A very important diary on the Rec list pointed a meta finger at this community. It addressed a long running problem of progressive politics; sexism by those who should know better. I like to think that as a progressive of the male persuasion, that I am incapable of sexism, but the diary caused me to question a very fundamental aspect of myself.
I like to think I don't judge a person by how they look; but when it comes to debate, how one "looks" is very important. I don't mean sexy looks, I don't mean how one looks as defined by some societal convention.
What I mean is the power of one's Reason; how THAT looks.
The examples of sexism that the diarist culled from Daily Kos are vile, indeed. It has no place in our discourse. One would think that members of progressive politics would be above such vulgarity and bigotry. One would think that we are smarter than that.
But I have to confess to being grouped with the rest of male inhumanity; that I am nothing but a lone dog.
A lone dog for Reason, I would add. You might say that I am passionate about Reason, that I am affected by the power of Reason and how Reason looks.
I would never say a Coulter or Palin looked good or bad because of physical attributes; but only by their lack or abundance of Reason.
Because the best looking debater I ever saw was, Barbara Jordan.