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Progressive Values Stories: Chris Young on Opportunity
Linked to groups: DFA Night School
I attended an Obama house party in Oakland, California and met Chris Young. Chris is a lawyer who gave up his high paying corporate job to work on the Obama campaign. When I asked him what are progressive values, he talked about the importance of opportunity. He told the story of his African-American father who was in Folsom prison and how some opportunities opened up for him. Those opportunities trickled down to personally affect Chris' life.
" Ability is nothing without opportunity." Napoleon Bonaparte
"Start where you are. Distant fields always look greener, but opportunity lies right where you are. Take advantage of every opportunity of service." Jim Rohn
Chris Young: To me progressive values that stem from and find strength in communities that have historically been disenfranchised, that have historically been ignored and have historically suffered great injustice. And what we saw in the civil rights era was a progressive movement. And I think that the values of that era were and in a sense continued to be a place, a land of opportunity regardless of what your color, race, and gender is.
(more)
You should, and you ought to, and you deserve to be offered a full and fair opportunity to succeed and to thrive in each respective community and throughout America.Progressive values are not values that are associated closely with special interests, progressive values to me are not value that cater to or are appreciated by a minority. They are the values that Presidential candidate Barack Obama espouses and believes in. And those are values that within them there’s a common ground whether you’re rich, poor, black, white, woman, man, gay, lesbian, straight. We all share a desire to help our common neighbor to help raise our children and our society will be better than the one left by our parents and grandparents.
Progressive values to me are about moving forward, and to move forward together, not for some to move forward and others to be left behind.Edwin: Could you boil it down to a few terms? You mentioned opportunity. Do you think of that as a single value? Is that a value that you have personally? What value is most important to you.
Answer: Opportunity. I value the value of opportunity. Opportunity is most important to me because through opportunity and to be afforded opportunity, everyday people will be able to realize their potential and have that potential acknowledged and appreciated by the government and your local community.
Me personally, I have been fortunate to have a number of opportunities. They have come through a combination of hard work. I’ve also been fortunate to have been in the right place at the right time.
Edwin: Would you like to talk about those times when you felt that opportunity was manifest?
Answer: My father is African-American. He was born and raised in Watts, California, and spent a lot of time in prison, never went to a day of high school. On his last day in Folsom prison, he decided to move to Sacramento, a neighboring city. And with that decision, he promised himself that he would never return to the lifestyle that had led him to prison for the umpteenth time.
He lived in a small studio apartment in downtown Sacramento in a Victorian house. And there my mother, a white woman from a very wealthy business family in Sacramento, my father admired her from afar and thought he could never be with this woman for a number of reasons.
This was just after it was suddenly legal in the U.S. for white and black people to be married. Shortly after that was when they met, but still that legacy of separatism had carried still strongly, especially in a rural place at the time called Sacramento.
Speaking of opportunity, my mother and father ended up being together as soul mates. That led my mother to run up to my father upstairs, and they fell in love and were together for 26 years before my father died.
Having never been to a day of high school, my father wanted to get an education, so he began an education through a program at Sacramento City College.
He didn’t know how to read or write very well, but my mother gave him the opportunity to learn and succeed in school. She helped tutor my father, so that he could take the wisdom and intellect that he had and actually convey what he knew.
Well, that opportunity alone allowed my father to move on to Sacramento State Univ. where he received a BA and Masters in psychology. That is opportunity. From that opportunity, I was born into a family that couldn’t be more different – one very wealthy white with blond hair and blue eyes, and one black from South Central Los Angeles.
I learned to appreciate that story, and it served as the motivation for me to continue on and appreciate and recognize opportunity, pursuit, all the while appreciating it, and trying to make the most of it. So I have since appreciated a great public education, been fortunate to go off and attend Univ. of Berkeley Law School. I got admitted from San Diego State University, which is elite in and of itself.
I had the opportunity to work in the Senate in Sacramento as a fellow, and from that other opportunities came my way, and now I’ve decided to break away from the life I’ve been leading for the past year and a half, being a corporate lawyer for a San Francisco law firm, and to appreciate and seize the opportunity to work on Barack Obama’s campaign.
And so in line with the story about my mother and father and the opportunities that started way back when that have had a trickle-down affect and allowed me to appreciate these opportunities by myself in this house, speaking to you about what I feel is the most important value that I think this country has to value, and a value that I think is squarely consistent with what we think of when you talk about progressive change and progressive values.
More Resources about Opportunity.
Definition:
a. A favorable or advantageous circumstance or combination of circumstances.
b. A favorable or suitable occasion or time.
2. A chance for progress or advancement.
These nouns refer to a favorable or advantageous circumstance or combination of circumstances.
Opportunity is an auspicious state of affairs or a suitable time:
"If you prepare yourself . . . you will be able to grasp opportunity for broader experience when it appears" Eleanor Roosevelt.
Occasion suggests the proper time for action:
an auspicious occasion; an occasion for celebration.
