April 11, 2008 at 14:27:15

Progressive Values Stories: More Creative Progressive Metaphors

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By Edwin Rutsch (about the author) Page 2 of 3 page(s)

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Edwin: If progressive values was a piece of land, what kind of land would it be?

Answer: Open land, a land in which everyone was free to share resources in a fair and equitable way. A land continuously improving, that wasn’t wasted away or overused. A land regulated in a way where everyone could be ensured it would get better and better in the future. Things would grow – instead of barren and dusty soil you’d have shade and streams and productivity. That’s what progress means – improvement.

Ahjamu Makalani - Scale of Justice

I’m much more grounded in the reality in which I live. When Eugene Debs went throughout the country in the late 1800 and early 1900’s, he made it clear that a chicken in every pot, a man is in prison, I feel you. That’s what I’m talking about. Having a connection in terms of social realities, and how we can improve upon our realities.

But I’m not very much in coming up in some kind of metaphors on what progressive values are. I would say a metaphor for justice would be, what was it Plato said. I remember about the scale with the woman who is blind, but given our reality I’d rather for the woman to take the blinds off and see the reality for what is, because sometime when you’re blind, you don’t have justice. In fact, you have a great deal of injustice. I’m not quite sure that’s an appropriate metaphor either. That’s why I’m sort of stymied with that one.

Carol Hanelberg - a Flower

I’m very found of flowers, so that really struck me when you went down your list. There’s a particular flower that I really like, it’s very pretty to look at. I don’t know the name of it, but it’s purple, and the bush has narrow, pointed leaves. So that’s what comes to mind. I think of it as being perfect to look at, attractive, inviting,

Jason Theirs - a Flat Land

We’re leaning to equality and the type of language would be an example of a flat land, or something that is very even, where beliefs are pretty much the same, there’s no sense that everybody is equal or not. We are unique individuals, but at the same time, being able to understand that even though this person talks different or has a different personality or looks different, that on the inside they’re the same. They have a heart, a liver, just like us.

Phil Specht - Wild Native Prairie

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

Edwin Rutsch - a Progressive Spaniel versus Conservative Ostrich

for 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.

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.

"Metaphor gives light and strength to description." John Brent

Can you create a metaphor for what Progressive Values are like and another one for what Conservative Values are like? Describe and explain your metaphor. How do the images relate to the values?

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