To the editor:

In response to Eric Haar’s letter on Jan. 15, please allow me to clarify a few things that I, as a progressive, stand for.

First, I do not harbor “disdain for the liberation of Iraqis.” Rather, I understand that “liberation” is a false pretext that Bush has used to occupy Iraq. His administration is there for the oil and not the liberation of Iraqi men, women and children, who, in opposing this war, I support tremendously.

Second, I don’t seek to “completely redefine marriage.” I simply oppose constitutional amendments that restrict the rights of citizens, gay or straight. Allowing gay citizens the right to wed who they choose is not in any way a threat to the institution of marriage.

Third, I do not feel that a living wage is a “scam on job providers.” I do feel that those employers that don’t provide their workers with enough money for basic living expenses such as food, shelter and clothing are wrong on an ethical level.

As a progressive and spiritual citizen, my entire political paradigm is based on the values of empathy, responsibility, fairness, prosperity, service, freedom, community, honesty and opportunity. I believe that these are the values of the majority of eligible voters, who, to remind Mr. Haar, did not vote for Bush.

I feel it is a profound misunderstanding on the part of the right to proclaim that liberals and progressives have no moral value framework from which they base their political opinions.

Christopher Pryor,

Lawrence