I've been putting this off since I'm not yet comfortable with DK4, but I've decided to cross my fingers and hope for the best.
One of the things that makes me proud to be a progressive is the progressive value of diversity. Our differences let us learn from each other and open our eyes to new perspectives, ideas and experiences. Being open to differences and working together is critical for our political success, and it is at best simply part of who we are and what we stand for as progressives.
Every day and in every kind of diary we broaden our horizons and and learn about and from each other. However, even in this bastion of progressive ideals we could be doing more to foster an inclusive atmosphere that reflects our progressive values. Whether it's in reference to the State someone is from, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, (dis)ability, color, creed or preference for pootie or woozle (or in my case snake) - we aren't always mindful that our diversity is one of our greatest strengths.
Inclusion is also a progressive issue beyond the DailyKos community. As a queer person and the mother of a child with Asperger Syndrome, I've had my own experiences of ways in which society marginalizes and excludes some citizens simply because they are different. But I'm sure there are many forms of exclusion and discrimination that I'm not aware of, and I 'd like to learn from my fellow kossacks.
I hope this group can be a respectful place to learn from each other, reflect on our own experiences, celebrate differences and strengthen our progressive commitment to diversity and inclusion. Learning from each other and affirming all of our fellow human beings can only make us stronger as a community and hopefully as a political movement.
Some topics we plan to discuss are:
GLBTQ rights, US treatment of Native Americans, parenting special needs children, transgender and the gender binary, coming from diverse religious backgrounds, (mental) health issues, convention and peer pressure as enemies of progress, being marginalized by poverty, immigration... and many more.
If you care about inclusion or any of these issues, we'd love to learn from what you have to share.
Peace