ADVICE FROM A CONSERVATIVE BLOGGER

I recently saw Andrew Sullivan being interviewed. He is the only "Conservative Blogger" I ever read. Certainly not often. I almost always disagree with him. But watching the interview reminded me of basics.

Personal Courage - Andrew doesn't speak of his own courage. But it is usually brought up. In the 1980's he came out as a Gay man. Then later he came out as a man living with HIV. This was back in the days that this diagnosis was a death sentence. And the enforced silence by liberals and conservatives alike was so great that even Obituaries and death certificates failed to mention it. In those decades there was a drastic increase in "Pneumonia" deaths in the United States. There is no doubt that Andrew lost conservative readership as a result of these blogs. But he has survived. He dismisses these losses by saying that he often, "cuts too close to the bone". That would be uncomfortable but truthful. Not a bad thing for bloggers of any persuasion. Truth seeking both personal and political - By definition blogging is personal. And for this blog also political.

So as we move into the 2012 campaign "season" we will be deluged by myriads of smoke and mirrors. I would know that we will all have the courage to blow away the smoke and smash the mirrors... And continue to challenge and activate our readers to do the same.