behavior to old rules--a regimen that lots of people don't enjoy. perhaps if we rewarded it more..............................
John wrote "I see myself as typical of the 'Democratic Wing', which Tom rather narrowly defines as those who cling doggedly to every position Howard Dean has ever held."
Since I don't agree with every poition Howard Dean has ever held, I guess I've narrowly defined myself right out of my own narrow definition.
rdorgan - I knew you were funnin' me - thus the response and the winky smile at the end... ;)
rdorgan, if the Bruins can't come away with one victory against Montreal in 12 straight attempts, I'm not able to hold out much hope for their playoff prospects.
Pat in CO mentioned yesterday that Hillary doesn't wear well and I tend to agree. Watch this video of her answering a question about Bill and Colombia.
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/4...
I want to thank Kenneth belatedly for his previous blog front on what he calls the "Hate Amendment" that will be on the ballot in Florida next Nov.
Florida law already bans gay marriage. There is no reason for any horrible amendment such as this. It will be defeated easily.
I believe the Repugs in the Fla Legislature meant it as a way of getting out the conservative vote in Nov.. It will probably work against them. It is also a black mark against Gov. Charlie Crist for allowing this to happen in a state that already has too much hate.
former, Ron Paul was a lot like Howard in his fearlessness to say what he thinks, or at least what he wants us to think he thinks! trouble is, he has a history that doesn't jive so well with his current rhetoric.
Yes, former, but at the moment it's McCain that Democrats are fixated on assuming he's being stupid when, in fact, he's actually being straight about what he and his supporters intend--to extend American dominance over the globe. That this is a fruitless ambition is really beside the point. That Bush's efforts to promote this ambition has been a failure is also beside the point. Failure is not a deterrent. Failure is a spur to increasing effort by those who subscribe to the will to power. They are convinced that, if the will is strong enough and lets nothing and no-one stand in its way, the will will achieve success, if only by persuading itself that it has.
Remember the fable of the fox and the grapes? Victory is ours because we say it is.
American myth vs American dream
Clinton and McCain are the myth-makers; Obama's the dreamer
Which is closer to reality? I'd say that the myth-makers are perverters of the truth. The dreamer is the weaver of the truth.
in response to some lazy bloggers on Bluehampshire who are always looking for information to be handed to them on a platter,
Made my day, Monica!
A Google toolbar in the browser is too much to ask, huh?
25.
Jo*in*Vermont
Fri, 04/11/08
...Ron Paul was a lot like Howard...trouble is, he has a history that doesn't jive so well with his current rhetoric.
--------------
I was able to find just the opposite.
10:10 AM EDT
22.Jo*in*Vermont
Fri, 04/11/08
Reply to this
rdorgan - I knew you were funnin' me - thus the response and the winky smile at the end... ;)
+++
Jo -
Thanks for explaining what ;) means. I've seen it used here and elsewhere before but was too lazy to ask what it meant (I thought it was hieroglyphics or something like the Priory of Sion).
Antagonism towards people who express their gender differently isn't prompted by hate; it's prompted by fear. People who perceive themselves to be valued in terms of their gender feel threatened by the suggestion that this definition of individual worth may be invalid.
How are they to think of themselves if being a male or female isn't the most important characteristic?
How are they to think of themselves if the color of their skin isn't their most important characteristic?
What does it mean to be valued according to the content of their character? Who's going to see it?
How are they to suddenly find value within themselves when all they've heard growing up is that they're worthless, unless they possess the characteristics their friends and relations consider to be important?
Telling people that their fears are hateful is not going to help them overcome their fears.
Monica Smith
Fri, 04/11/08
Reply to this
The biggest problem in SL -- crumbling infrastructure.
At least they have a war to point to for the demise of bridges, etc. -- what is America's excuse ?
people everywhere prefer to make something new, rather than maintain the old.
...
+++
Monica -
True, especially about retail establishments, in America.
As for Sierra Leone, that country can't afford new yet, and yet can't even afford repair to existing either, so it does cosmetic (example -- take white paint and dilute it with water to stretch it, it's called whitewash and is not very protective anymore as an exterior paint, so means have to paint more often, etc.).
mainefem, re: A Google toolbar in the browser is too much to ask
mmm hmmm - it's the first thing to hit my browser when I work in a new office!
rdorgan - I use the winky smile a lot - even when I'm not joking. I like the look of it better than a plain smilee, but it might really be that I'm a flirt at heart. (tell your sweet wife not to worry - I don't 'do' men that already have a lady!)
Monica - I agree - most times when people express what appears to be hatred, it's really their fears talking.
26.
Monica Smith
Fri, 04/11/08
---------------
I agree Monica “Failure is not a deterrent”…UNTIL complete defeat!
That’s where btw, again, understanding of freedom as “realization of necessity” is coming to play. NECESSITY that’s what breaks any will.
About “dreamers” (in good sense of this word), there is an interesting article about Obama’s mother in Time magazine: http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/...
mainefem--to be fair, most people have not been trained to do research and they don't recognize that the first page google coughs up is not only geared towards "entertainment" but isn't even up to date--that you have to select 'news' to get the latest and that if there are many pages of entries, it helps to hit the pages randomly to get older and less populat references--that government publications which hardly anyone consults are way down in the 'stacks'
For example, to find the aie article, i put this string in google
Rumsfeld missile redeployment BRAC 2002
The funny thing is that, if you now enter that string, it will return the Hanna Blog entry at the top. The reason I entered that string was because I was remembering Rumsfeld testimony before Congress from the period when I was housebound in Georgia and watching C-SPAN on cable all the time.
