Thanks, and I hope we’re not just talking past each other at this point. I agree with what you’re saying, and yes, I would place Ted Kennedy–liberal lion that he was–in the moderate camp. He certainly had his passions and commitments, and he was a tireless champion of liberal causes, but he also listened (like you said) to people who disagreed with him. Sometimes this might have led him in the wrong direction. After all, he didn’t live to see the health-care reform he spent his career fighting for. But I think that reform is going to happen, and I think he should receive much of the credit, *and* I think he was a “moderate” by my definition.

Anyway, thanks again, and just to tie up one other loose end, I hear what you’re saying about me advocating health-care reform because I’m a health-care provider. I also advocate reform because I am a citizen, and because I believe that access to affordable health care is a right, not a privilege.

Best regards –

Stephen

Thanks. I guess I would only add that Ted Kennedy was a great liberal voice, and he listened to his conservative counterparts. By your definition, he’s also a moderate. But he fought tirelessly for civil rights and economic justice. I just don’t think we can afford to wait. It’s time for action.

Thanks for letting me know your position. Here’s how I see it: right now, it may be hard to feel hopeful, but I am convinced that GLBT civil rights are going to be a reality–in totality, and well within our lifetimes. (Not sure how old you are, but even if you’re elderly, I still think you’ll live to see that!) I see how, with every passing year, states and other governments around the country–and plenty of churches, too–are moving in this direction. Having said that, I want to say two more things: 1) I think Obama needs to do more. And 2) I want to hear the stories of people who are still struggling with this issue. Maybe it’s because I’m a therapist, but if you’re not shouting at me or just making stuff up (think Sarah Palin), I want to hear from you, even if you thoroughly disagree with me. I think we can “fight tooth and nail” (as you say) while also staying in dialogue with people who disagree with us.

And yes, sometimes that slows down the change we want. It’s for this reason–these two reasons–that I see my position as left-of-center/moderate. Believe me, I want justice and I want it yesterday! I want justice in all kinds of areas, particularly in the area of income inequality. By the standards of the shouting heads on Fox News, I’m probably a socialist. But I also want dialogue with people who are seriously working on the issue, and struggling with it. I think that makes me more moderate than the next guy (and is probably a result of being a therapist!), and I know there are costs when we seek discussion and (in some cases) consensus. But I think it’s worth it, and when all is said and done and GLBT civil rights are the law of the land, I think the new law will be resting on a much more solid structure: it will have been informed by healthy dialogue, and healthy dissent. I think that’s how it’s supposed to work. But again, thanks for your comments, and I hope this sheds some light on my original post.

I’m frustrated to see you call yourself a moderate, or anyone call themselves that at this critical time. There’s no way we can get LGBT rights if we don’t fight tooth and nail. How can you say you’re a moderate on other issues, for that matter? You should want healthcare not just because you’re a provider, but because you’re a citizen who believes in the right of everyone to have access to medical care. Sorry, but moderates really rub me the wrong way.