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ONE of the distinguishing things about BlogCritics, something that makes it very different to old school mainstream media, is that we're all available, contactable and interactive.
We have some great writers and personalities here, both on the editorial side and the vital wider writer community; it's great, thrilling actually, to see them actually interact, through the Comments, with our readers.
The articles posted on BC, although complete in themselves, are like the opening remarks in a conversation; sometimes formal, often irreverent, rarely dull. If you want to shoot the schnizzle about your favourite new band, game, TV show, sport and movie or get seriously political over the hot button issues of the day, THIS is the place to come.
"The comments are what make BlogCritics a community." Eric Berlin
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"Have I said recently how I see comments as kind of the heart or psyche of BC? No? Well, I see the comments as..." Christopher Rose
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"I take comments moderately seriously" Dave Nalle
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For the first time ever, the Comment of the Day, for Monday 5th December, and the original article were written by the same person, rising writing star and author Douglas Anthony Cooper. Visit his blog btw, for it is good.
In Comment #7 to his How You Know You've Been Kidnapped by the CIA post, Douglas reminds us all of the following crucial verse:-
Dave,
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I wonder if you've ever come across this (from a Lutheran pastor who, despite having a good German name, and even an early history of apologizing for what became the, uh, administration, was sent to Dachau)...
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FIRST THEY CAME FOR THE JEWS...
First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew.
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Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Communist.
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Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a trade unionist.
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Then they came for me
and there was no one left
to speak out for me.
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- Pastor Martin Niemöller
A timely and wise reminder any day of the week.
The pastor had a very varied life, as this short biography on Wikipedia explains. They also quote the same poem, although with an extra stanza between the Communists and Trade Unionists:
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - RogerMDillon
So the comment of the day is someone posting someone else's comment?
2 - Grozdan Popov
Though I try hard I probably will never be able to forgive myself for not correctly distinguishing, way back when I was 16-17 old which is around 1955, who were They and who exactly were Us. Since I lived behind the Curtain I thought that the They-species existed only there. That was my second mistake. Then, zipping through the Free World its fervor of creativity and strife for change kind of lulled me into concluding that They will be swept away and a new era will dawn upon mankind. Now, well, now is too late. Late for me and you guys and galls since you are obviously not Them.
There are no They-busters, only terrorists and occasional anarchist, a rotten lot. When, out of desperation, more of us will begin turning blind eye to any kind of protest, then, may be then, They will realize that the beast of avarice for power had taken them too far. But then, well, then it will be too late. Late for Them since they will be the prey.
3 - Christopher Rose
ROGER: Wrong end of stick, mate. The comment is quoting a poem, as I thought I had made clear. One of us must try harder!
4 - Grozdan Popov
Poem is how you read it, pall. if love and Prufrock can go hand in hand, why not this? Where is the beauty, huh? In your eyes and mind, in yours!
5 - Alisha Karabinus
I'm trying to figure out how T.S. Eliot slipped into this discussion. Now, I love Eliot as much as the next girl, but how exactly does the hesitant, mocking antihero end up in a place like this?
The tenuous comparison of Prufrock and love to the poem referenced in the comment referenced in the post (say that twelve times quickly, oh my) just boggles my mind.
6 - gonzo marx
WTF?
i made the "comment of the day"?!?!?!?!?!?!?
ME?...
yas are in seriously deep shit if that is the case...
as fer my own "blog"...yep..i neglect it, until it cleans up it's room and eats all of it's brussel sprouts
Excelsior!
7 - Alisha Karabinus
Don't be so suprised gonzo... you're obviously the man!
8 - Bennett
Congrats gonzo! Deserved I say, for all the entertainment you've given through the comments box.
That isn't crickets I hear.
9 - Matthew T. Sussman
Gonzo's not a blogger anyway. He's a reactionary writer, who swoops in, makes his mark and -- oh, let's say -- rides into the sunset on his trusty mule named Excelsior. That's him summoning his loyal steed at the end of his comments.
10 - RogerMDillon
My point was that it seemed odd that the comment was posting what someone wrote said. Get ready to award me a Comment of the Day.
11 - RogerMDillon
A desert Heath.
Thunder and lightning. Enter three Witches.
First Witch. When shall we three meet again
In thunder, lightning, or in rain?
Sec. Witch. When the hurlyburly’s done,
When the battle’s lost and won.
Third Witch. That will be ere the set of sun.
First Witch. Where the place?
Sec. Witch. Upon the heath.
Third Witch. There to meet with Macbeth.
First Witch. I come, Graymalkin!
Sec. Witch. Paddock calls.
Third Witch. Anon.
All. Fair is foul, and foul is fair:
Hover through the fog and filthy air. [Exeunt.
12 - Christopher Rose
Roger, Douglas' comment and poetry selection was relevant to the discussion thread.
13 - Alisha Karabinus
Chris! I'm flattered and thrilled and I'm sure there's a whole LIST of other words to describe how I'm feeling right now to be comment of the day. Thanks!
14 - Christopher Rose
Richly deserved monkette
15 - Alisha Karabinus
Oh, let's hug. Then I've got to head back over and sling summore mud atcha in that OTHER thread. :)
16 - Christopher Rose
just bring it sista ;-)
17 - Bliffle
Interesting that Norbert Wieners book "God and golem, Inc." is the blogad here. How well I remember that and Wieners other great book "Interpolation, Extrapolation and Smoothing of Stationary Time Series"! Oh, pardon me, that's the engineers way of saying "Predicting the Future". In the 50s I built active electronic circuits from his example that successfully predicted white-noise waveforms. His techniques are in everyday use now. The cellphone you use has Wiener algorithms to predict consequent letters when you start typing in a name, because, you see, the statistics are stationary even tho names change.
Wiener insisted that phenomena that appears mysterious and arbitrary is not, really.
18 - reggie von woic
I thought we had a deal Christopher Rose--You were supposed to make me Commentor of the day, remember?
This is treachery*!! I WANT MY MONEY BACK!!
jk ;-)
*is that the spelling?
19 - Bennett
Bliffle - You might not know, but Christopher chose that book to be part of this post. Thanks for the education on who the hell he is!
What else should I know about the man?
20 - MIS-TEEQ AKA CRAZY AKA SPECTACS BABYGIRL
CHRISTOPHER HOW COME WE DIDN'T FINISH OUR DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW I DISLIKE LAKIYA
21 - Alisha Karabinus
Reggie, you are indeed correct. And Chris, man, I think you got called out.
22 - Christopher Rose
Alisha, I don't know who reggie is and I don't understand your words at all. Once again in English, please?
23 - reggie von woic
Chris...*sobs*..are you saying that i am nothing to you, that the other night meant nothing?
You used me Chris, YOU USED ME!!
24 - Christopher Rose
kleenex, reggie, kleenex!
25 - MIS-TEEQ AKA CRAZY
WHY HAVENT YOU WRITTEN ME BACK CHRIS?
YOU SHOULD WRITE BACK SOON CAUSE I AM REALLY IRRITATED