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.