Greg has an easy time spanking our favorite newbie to the blogosphere, Joke Line. Riffing off that, I'd like to say that I am a proud ideological extremist. Proud.

History is filled with people who were in their day, considered "extreme." Suffragettes. Environmentalists. Abolitionists. Gay Rights Activists. They were all told, in their day, that to talk about, let alone agitate for, their ideological goals was "bad form" and "uncivil." To which most said, in some form or another, "Fuck that." (Quaker version: Fucketh Thyself)
And they were right to do so. You don't bring about justice and change by not making people uncomfortable. You do it by just the opposite- people grant what you're asking for because they want you to stop talking about it all the time, and give them some peace.

it's time to reframe this discussion, and proudly endorse and support those who lead from the front, not pander to the mushy, pearl-clutching middle. Yes, I know that extremism has resulted in many historical horrors, but extremism in the service of equality, justice and tolerance are not on that list.