10:31 AM EDT
http://allafrica.com/stories/200804100662.html
Sierra Leone: Price of Rice is Cheapest in West Africa Says President Koroma
Concord Times (Freetown)
10 April 2008
Posted to the web 10 April 2008
Mohamed Massaquoi
Freetown
President Ernest Bai Koroma Friday revealed that Sierra Leone has the cheapest price for rice per bag in the West African sub-Region, a development he said has better positioned the country than others in the region.
He said the current increase in the prices of foodstuffs in the region has called for series of demonstrations in some countries like Ivory Coast where President Laurent Gbagbo was said to have cancelled custom duties after a second day of violent protests against rising food costs.
...
Huron John
Fri, 04/11/08
Reply to this
Linda B Wrote:
John is clearly lefter, uses left sources, and does get argued with a good bit. But he doesn't call the rest of us down for being stupid.
I guess I'm "lefter" than most
I NEVER WROTE THAT. GET YOUR FRIGGEN FACTS STRAIGHT. I WAS COMMENTING ON A POST.
puddle originally wrote the comments about HuJo - not lindab. lindab then asked if the linda mentioned in the post was her and included that comment of puddle's in her post. puddle was responding to a question from seashell, which was directed at me, about why I pick on her and LindaNM and not HuJo and Mike. it was not an insult to anyone. I thought puddle's answer pretty much covered how I feel.
and here we bi!ch and complain (and we do have good reasons) yet people all over the world are starving! and being blown up and having their homes and lives destroyed. time for me to get off the blog and go see what I can DO about it. later gators.
FWIW, all of the people who come and comment here are really brave. They're not afraid to make mistakes and don't mind being corrected.
Also, I am glad at the moment that I didn't give in to the gardening spirit. We had frost over-night and now it's barely 48 degrees and cloudy. When it really gets to be spring, I expect to be out of here during daylight hours. LOL
I rarely use the word "never," but I have never expected (or asked) anyone to research for me.
Unreal.
I'd expect to be virtually thrashed & flamed, if I did!
Sheer laziness. No excuse for it.
You're their "personal servant," Monica.
Is that platter silver, or encrusted with rubies & diamonds?
My Google homepage is customized, natch--per my specs.
None of this plain vanilla stuff.
yes let's all go out and do some good.
I work and do what I can and it never seems enough for me.
And like most of you I do it cause I want to make a difference.
Then we get to listen to the losers that sit and do NOTHING.
During the campaign for state senate I set up 30 precincts, got the captains, had meetings, gave out flyers, info and lots more.
So what happens two days before the election? I get asked who is working in Hidenwood at 2:30 pm cause this arshole who did nothing thinks I should know where everyone is at a certain time in case, well just in case.
That ruined it for me. Can't even look at that person again.
my metaphor for progressives is a wild native prairie with dozens of symbiotic interwoven relationships that define diversity while demanding inclusion; with recognition that the strength is hidden from view but the wholeness and beauty is not, all for one and one for all
Oh boy, whatever cosmetic it sounds..., it’s time to put on the bulletproof vest...
----------------
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24063674/
Obama calls for checks on executive pay
Shareholders would have say, but could not place limits on compensation
updated 1 hour, 26 minutes ago
INDIANAPOLIS - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is demanding that company shareholders have a say in how much executives get paid as he pushes his populist message.
......
Under Obama's legislation, shareholders could not veto a compensation package offered to an executive and would not place limits on pay. Rather, they would have a means to publicly express their position.
put your foot down, LindaB.
They'll "expect" you to perform like a circus dog.
Been there/done that. Start delegating, and fast!
If people complain...f^ck 'em.
I created a Google calendar for my local committee (been harping on it for 2 yrs.).
People could add/manage events whenever they wanted.
Esp. candidates.
Not rocket science.
The Chair posted the HTML code, then deleted it a few days later.
I thought I was losing my mind when entering an event that wouldn't "take."
He'd created one of his own.
Arshole, indeedy.
I'm done.
He'd prefer to flood people's inboxes w/crap.
linda b
I'm always just happy if someone takes a two hour slot , we endedup having our precincts all organized for three different candidates so this fall is going to be a piece of cake.
I'm going to be leading 500 Democratic delegates in a discussion of values as we update out stement of principles, and the one thing I think "progressives" leave out that old time democrats did not was the importance of assisting people in making a good living, a working economy.
thanks all, I have precinct chairs who delegate who works where and when.
If they need more people, I find them and push them to that precinct that needs it.
Pretty basic.
But the people that don't do the work are the one trying to articulate a perfect event.
Hey, we got our guy elected and I am proud to say I had a big part in it.
I hope I am not the Linda in this tyrade.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
lindab, you'll always be lindab to me. Linda is always Ninda*in* Cinninatti (et al).
Gosh, I so wish for the days of the blood-organge marmalade. . . .
During the campaign for state senate I set up 30 precincts, got the captains, had meetings, gave out flyers, info and lots more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DFA please hold a training in linda's neighborhood and we can turn a fifth of Virginia blue
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By Edwin Rutsch on Apr 10, 2008 1:37 PM EDTFor me Progressive Values are like a spaniel on the hunt. Jumping through the fields, sniffing, searching, full of energy. Spaniels have an openness, exploration and friendliness to them. Always looking for the next new find, adventure and idea. One of the most important progressive values to me it Seeking, that's the ongoing open-minded exploration and discovery of the world around us and searching for how to make things better.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a1/English_Water_Spaniel.jpg
Conservative Values are like the Ostrich with it's head in the sand. It's the opposite of the searching, instead it's being fearful and hiding from reality. Someone told me, conservatives values start with the idea and try to fix the facts to fit them. (For example the Failure of the occupation of Iraq.) Hence the Failed Conservative Values of fear, dogma and close-mindedness.
www.flickr.com/photos/spartacus007/23860934/