Comments on: Open thread

By: Ymarsakar

Ymarsakar — Fri, 16 May 2008 16:32:02 +0000

# “We Are All Jews Now!”
All Things Beautiful

Well, if we are all Jews, is that really consistent with the fact that I, being a Jew, have such views on war and violence?

By: SGT Dave

SGT Dave — Fri, 16 May 2008 13:28:43 +0000

BW,
I’d like to echo the comments on the hospitality that you offer. If you don’t mind, I’d like to mention that a friend just started up a blog on wordpress – http://mindswithguns.wordpress.com/
I don’t know how to do a link or otherwise. I’ll be writing now and again over there; SGT Mo is one of my troops out here in the boonies.
Thanks for giving me the occasional space to rant about things military here; I appreciate it more than you can know.
Be well and take care,
SGT Dave – “A fanatic is one who can’t change his mind and won’t change the subject.”-W. Churchill

By: Ellie2

Ellie2 — Fri, 16 May 2008 00:36:42 +0000

I would also like to praise and thank BW for her blog. Writing, thinking, researching, teaching, is hard work! I am astounded by your output while working and caring for a family. You must surely be of pioneer stock, where women raised the food, made the clothing, did the laundry by hand and raised the children, that they likely birthed at home.

And I know that writers need feedback. This is a work product that comes right out of your brain, your character, your reasoning, your interactions with life. It’s value is largely judged by the reactions it provokes. It is extemely hard to evaluate your own work – is this good? Does it make sense? Does it move you in some way? etc

You have created a very hospitable place for discourse. But like too many hungry guests, we fill ourselves up and forget to praise the cook!

By: Bookworm

Bookworm — Thu, 15 May 2008 19:59:25 +0000

Thank you so much, Thomas. I love my blog dearly, but I know that its quality (and it is a good blog) is a collaborative effort — I have some of the smartest readers around. I throw things out and you all build on them and improve them beyond recognition with your own information and analysis. We have created a true markeplace of ideas, where civility allows discourse into all subjects.

Needless to say, this blog is truly one of the great pleasures in my life.

And yes, I will have good day at work!

By: Thomas

Thomas — Thu, 15 May 2008 19:44:59 +0000

Hello Bookworm,

Since this is an open thread, I’d like to take up this spot in cyberspace to offer some praises for your blog. I don’t think I’ve done it before and it’s long overdue

The reason I come back to your blog time after time is because of the open atmosphere– if one can call it an atmosphere– fostered by your posts and your comments. You encourage discussions while others are bent on shutting it down. You invite others to elaborate, to delineate their positions, and are open to new ideas even when they are contrary to your own.

Another very big plus of your blog is that it straddles an important but nuanced position in civil discourse. I believe you rightly reject political correctness for the mind control it is but you also encourage, and at times insist on, keeping the discourse within the realms of civility and decency. We can discuss virtually any subject under the sun, from race, Israel, Islam, gay marriage, Mormonism, et al, and we can discuss these sensitive subjects without people shouting and contorting themselves into pretzels to appease the PC guardians.

This is what I enjoy: The free-flow of ideas reasoned out logically and well-argued. Even though I don’t agree with a few of your opinions and many of the opinions of your regular commenters on a variety of subjects, this doesn’t usually limit the discussion. In fact, usually when opinions sharply differ, that’s when we get the most pyrotechnic discussions going!

Truly, Mrs. Bookworm, I’m not offering this as empty praise. I think this is simply the truth of the matter.

Have a good day at work!