"leftists" and "progressives"?

Most of you know that my quest these days is to try to understand more about where we want to go and how to get there (in terms of the world that we want to live in--with respect, housing, education, health care, food, love, and fun for all). In the past week, I've had coffee with a bunch of folks, and soon I'll write some of my thoughts from each of them. But for now, just one tidbit that one of them urged me to write down & send to her.

I see 2 worlds in social justice stuff. [bear with me, this is a simplification, I will make generalizations, and I will unfairly characterize both according to some of you I"m quite sure]

One world is the "Leftist" world. I call it that cuz it's folks who talk about "the left" when referring to "our side". These folks include the Marxists, Leninists, Communists--most of the "ists" who have a lot to say about theory--where we're going and how to get there. What I appreciate about this world is that they think critically and deliberately about this stuff. On the other hand, these folks don't tend to do much basebuilding, or grassroots work with the folks most affected by the problems (ie, poor/working class, people of color, immigrants-in this country, youth, women, queers).

One world is the "Progressive" world. I call it that cuz it's folks who talk about "progressives" when referring to "our side." I'm actually referring to a more specific set of self-identified progressive folks that do community organizing--basebuilding & powerbuilding at the grassroots that puts folks most affected by the problems at the core of the work, and that do campaigns for concrete changes in conditions. What I appreciate about these folks is that the work is grounded in people's everyday experiences and works to build power through basebuilding and campaigns. On the other hand, these folks don't tend to do much big-picture strategizing, and what there is tends to be issue-focused, rather than broad-movement building focused.

My dilemma:
My heart is in the community organizing world. [and I'm not talking Alinsky-style, but CFJ-style, surprise surprise] But the big-picture analysis that I seek doesn't happen there. So I turn to the Leftist world rich with ideas. But that feels disconnected from the work that I see as crucial. And there are oh-so-few places that really try to bridge them.

Punto. Podría continuar para mucho, pero ya es tiempo para dormir.

ps. Thanks to the thoughtful comments on my last post, and for honoring my willingness to put such deeply personal stuff out there!