(cross posted from dailyKos)
What do a 19th century rabbi and a 21st century congressional candidate have in common? They both exemplify the true meaning of progressivism.
Israel Salanter was a 19th century rabbi
Sam Bennett is a woman running for Congress
This morning, I wrote a diary on
Republican representatives in Democratic districts and, while researching it, ran across
Sam Bennett who is running for congress in PA-15. She says, on her site
The Bush Administration seems to have things exactly backwards. Where government should be robust – protecting and caring for its citizens – they have made it weak. Where government should tread lightly, they have made it overbearing.
A long time ago, I wrote a diary on dailyKos called
The 25 best things ever said by anyone. My number 1 was from Rabbi Israel Salanter:
Most men worry about their own bellies, and other people’s souls, when we all ought to be worried about our own souls, and other people’s bellies
Aren’t those two quotes perfect?
Sam Bennett’s quote is 35 words. Do they not sum up what is wrong?
Salanter’s quote is 26 words. Do they not generalize that concern for the ages?
Are we progressives?
My soul is my business, thank you, and I would like the government not to tell me how to live my life – whom to worship (or how, or when, or if), or whom to love (male or female). But everyone’s belly is everyone’s business, and, in this 21st century world, the government must help. We no longer live, most of us, in small villages where everyone knows everyone. We live in anonymous megalopolises.
PS My earlier diary did well on big O., and seems to have fallen into a void, here. This one is going nowhere on daily Kos, but may be more appropriate here.
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I just really like these quotes, and I’ve donated some money to Bennett
…I’d rec (but it’s button free…). Lovely.
I think that a lot of the people here are tired of all the political flames on DKos and are more philosophically oriented, with a strong accent on actions, I know that is why I spend more time here.
A rather inane comment, I know, just saying that I am appreciative of both sides of your blogging activities. Keep it up.
That pretty much sums up the Bush admin for me… 😉
We are in the age of “we”, not “me” anymore. Whether or not you credit New Agers and the one mind, one heart perspective, at least more people are begining to understand and hopefully to accept our interconnectedness with other humans and other life on this planet.
It is becoming increasingly clear that if we want to have water to drink, and clear air to breathe, it will take planning and global cooperation, all of which is sadly lacking today.