I am an agnostic. I don’t know if there is a god. I don’t think there is, but I don’t really know. I don’t even think I can know. At least, not for certain.
I drive a Prius and I avoid using too much non recyclable materials and I try not to eat burgers or steak very often.
I have a membership to the local museum and independent movie theater and I buy my books at local bookstores and organic food from the local supermarket.
My wife and I earn a comfortable living, but we still buy used clothes and furniture from second hand stores, antique shops and garage sales and even though I am not Catholic, I do the sign of the cross every single time I drive by Walmart.
I watch the Daily Show and occasionally Rachel Maddow and Real Time and I never ever watch CNN unless it’s an election day and MSNBC has gone to commercial and I am on the edge of my seat waiting for results.
I live in a light blue state, so sometimes I vote for a Democrat who is on the far left and sometimes in the center and sometimes even a little bit to the right of center.
I do my best to support gay rights, women’s rights, minority rights, children’s right (thank you, Hillary) and the rights of the disabled(thank you, Bernie).
I am outraged about Flint. I stood with Ahmed. I am sick every time another black boy dies in the street.
I am a progressive. I am not as far left as Bernie, but I don’t have to be. I don’t have to be as far as any other progressive to be a progressive myself.
I don’t have to be an atheist.
I don’t have to bike everywhere.
I don’t have to be a vegan.
I don’t have to grow my own food.
I don’t have to sew my own clothes.
I don’t have to listen to NPR.
I don’t have to let anyone tell me that just because I don’t go as far as they do that I am not a progressive. I am a progressive. I live my life as a progressive. I make daily choices that are informed by my progressive beliefs.
Hillary may not be as far left as Bernie, but she is a progressive and so are all of those people standing behind her in that picture above cheering as she champions progress.
They are progressives, not because they can mark off a checklist of issues on which they land on the far left, but because they not only deeply care about progress, but they support progress every day by not only speaking up and speaking out but by making choices about how they are going to live their lives in a way that helps move this country forward.
Bernie is a wonderful candidate, but he is not the only progressive running. Hillary has been a progressive her entire political career. That is why I and millions of other progressives support her! We have seen her work hard for progress and we have faith in her promise to continue working hard!
Progressives who are farther to the left than we are have our respect, but they don’t have the right to tell us who we are. We know who we are. We are your fellow progressive standing shoulder to shoulder with you marching toward a better future for this country!