Over the course of time folks have told me that I have a certain special way of expressing myself both face to face and in writing. It's true that language has always held a particular fascination for me, most anyone who knows me knows that I take more than a certain pride in having mastered a couple of languages other than English and that when presented a simple question such as "what time is it?" I'm well known for explaining how the clock works, while ultimately getting to the precise time.
Knowing this, my dear friend Kim has urged me to start posting my various musings in this forum. As the title of this blog might suggest, I come from a left of center point of view on most things while living in a state where to be an openly card carrying liberal is about as popular as chlamydia with most of the folks around me.
My opinions are my own, and where they aren't, I give credit where credit is due. Likewise with my analysis. My facts are the facts as I know them and can back them up. I have no problem doing a little homework and research. It is my hope that the people who choose to participate in this blog will do the same.
I have a couple of things I would like this blog to be and one that I hope to avoid. First, I want it to be a place where reasonable people can have rational and well informed discussion about any variety of controversial topics while simultaneously allowing me to express my thoughts and opinions and even historical perspectives on events of the day in the hope that they will serve as a catalyst for more discussion and debate. On the other hand, what I do not want this to turn into is a place where narcissistic know-it-alls feel the need to strut and preen and attack one another with specious nonsense or simplistic talking points without any actual research. In short, I'm telling you that while I may put out a point of view, I want you to challenge me. It is because people throughout my life have challenged me by showing me the realities of life and how they did not fit the preconceived notions my conservative upbringing programmed me to believe that I transitioned from being a very right of center knee-jerk Republican to a Democrat -- and effectively socialist -- in the European democratic sense of socialism.
At the end of the day, if the blog fails, we can simply blame Kim. On the other hand, if it succeeds, well, Kim.... that's your fault too ...
Kim challenged you to think, you chose to act, therefore she's blameless. I'm very liberal, but wish no justice at all for the jerks who carried out the AZ shooting spree. What's sad is that we spend billions fighting terrorists abroad but are usually brought down by our own.
ReplyDeleteTrue enough, TS. Kim is only to blame in spurring me on to do something that I've wanted to do for a long time -- and poking a little fun is my way of thanking her for doing it.
ReplyDeleteI respect your opinion about not wanting to see retributive justice brought against this kid who did the shooting. I certainly think this kid needs to be removed from society whatever we do though. I'm working on my first "official" blog post on this very topic and I hope you'll come back and join the discussion.
As to our going abroad to fight terrorism while failing to recognize our own home grown terrorist problem, I'm right there with you.
Peace.