An opening is an opportunity affording a good possibility of success:
waited patiently for her opening, then exposed the report's inconsistency.
Chance often implies an opportunity that arises through luck or accident:
a chance for us to chat; no chance of losing.
A break is an often sudden piece of luck, especially good luck:
got his first big break in Hollywood.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/opportunity
Equal opportunity is a descriptive term for an approach intended to provide a certain social environment in which people are not excluded from the activities of society, such as education, employment, or health care, on the basis of immutable traits. Equal opportunity practices include measures taken by organizations to ensure fairness in the employment process.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equal_opportunity
Some Questions To Ponder:
- What are your questions about opportunity?
- How has opportunity affected your life?
- What is it about opportunity that Conservatives don't understand?
- How does opportunity differ from conservative values?
- How have conservative values failed?
- Do you have ideas of how to improve the Progressive Stories Posts?
Edwin Rutsch
What Are Progressive Values? Documentary Project
http://ProgressiveSpirit.com
and Study Group
http://www.dfalink.com/group.php?id=2285
Cross Posted To:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/3/31/202349/333
http://www.opednews.com/articles/genera_edwin_ru_080401_progressive_values_s.htm
http://www.blogforamerica.com/view/24678
linda wrote "Tom, what do you mean - in what context?"
I have to think of some way to write "Dean is first" every time my comment is the first to appear on a thread. O'Donnell interviewed Dean briefly this afternoon on MSNBC.
31.
Fox Mulder
Tue, 04/01/08
Reply to this
20.
Tom Bearse
Tue, 04/01/08
Reply to this
Matt wrote "Child puppet stabs Bush puppet to death and then turns the White house into a Mosque."
It's just a puppet
They are just kids. What kinds of parents
Matt wrote "They are just kids. What kinds of parents are these?"
When I was young, we used to go in the fields around our parents' homes with plastic automatic rifles and pretend to kill East German soldiers while people escaped over the Berlin Wall.
Nowadays, kids don't have to go outside and face real weather and terrain conditions. They can kill Muslims on their game systems. When you analyze it, it's probably better training for using computer missile guidance systems, where you can track and kill targets by the score without the muss and fuss of seeing humans burned, split apart, or atomized in person. Are these enlistees patriots or the products of bad parenting?
It's interesting that equality rarely shows up as a progressive value. Is it because people think it's already been achieved? Perhaps, for the people being interviewed it has. Or perhaps its a matter of people who consider themselves equal not realizing that they are perceived otherwise by the elite.
For example, when James Carville accused Bill Richardson of being disloyal, that was based on an assumption that Bill Richardson is subordinate to and should be beholden to his benefactors, the Clintons. Egalitarians would never question a man's judgement in that way. It's not nice to denigrate another person because he or she disagrees with you.
Perhaps Richardson suddenly realized that he'd been disrespected; that he was one of those 'exceptions that prove the rule.'
If experience is really important in picking a President, then Richardson had Hillary coming and going. One has to wonder if some of Richardson's supporters were put up to it by the Clintons--like the Bush supporters backed Clinton as an insurance policy.
popping in.
I just saw Howard on CNN. He was exceptional, attacking McC on all fronts...doing what HC and BO should be doing.
This man should be prez, or running for prez or chosen as VP for whomever.
He makes both HC and BO seem like the pols they are...more interested in winning than in telling the truth. Howard's a fighter and we need a fighter. He gets right to the point, no bs.
He wants all supers to declare by July first and Reid agrees.
Howard for VP, nobody else. We need someone on the ticket who'll fight to bring about peace in the ME and who'll fight the corps. Or it'll be MOTS.
Meanwhile, things are getting interesting in Pakistan and you wonder why HÇ and BO are not talking about that. Frankly, I don't think they have a clue what to do except bomb or impose sanctions.
We shall see.
Oh, and popping back out. Blog appears to be dying with all the nastiness flying about.
Howard's a fighter and we need a fighter. He gets right to the point, no bs.
sea,
No argument there.
If Howard wants a spot in the Obama Administration, he will no doubt have it, perhaps even have first crack at what position. That would never happen in a Hillary Clinton Admin.
sea,
I believe I have read some news articles about Obama attacking McCain.
On the other hand Bill Clinton seems to praise McCain.
sea, re: Oh, and popping back out. Blog appears to be dying with all the nastiness flying about.
or perhaps they're all out working to get their candidate elected. and what 'nastiness' are you talking about...?
yes, Howard was exceptional - I love that he doesn't let folks take him off message very often. he would be a fantastic VP indeed!
I thought Hillary's attempt at humor today was a little flat, but I would just love to see a Hillary/Barack Bowl-Off!
Obama hammers McCain every time he speaks.
ahem - correction:
Obama hammers McCain every time he speaks publicly, such as at a primary rally or speech.
I hope Bush appreciates the irony since he did so much to put Hamas into power.
Jo*in*Vermont
puddle
Phil Specht
Thank you all for your feed back. I went out to Circuit City and Barnes and Noble. Picked up a hard cover copy of Barry's other book, Audacity of hope because it was in stock.
