"Time for Progressives to Grow Up" Comments
Here's what people are saying about "Time for Progressives to Grow Up," by Frances Moore Lappé, originally published on December 23, 2004 by the Guerrilla News Network. Join the discussion below by submitting a comment.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Click here to read Terry Mollner’s essay in response, “We Need to Find Our American Gandhi Voice”
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I suggest: "What is conservatism and what is wrong with it?"
To add to the discussion and an answer to why not the green party I
suggest the following:
"What Is Conservatism and What Is Wrong with It?" by Philip E. Agre,
Department of Information Studies, University of California, Los Angeles.
It starts off with a historical look at the origins of "conservatism."
Dan
Tuesday, June 7, 2005 8:48 AM
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"Why don't Democrats defect to the Green Party?"
1. If liberals have to become authoritarian to win, how can liberals
exist?
2. How can liberals concentrate wealth and power and not become conservatives?
3. How can the liberal majority project their power without concentrating
it?
4. How can liberals prevent the wealth/power concentration that gives
us dictatorships while working within authoritarian government?
5. Why don't Democrats defect en masse to the grassroots party that
takes no corporate money and represents ALL progressive values, the
fastest growing third party, the Greens?
John Leason
Fort Lauderdale
Friday, May 27, 2005 3:05 PM
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"framing a message for adults"
I did not know how else to respond to Frances' article "Time for Progressives
to Grow Up", so I ask if you could please forward this.
I have read Mr. Lakoff's book. I too thought that his suggested solution
was not adequate considering how progressives have been labeled. But,
I feel that your suggestion of community does not capture a broad enough
frame such that those who need to be convinced have something they can
relate too. You hint at what I think needs to be the starting point
with your sub section title of "Time to grow up" and "let’s reframe
the entire conversation to one that begins with a definition of citizens
as responsible grown-ups, not helpless children". This phrase I think
gets to the core of the frame that the conservative are speaking from.
Community suggest maturity. You need to be an adult. But, those that
need to be reached are restricted from being a full and complete adult
because of the source of the "strict father" frame. The source is their
interpretation of the Christian bible. Jesus is "father". Thus, no matter
what, they are always crossing between an identity as an adult (among
peers and as parents) and an identity as a child (every time religion
is evoked, church, bible class, lecturing, etc). This is a terrible
dichotomy to live with. This is the void, the reason for wanting of
more that such people are left with. Even as a child we all want to
be adults. Imagine living with "the" core message of how to live life
being a message that you are always a child? I believe it is the source
of their approach to life: suppression/punishment. Imagine the energy
it takes to suppress the natural progress toward adulthood and it's
freedom do to being self responsible? We don't have to imagine the psychosis
that is created, we can see it in children who are suppressed via abuse.
What if, in framing we offer them the one thing that is really wanting:
adulthood? The frame now becomes (using their language) a salvation
into adulthood. Never again having to be vacillating between adult and
child. Their Jesus/God is no longer "father" but an adult. Jesus is
the example of adulthood, maturity, or in pysch language fully self
actualized, etc. They are offered a way to move toward a perspective
of life that inherently they want but have been taught to actively suppress.
From a frame of adulthood you can move to your frame of community which
moves to Lakoff's frame of family. If we only start at a frame of community,
then we have only offered what can be interpreted as a manifestation
of family. After all, they have their community which is lead by father
and father told them progressive is wrong and must be suppressed. "But
daddy, I want to grow up?"
Daniel Becker
N. Smithfield, RI
Friday, May 27, 2005 12:48 PM
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"adult, intelligent modification to Lakoff's focus"
I just discovered the Lappé family [via Common Dreams inclusion
of piece by Frances on Lakoff and frames]. The Lakoff focus on frames
is very attractive, but Frances’s very adult, intelligent modification
to emphasize community is a huge improvement. One of the very intelligent
pieces of progressive writing I’ve read recently. I saved it. You’re
wonderful! Keep it up.
Michael J. DeLaurentis
Elkins Park, PA
Thursday, May 26, 2005, 11:52 PM
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"I deeply admire your efforts, work and courage"
I enjoyed reading the essay, "Time For Progressives To Grow Up," by
Frances Lappé on Alternet plus I checked out the
Small Planet Institute website. I deeply admire your efforts, work
and courage.
Perry Widhalm
Thursday, May 26, 2005 9:35 PM
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"Thanks for writing what I have been thinking..."
Your essay in Common Dreams is getting circulated this Memorial Day
weekend to all my friends and family. Thanks for writing out loud what
I have been thinking for some time.
Timothy Colman
Seattle, WA
Thursday, May 26, 2005 6:47 PM
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"the distinction between Republicans and Democrats"
Your article is so good I had to tell you so. What you say is similar
to what I said on my
blog. I say the distinction between Republicans and Democrats is
that Republicans are excessively competitive and Democrats are cooperative.
The Republicans' "must-win-at-all-costs" is part of this super-competitiveness.
Paul Siegel
Long Beach, CA
Thursday, May 26, 2005 2:39 PM
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"this one article has sparked my hope for a positive future"
Please pass along to Frances Moore Lappé my heartfelt appreciation
for her recent article "Time for Progressives to Grow Up." This one
article has sparked my hope for a positive future. When I read Lakoff's
book about framing, I knew it was on track but again not quite exacting
about a solution. But Frances's article carried his argument to a better
place. Please tell her "Thank you" for me. And to please carry her argument
further and to a larger audience.
Charlene McKee
former editor, Woman of Power Magazine
Cotuit, MA
Thursday, May 26, 2005 1:36 PM
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You Have the Power
Choosing Courage in a Culture of Fear
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n You
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True Lies
“Must read” — Marc Maron, Air America
By Anthony Lappé and Stephen Marshall with Ian Inaba of the Guerrilla News Network (Plume/Penguin 2004)
n True
Lies, GNN doesn’t offer up another cranky complaint about
media and politics. The authors hit the road, traveling across the country
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From Fat to Famine
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obesity epidemic.
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