Wise Green Words
My husband sent me this link to a talk given by Sam Smith to the Green Party of Montgomery County, called Finding Greener Pastures and Greener Voters which I thought was well done. The whole article is a must read for those involved in the Green Party, but here are few bits from that talk:
"The pride also comes from something that is still unappreciated by many Greens and certainly ignored by the media - namely that based on public opinion polls, Greens - despite their meager electoral showing - are the party that best reflects the view of a majority of Americans on such issues as the Iraq war, the environment, health care, campaign financing, population growth, genetically modified foods, and marijuana use."
snip
" . . a shocking amount of nonrenewable energy has been expended on arguing whether supporting David Cobb or Ralph Nader was the right choice. Yet together these candidates received less than one half of one percent of the vote. Looked at another way, the candidates together received 2.3 million fewer votes than Nader had in 2000.
snip
"The important thing, however, in discussing all these matters is for Greens to remember that they are members of the same team, selecting the next play not to prove their virtue but to improve their mutual position. The virtue they can take for granted; the position will be determined by each day's practical choices. If there is any virtue to be consciously observed during these difficult decisions it is that of kindness towards each other."
That last bit about kindness toward each other may be the hardest part for those involved in Green and progressive politics.
"The pride also comes from something that is still unappreciated by many Greens and certainly ignored by the media - namely that based on public opinion polls, Greens - despite their meager electoral showing - are the party that best reflects the view of a majority of Americans on such issues as the Iraq war, the environment, health care, campaign financing, population growth, genetically modified foods, and marijuana use."
snip
" . . a shocking amount of nonrenewable energy has been expended on arguing whether supporting David Cobb or Ralph Nader was the right choice. Yet together these candidates received less than one half of one percent of the vote. Looked at another way, the candidates together received 2.3 million fewer votes than Nader had in 2000.
snip
"The important thing, however, in discussing all these matters is for Greens to remember that they are members of the same team, selecting the next play not to prove their virtue but to improve their mutual position. The virtue they can take for granted; the position will be determined by each day's practical choices. If there is any virtue to be consciously observed during these difficult decisions it is that of kindness towards each other."
That last bit about kindness toward each other may be the hardest part for those involved in Green and progressive politics.