Ordered a hard cover copy of Rashid's book about the Palestinian quest for Statehood and looked at another history of Zionism that looks pretty unbiased, by Howard Sachar, It's huge.
Preparing for Digital TV and integrated home systems amplifier. Phono records coming back, like Onkyo TX-8522, good basic stereo.
Here's some great links from NPR
http://www.npr.org/news/specials/mideast/history/index.html
The Mideast:A Century of Conflict
the series
maps
timeline
bios
the experts
series transcripts
The Middle East and the West, A Troubled History
NPR's Mideast coverage
Morning Edition
seashell wrote: "Blog appears to be dying with all the nastiness flying about."
That's wishful thinking. MyDD continues unabated as it drips with seething animus, the most offensive of which I find to be ignorant Clinton supporters insulting and berating Chairman Dean for upholding the rulings of the DNC committee charged with the responsibility of sanctioning the rogue delegate selection contests in Florida and Michigan.
It is an outright betrayal to see former DFA and BFA bloggers on threads where this trash is bandied about, not lifting a finger to defend Dean's unimpeachable integrity throughout the entire sordid episode. You can impress upon yourself a lesson in infidelity and character deficit by taking a stroll through the diaries at that filthy shithole.
Jo, OK, that's 3 of us who would love to see Howard as VP; you, audrey and I! How can we work to get this done?
Seriously, how do we even start to do this? I would think we need a massive mail-in to BO and /or HC...maybe moveon would back Howard as VP.
It would unite the party which is so fragmented now. A BO/Ms.Sominex would not do it IMO. While BO has a tendency to have his head in the clouds and philosophizing, Howard would pull him back to earth to get things done.
And Hillary deserves much more credit than she gets here.
Hillary/Bosnia
Barack/Wright
Let's move on and beat McC and get Howard on the tickie.
Oh, and popping back out. Blog appears to be dying with all the nastiness flying about.
One should always start by cleaning up her own yard.
But I'm guessing any falloff in blogging has more to do with the fact that this blog doesn't work. Submitting a comment and then scrolling up to find out where it landed isn't for everyone.
11. Joan In Florida
Tue, 04/01/08
Fred
Obama's experience in the financial field is something he ought to be touching on in his campaign.
=====================
The single most effective tactic in military conflict is the element of surprise. I think Obama is wise not to flaunt his backround unless necessary. The dumber they think he is, the better his advantage when he really needs to show his knowledge, like in debate with McCain. Let the GOP bees-wax bullshit artists think they know it all - then let them have it at the appropriate time.
I'm trying to get mary to bite on an april fools trick on the new thread
Tom wrote: You can impress upon yourself a lesson in infidelity and character deficit by taking a stroll through the diaries at that filthy shithole.
No doubt like the one you posted from the Obama supporter Mydd Cesspool.
I no longer even slightly consider it a compliment that you are obsessed with me, following my every moves and postings...and having to repost my comments here. Of course, not giving to what I am responding to or not, but that doesn't matter, why break stride now. LOL
You delight in the open dialogue at mydd, because it's not all hate Hillary like here or dailykos. and apparently feed off of the counter voice allowing you to flex your fake outrage muscle. You go searching out. But if that was all you needed, you wouldn't need to keep advertising and bringing comments back here.
I do agree, there are more and more Dean folks on mydd and supporting Hillary.
So Tom, stop your fake outrage you are purposefully trying to create a more hostile environment especially when things calm down too much for you, you search to find more to excite you.
Flame on in my absence as always.
6. Monica
equality does show up a lot as a progressive value. the top 4 so far, out of over 100 interviews, have been caring, community, equality, and justice. I'll post some progressive values stories about equality soon...
edwin
SEASHELL....
Yes, Howard is exceptional. You mentioned taking down McC. Remember how he took Bush down from the 70's to the '50s on the war, and did it single handedly?
You say three of us favor a VP for Dean. About a week or
so ago, Subway Serenade wrote a great post, and he is in favor. Then I wrote a few posts, and some others commented and agreed. Favorable comments from Annilow, James Stewart, Joan in Fl. and Phil who said yes he thought we ought to go for the best.
A good start might be to send out to other blogs some well thought out posts. On Dailykos, and DU, whenever there is a post about Howard there are tons of positive comments about him. That would be a good place to introduce the idea. I have already seen some others suggesting it.
We already have the POWER, all we need is a little hope.
Seashell..
One way to promote an idea is to keep dropping the idea repeatedly in as many places as possible and let it pick up it's own momentum..
ALERT....ALERT....ALERT
CNN calling for e-mails as to whether you think Howard Dean is doing enough to resolve the Primary dispute. As of the moment 44% do and 56% don't.
Howard gave a great comment ....he said that both sides want him to do more and resolve it in their favor, and a lot of people are going to be mad at him, but he's going by the rules.
Let's give him support NOW...
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Dean: First.