If you are a "liberal" or "progressive" or a "left winger" or some variation on that theme, then your "opposing number' would be conservatives or so-called "right wingers." And vice versa.
Like the old parlor game "gun to your head" the time has come to be bold and declarative. You cannot hate everything your opposing numbers stand for. Right? So, NAME the three things you most admire or respect or even share with your opposing numbers.
Like this:
I am a conservative. By conservative I do not mean 'social conservative' or some other adjective driven version of political conservatism. I mean a "conservative" in the sense that I believe we should adhere to the principles of a limited Constitutional Republic with allegiance to fiscal responsibility, the rule of law and an endorsement of the "civil society." Like that. As such, I generally disagree with the left wing side of the political spectrum. But, gun to my head, I can acknowledge some aspects of what we used to call "liberalism:"
1. The tendency of liberals to endorse the notion that we should become ever more determined to be as good as our Nation's historical promise. I reject the notion of "fundamental change," but kind of like changes that bring us closer to the old view of the promise of America.
2. I reject the notion that only liberals embrace principles of racial and sexual fairness, but I do admire their efforts to move us ever closer to the goal of being a fair and just society regardless of race or gender or gender identity.
3. I respect the modern American liberals' embrace of freedom of speech. I will not quibble too much on discussing when they fail to honor it themselves. The part I admire is the GENERAL notion that a free marketplace of ideas is a goal well worth trying to obtain.
Curious to see what others think. I was tempted to put this in a flame free zone, but the placement itself could lead to a derailment. So, I'm opting to put it in a more free-wheeling arena. I guess we'll see how that works out.
Like the old parlor game "gun to your head" the time has come to be bold and declarative. You cannot hate everything your opposing numbers stand for. Right? So, NAME the three things you most admire or respect or even share with your opposing numbers.
Like this:
I am a conservative. By conservative I do not mean 'social conservative' or some other adjective driven version of political conservatism. I mean a "conservative" in the sense that I believe we should adhere to the principles of a limited Constitutional Republic with allegiance to fiscal responsibility, the rule of law and an endorsement of the "civil society." Like that. As such, I generally disagree with the left wing side of the political spectrum. But, gun to my head, I can acknowledge some aspects of what we used to call "liberalism:"
1. The tendency of liberals to endorse the notion that we should become ever more determined to be as good as our Nation's historical promise. I reject the notion of "fundamental change," but kind of like changes that bring us closer to the old view of the promise of America.
2. I reject the notion that only liberals embrace principles of racial and sexual fairness, but I do admire their efforts to move us ever closer to the goal of being a fair and just society regardless of race or gender or gender identity.
3. I respect the modern American liberals' embrace of freedom of speech. I will not quibble too much on discussing when they fail to honor it themselves. The part I admire is the GENERAL notion that a free marketplace of ideas is a goal well worth trying to obtain.
Curious to see what others think. I was tempted to put this in a flame free zone, but the placement itself could lead to a derailment. So, I'm opting to put it in a more free-wheeling arena. I guess we'll see how that works out.
