VirusHead

Moderation in all things, excess in nothing.– Epicurus

Imagine that the Girl Next Door moved to the big city. Think of Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally. She’s America’s sweetheart with an urban sensibility. She’s a post-Christian spiritualist, a pre-Monica Clintonite, and a dues-paying member of at least one social-change organization like NOW, Planned Parenthood, or the Sierra Club (one of the above, and ACLU). You won’t find her at an Earth First or PETA meeting, though. Those are the Granola Girl’s stomping grounds. Progressive Girls want the world to be a better place, but they live out their politics in a moderate, left-of-center way. (I’m more left than center)

If you are going to date a Progressive Girl, the one sin you can commit is to be a chameleon. Molding your opinions to fit hers will lose her respect (absolutely). One very positive thing you can do is offer her new experiences — the Progressive Girl is fearless about trying new things. Whether it’s pluralism, skydiving, Asian peanut sauce, or a book, the Progressive Girl is always looking for new ideas. (chameleon is good, and so is spine, need to know how to debate, new experiences are great – most of the time)

She Might Be a Progressive Girl if:

• 1. She drives: a small SUV but really wishes it got better mileage; once she can get a good hybrid, she will. (Nix: No car, but would like a hybrid!)
• 2. She can talk for more than ten minutes about: just about anything. (um…yeah, probably)
• 3. She begins her sentences with: “Susan Sarandon says…” (Hardly ever appeal to authority, but I do like Susan Sarandon)
• 4. She’d never: pass up the chance for a new experience. (There are a few I’d pass on)
• 5. She owns any of the following: a water filter, a tabletop fountain, an acre of rain forest, a mutt from the pound. (water filter, and I do click for causes, including for rain forest)