I must admit this has been an experience.
When I first started this blog, I had to do so rather anonymously. I think most of you have probably figured out that MJ was the name of my dog and not me. Yet, even with all the secretive ways I had to post, I think I learned more from you all than anything that you could possibly take from me.
It is no secret, however, that I’m not a fan of George Bush and his politics. If someone were to say to me, “I’m a Republican and I vote my party,” then I totally understand party loyalty and the belief that somewhere the party is bigger than the person. I’m a Democrat and my loyalties are just as subjective. Party politics is here to stay, and it must be respected that at the local level politics is not Democrat or Republican, but rather “you and I.”
I wish I had the time to individually thank everyone who so regularly read this site. Maybe it’s not the time, but more so the hesitation that I will forget someone, because I truly think this group is better than anything this Internet has produced yet.
The one person that I do have to thank is my buddy Craig. We grew up together and not once did he ever “out” me or even come close to jeopardizing my career. In fact, I’m sure he went out of his way many times to help out a friend and I truly appreciate him.
And I’m not sure that I can leave this place without mentioning our troops and Iraq. I will never understand how an administration full of war hawks that never served in the military and a president who went an entire year without reporting for duty while in the Alabama Air National Guard and received a discharge to attend grad school during a time of war, can be considered so patriotic and so military friendly and also be allowed to lash out at those who disagree with their tactics as being terrorist-sympathizing anti-Americans. Our troops in Iraq have done way more than they were ever asked to do. 38 months into a war that was supposed to be over in matter of weeks, our military, entirely volunteer, is still holding the most war torn country in the world together as we at home will never understand their full sacrifice. I am grateful to all those who ensured me the right to have this blog.
This blog has given me hope that there is still a middle ground voice in this country. This Internet and these blogs are the very notion of free speech that our Founding Fathers hoped for, even though they never could have dreamed of this world today. We cannot take from this experience that those of us who have never dreamed should not be allowed to dream, and we can never take from this experience that even the least amongst us is still able to answer the call and carry that torch of freedom to the next generation of American Dreamers. We have all borrowed their dream that all men are created equal and may it be not a place where we try to limit such desires. America truly is a wonderful place.
I do have work to do and I must call it quits. It will be hard to resist the urge to write out a rant or blow off some steam, because this blog did really serve as a stress ball for me at times. I wish all the best of luck and I’m sure I will still make comments from time to time and most of all I thank everyone for their time, patience and contributions to this site, y’all did way more than I ever could.
11.14.2005
But You Can't Stay Here
Posted by Chris at 2:53 PM
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16 comments:
That blows! Wish you the best in your future plans. Good luck to you and yours!
farewell my friend. your posts will be deeply missed. and don't kid yourself, you educated thousands, if not millions, in a very professional manner. i'll miss ya.
I read your blog quite often in the past few weeks although I rarely had time to comment. I really feel like I am getting a second family on the internet of people who are intelligent and just want to share thier thoughts with one another. It's been such a great experience for me. I love all your comments on all the sites I have seen them on and I hope you will be back soon. Good luck with work.
MJ, I’ll miss your posts as you always were so level headed and given to listening to both sides as well as very reasonable in backing up your statements and explaining your points of view. There always seemed to be a level of discussion higher than many sites yet not so esoteric that the average person, such as me, could not understand it. Not allowing it to evolve into nastiness when people disagreed with you was also refreshing.
It is one of the few political blogs where the author was not trying to get one up on everyone and as someone already said you educated a lot of people.
If ya come back under your cats name in a year or so let me know. ;)
No doubt you'll be missed. :(
I'm with the jt, this blows.
Will miss your posts and your blog; it has been a nice place to stop off at and a good forum for some unbiased discussion.
luck in future endeavers
You're killin' me. Still trying to get shots in, even from the 'blog grave.'
Bush didn't go 'an entire year without reporting for duty' in the National Guard. That's a completely false statement. But you do a great Mary Mapes impression.
As to your comment about 'middle ground,' I assume you're speaking of those beloved moderates, like that jackass John McCain. My opinion of moderates is that they are fence walkers, wafflers, too cowardly to stake out a position.
Buddy, I've enjoyed mixing it up with you. You're a good man, a bit misled, but a good man, nonetheless.
Sorry you're leaving, enjoyed your blog. Best wishes,
Jack
I would say goodbye but there is always that hope that you will be as successful in your quitting as Andrew Sullivan turned out to be. May girl on the blog's statements turn out to be true.
I am kind of feeling like that story about the man with the cruel father and the kind mother, the father always said he would amount to nothing, but the mother always encouraged him. And he went out and became successful in his chosen profession. And then when he was about 25 his mother died, and at her funeral, he shed no tears. But when his father died a few years later, the man collapsed in tears, because the one thing that had kept him going all those years, was the desire to prove his father wrong.
Lol...okay, that is all dramatic. But you get my drift: who is going to get me all riled up now and isn't some mindless drone?
But I understand, because I am feeling the same way now.
Hope all is well, and maybe in a few years we will see your writing in a more open forum, and then think: hey...this reminds me of MJ!
Take care.
This is a bummer. I'll miss you MJ. I appreciated all the comments on my site and I'll truly miss reading yours.
Good luck and God bless.
Dang it, I discovered your blog just now (linked to it from a post you left on mine) and got there just after the benediction.
Well, if you do make a comeback then let me know, and I will add you to my blogroll.
OK, so MJ was the dogs name. So who was that masked man? As a rule I wouldn't expect 16 or 17 people to agree on anything but look what you have done by posting this. There was not a one that said you would not be missed. Take care my friend, good luck with your feature endeavors.
God Bless America, God Save The Republic
Arrrgh!!!
You'll be missed, MJ. I'm in the middle of a busy period myself, and I've had to leave my blog dormant for quite some time.
I'm hoping this is just temporary. I'll be checking in all the time hoping for some new material.
Good luck!
MJ - Dang it now who is going write what I think so much better than I ever could? You always hit my ideas right on but said them much better than I.
You will be missed!
HH6
Happy New Year MJ
Stop by the new blog...
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