a redeemed progressive

[Ostap]

So my question is, as a redeemed progressive, what is the key to empowering men in the "Me Too" age, while maintaining healthy boundaries and strong behavioral expectations?
source (very beginning)

Hello, teachers. Is it immediately clear to a native speaker what she meant? I think it's the religious meaning of "redeem" ("to save somebody from the power of evil"), but still, is it "former conservative, now-progressive", or vice versa? In context, since she's speaking to prominent conservatives, it's probably the latter. But is it also implied grammatically?

 

[probus]

You are right about her use of redeemed.

I think she means she was formerly progressive but has become more conservative. There's no grammar involved in that.

Furthermore, given what Peterson goes on to say in reply, I'd hazard a guess that she used to have sex with more partners than she now contents herself with.

 

[Ostap]

And do I correctly understand she could have just as well said "as a redeemed conservative", and still be gotten across in the same way?

 

[probus]

I think not. After all, as you pointed out, she's speaking to a group of conservatives.

 

[SoothingDave]

And do I correctly understand she could have just as well said "as a redeemed conservative", and still be gotten across in the same way?

No. She has redeemed herself of the "sin" of being a progressive. A redeemed blank, is no longer a blank.

Note that the "redemption" in this case is not spiritual or religious. It means a change in political ideology.

 

[Ostap]

Note that the "redemption" in this case is not spiritual or religious. It means a change in political ideology.

Yes, I meant her usage was based on the spiritual meaning in the sense that progressive = evil, and conservative = good. She must've meant it humorously.

 

[probus]

Conservative humour? It's a novel concept that reminds me of an old joke.

An optimist says the glass is half full.
A pessimist says the glass is half empty.
A conservative says "Who the h*ll drank half my water?"

 

[Ostap]

An optimist says the glass is half full.
A pessimist says the glass is half empty.
A conservative says "Who the h*ll drank half my water?"

Progressive: "I gave it to the oppressed."

 

[Tarheel]

Conservative humour? It's a novel concept that reminds me of an old joke.

An optimist says the glass is half full.
A pessimist says the glass is half empty.
A conservative says "Who the h*ll drank half my water?"

I never heard that "joke" before.

 

[Skrej]

And do I correctly understand she could have just as well said "as a redeemed conservative", and still be gotten across in the same way?

With a different audience, yes. In the original version, she was once progressive, and now is a conservative speaking to a group of fellow conservatives.

Reverse the details and audience, and then yes it works - a former conservative, now a progressive, speaking to a group of fellow progressives.