I've never liked the label of "progressive" as most of us - okay - I have actually commented on the subject - so let me cut, paste and edit it a little:

"I'm not sure why the progressive movement allowed the conservatives (who all too often like to think of themselves as the moderates - rolling my eyes) to define "progressives".  Sure there were some things that were going on that was making the progressive movement unappealing, but it seems that progressives could have distanced themselves from that.

<div>While I do not like the labels and would at least like to fool myself into believeing that my beliefs and politics are along that of moderate mainstream Muslims, it's really not the case.  While the Quran wielding Muslimas have decided that I am doomed to hell and there is nothing they can do about it except for accepting that I do hold a position of power and I will not cover my hair outside of the mosque/school building, they have not given up on my daughters.  These same brothers and sisters believe that they are the moderate mainstream Muslim and present themselves as such.   </div><div>I watch Oprah Winfrey only to see a Muslim sister up on her stage state that her scarf is a "commandment of god" - not that she believes it is a commandment, but that it is a commandment.  And I wonder why I end up in debate with non-Muslims over this issue.  </div><div>I am invited to events just for the sisters in which some male is going to address them "don't worry sister, he will be standing behind a curtain."  Just what was I supposed to worry about?  Oh yes, his self control and the shaytan rays us women emit, my bad. </div><div>If these are the moderates and they are presenting themselves as such - then just what am I?  Oh wait, I believe they call me an apostate."</div>

But, no I don't want to be associated with some of the things that you had described in your article and I think your article has stated something that is for the most part true.

Anyone that is upset with what has happened to the progressive movement should be working on changing that and not spending time whinning about your critique.  Since when have progressives been beyond critique - it's pretty silly when you think about it.

We're all Muslim and that's really the only thing we need to take back both from the Muslims that try to monopolize the meaning of the word and from the non-Muslims that keep trying to define it as a religion of violence.

progressive movement had its time and space.  And its narrow mission as THEY defined it ,has been accomplished. 

They are basically agitators.. Their mission was basically to disassociate themselves from the crazies as fasionably fast as possible.  And they have done that.  WE now know that all Muslims are not the same.  Some of them actually don't even practice. Hip hip horray. 

We need to move on because fad is not fashion.  NO need to consider reform within a reform movement.  The only movement progressives have made is  media movement.  Which served its purpose, but its getting to the point of overkill. 

Ali, don't fall into the trap of "I'm just Muslim." Its not possible. While you yourself as a multifaceted individual (this applies to most people, I'd say) cannot be successfully labled by a single label, interpretations of Islam can and MUST be labeled. Taxonomy is a basic starting point for...uh...just about anything. Labels are descriptors and when we are talking about things, we need to describe them, and to do so as briefly as possible. To avoid labels means you lump all interpretations together as if there are no differences. Do remember, the Classical scholars used to write numerous books about different sects and labeled them profusely. 

Anyway, as far as these lables arrogating activism or piety to themselves, it is not really an easy endeavor to reclaim them from the labeled movements or ideologies. Democracy is indelibly labeled as "Western", for example, which may not be accurate or fair or even useful, but try to argue that people should remove this association and you're likely to find incredulous responses from both democracy's critics and advocates combined.

Labels are useful and there here to stay, my freind. 

[So, while we're at it, get rid of the tags on your site, because labeling posts is just so not cool, and categorization is so last year ;-) ]

I think it's a mistake to lump together all the people who, at one time or another, fell under the 'progressive' label. Just look at Omid Safi's collection of essays - but also, just take a perusal, historically, through the articles and forum posts of people associated with that group. Yes, there were those around Ahmed Nassef who clearly adopted the prog label for reasons of identity politics, in a way which poked their tongues out at everyone else.

It's exploiting labels in that way which I object to, not the labels themselves. I'm a liberal Muslim. My blog tells people what that means. It allows Muslims who have common ground to talk to me or those who disagree to challenge me. Serious debate - that is what I love. Of course, I sometimes stomp my feet. Touchy subject, this Islam thing. Sorry.

I think to say that the progressive thang is dead because the label has bad associations is to state the obvious, as is the point that many of the criticisms made of PMUNA and MWU were unfair. Turn not your face in contempt to others - didn't Luqmaan tell his son that? Hang fast together on a single rope. Ahmed Nassef is my brother in faith, as are y'all.

The crunch came for me when MWU actually misrepresented an issue in the UK in order to assert its anti-conservative stance, and then started publishing articles that were not satire, but mockery. I thought that was wrong and said so in no uncertain terms. I also thought the publicity blitz on the Wadud prayer was divisive and I satirised that on my blog (with a jumu'uah salah led by a Jinn causing furore). One MWU insider responded by calling me "bitter". I've offered to write stuff for MWU since, but I just got "we'll publish it if we like it." Okay, well, another time maybe.

I'm not sure what this latest critique of PMUNA and MWU is supposed to achieve. At least one progy blogger I know has thrown a complete wobbler at yet ANOTHER dig at the progressive idea, as she sees it. Isn't it time to move on?