Speak Up. Speak Out. Speak LOUDLY.

Progressives MUST start talking about their values.  Here’s an example.

FAMILY VALUES:  Family values are extremely important particularly concerning the raising of children.  Children must grow up in strong, supportive, loving homes.  Children become responsible, self-disciplined and self-reliant through being cared for, respected, and caring for others both in their family and community.  The obedience of children comes out of their love and respect for their parents and their community, NOT our of fear of punishment.  Good communication is crucial.  If their authority is to be legitimate, parents and other adults must explain why their decisions serve the cause of protection and nurturance. The principal goal of nurturance is for children to be fulfilled and happy in their lives.  This nurturance can and should come from multiple sources.  Mothers, fathers, grandparents, extended family, neighbors, and/or friends should all play a role in raising children.  The configuration of adults (and their sexual orientation) plays absolutely no role in a child’s healthy development - respect, nurturance, love, communication and protection does.  

I hate the system that tells us we must all compete for what are basic human necessities.

I hate the system that makes it easy for men to ignore sexism, whites to ignore racism and heterosexuals to deny people equal rights.

I hate all of the distractions that make the aforementioned ignorance possible.

I hate the system that creates vast amounts of wealth and poverty.

I hate the system that perpetuates war for every other reason except humanity.

I hate the system that allows scholars to study inequality but then almost requires that they do nothing about it.

I hate the system that doesn’t provide an adequate education to most of its population.

I hate the system that lets people call other people “lazy” even though they know absolutely nothing about them.

I hate the system that allows people to twist the brilliant words of Dr. Martin Luther King to serve their own purpose.

I hate the system that creates hierarchies based on race, gender, class and sexual orientation.

I hate the system that allows inequality to be reproduced day in and day out.

I hate the system that allows privilege to be ignored and oppression to be achieved.

I hate the system because it is all around us yet most of us don’t even see it.

I hate the system because it saps my strength and weakens my resolve.

And most of all, I hate the system because it sometimes makes me hate the people.