What does being ‘progressive’ mean?
As a white, straight older male, I certainly understand my privilege. I wish more people in my position and similar ones would take a look at theirs.
Like many of my fellow citizens here in Northampton, I consider myself a progressive. But being a progressive is a sliding scale — and it also can be a slippery slope.
I am nervous when progressives blithely embrace the status quo, even when the status quo is being maintained by fellow progressives. That’s not to say the status quo is always bad; it’s just to say that the status quo usually doesn’t negatively affect privileged people. But maintaining the status quo also usually doesn’t do any favors for the disadvantaged, the poor, the marginalized.
We all like to think we’re good people. We like to think we’re doing the right thing. But as progressives, we constantly need to take a look in the mirror and ask if are we really looking out for progressive causes. Are we really trying to help the disadvantaged, the people who really need help, the people that require real change?
If we put projects and initiatives that don’t help those people ahead of those that DO help those people, are we really being progressive?
I think it’s time – actually far beyond time – for some progressive to take a look at themselves and what they think being progressive is. The root of the word “progressive” is “progress.” But there is no real progress if we leave people behind.
George Lenker
Northampton