What exactly are Progressive politics? Websites like this one are great for generating debate and stimulating thought, but the name, Progressive U.org, seems to imply something more. To me it seems to say 'This a place to find a common ground between the left and the right'. But is that possible? As I browse through the posts and comments on this site I'm not so sure. People seem to come in here pretty well polarized one way or another already. I've seen a few posts lately that have basically degenerated into grade-school name calling (not that there is anything wrong with that -- I personally have 'mamma' jokes for days).
So here you have a (virtual) place specifically designed (I believe, I could be all alone in this) to nurture and create a valid "3rd" point of view, a way to think and act on issues that affect our time and place in history, that is in danger of becoming just another blogspot. I know for a fact that the people who run this site work very hard to make it have an impact on the lives of the people who participate with it and so I wonder, if this site's purpose is as I've described, is the idea of a "3rd" viewpoint a valid one? If so, what would this viewpoint consist of?
I guess I'm challenging the posters on this site to come up with view and arguments on toady's issues that satisfy both sides and could possibly provide some PROGRESS to issues that seem to generate endless debate and no solutions. I mean are you really satisfied after reading a lengthy post that someone took the time to write, to respond with, "You're a stupid Pinko-Commie" or "Typical Warmonger response"? (Okay, I made those two up, but it's fairly typical of some people's responses).
I'll even start. Separation of Church and State has been popular lately, so what would be a Progressive viewpoint on that subject? I'll tell you what, I'll even give prizes for the best response! First place is an autographed picture of me! Second place is two pictures, 3rd is three, etc. You get the idea.
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I agree with your main point - this site, to me, is more about Right-bashing and Bush-bashing than it is with coming up with solutions for everybody.
To answer your question, to me, the Progressive thing to do would be to recognize that people have a right to practice their religion as long as it doesn't interfere with the lives and well-being of others. It's been said many times, but I'll repeat it: there is no freedom FROM religion in the constitution. If you're not the religious type you are perfectly capable of not saying "Under God" in the pledge, you don't have to participate in a public prayer and you don't have to go to Church. Those people who ARE religious can be tolerant of those who aren't and respect their views while those people who AREN'T religious can be tolerant of the religous and respect their views as well.
I agree with both of you that sometimes the discussions on this site devolve into name-calling. And certainly there is a fair amount of right-bashing and Bush-bashing.
However, I submit that this is all part of the democratic process of coming up with constructive solutions. A large percentage of visitors will do nothing more than read. Some portion of visitors will write one-sentence comments, sometimes only with knee-jerk reactions. And then some smaller percentage will write longer, well-though-out positions.
People who visit this site are not children, so I think we need to give some leeway in terms of the language and level of formality that we allow. We have all probably said or written things that we later regret, but I think it serves a useful purpose to get things off your chest. It's much better than not thinking about these things at all, or than thinking about it but keeping it pent up inside.
For people that enjoy a more formal structure to their dialogs, where name-calling is more seldom seen, there are two sites on our blogroll that I can recommend: The World Forum, and the Roosevelt Institution. Please check them out, and definitely participate there if you have the time and are up to the challenge.
Regarding the separation of church and state, I've outlined my two cents on that here.
John Podesta, President of the Center for American Progress, gave a speech at the University of Wisconsin-Madison detailing what it means to be Progressive:
http://www.campusprogress.org/tools/593