Well, being the product of an English and Irish Utopian faith (Quaker) I can say with certainty that progress is not a march towards perfection, but a march to new and more interesting problems! Do look up my song about Rachel Corrie on her memorial webpage. She was also a progressive Jewish young lady, who gave her life to attempt to bring justice to that sad struggle in Isreal and Palistine.
All the best
Larry