For two years I have had the privilege to write as an editorial columnist for The Eagle. As a blue dog Democrat, I have continuously strived to present my sincere, but also balanced, views on political issues. To some, my columns may have been too nuanced and lacking zeal for the Democratic Party line. But I am proud of my past endeavors to write as an independent-minded Democrat. As a "progressive," I value intellectual openness. Ideologies are ultimately only a product of man's thinking, and can be replaced by new thoughts. I have frequently described myself as a moderate not because I lack confidence in my political beliefs, but because I acknowledge the importance of "reforming" my own ideology through learning both conservatives and liberals alike.
As I have explicitly stated in my previous articles, I support big government. I believe in government as a force for moral good to provide justice, fight evil and offer visions for a better future. In fact, it is for this very reason that I am majoring in political science in the first place. I also believe in the dual nature of mankind: that we have the strength to stand up for common good but are weak enough to fall into "sin" without the rule of law and justice to discipline us. I have supported the Democratic Party for all those years because yes, I am a "communitarian," a believer in the individuals' public responsibility to use government as a medium to promote the well-being of this country and the whole world.
However, it would be presumptuous for me or anyone else to assume that there is only one definition of a "progressive" society. Whether one labels himself a liberal or a conservative, nearly all of us aspire for a better future and have our own visions for achieving this goal.
Many, including myself, idealize a spiritual society where people seek love and inspiration from our creator. Others idealize a consistent culture of life, in which all human life is honored from conception to natural death. Still others idealize a life of personal liberty, so each individual can make his own personal choices to live the life of his choosing. While some aspirations may be more achievable than others, none should be discredited as irrelevant. If progressives truly believe in a government for the good of the people, then they must take into account what the people themselves expect from their government.
It is natural that we Democrats will have different policy views from Republicans. In fact, it may be in the public interest that the two parties have different priorities so each could specialize in addressing specific political issues - free trade versus fair trade, for instance. What is important, however, is that we engage in continued dialogues with our counterparts and learn to articulate responses to their objections. President Obama, for instance, responded to skeptics of environmental regulation by proposing a sort of "Green" New Deal, stimulating the economy through development of alternative energies. Republican scrutiny, as irking as it may be, is a blessing in disguise, as it forces greater public accountability on the part of the Democrats.
I certainly want the Obama administration to succeed and deliver liberal accomplishments. However, let us not forget that Republicans will inevitably retake the White House in future. Conservative accomplishment is not mutually exclusive from liberal ones and the Democrats should challenge the future GOP president to "properly" achieve his own goals. Ultimately, it is the competitive coexistence between the two political parities that will promote harmonious progress in the United States.
While I now leave AU still a faithful Democrat, I acknowledge the contributions by those on the other side who complement my values and hope that our campus will continue its endeavor to be a diverse academic setting through respectful inclusion of competing political thoughts and visions.
Jong Eun Lee is a senior in the School of Public Affairs and a moderate liberal columnist for The Eagle. You can reach him at edpage@theeagleonline.com.
