Backbone

Posted on May 9, 2003 in Courage & Activism Crosstalk The InterNet

Mary Beth Williams thinks she’s going to be alone in her stand to protest the acts of plagiarism committed by Sean Paul Kelley and the ensuing silence by his Leftist blog supporters. She writes:

Although Kelley apologized and came to an amicable resolution with the victim of his misdeeds, the denunciations quickly turned from Kelly’s actions to the silence within much of the blogging Left in regards to his behavior. While the criticism was on many levels valid, the whole debate was seeped in politics: The Left had denounced the great leader Bush while supporting an admitted plagiarist; ergo, the Left had no credibility. The slap still stings.

Regular readers of my blog know that I don’t spare the left and liberals in my words here. During the televised portion of the still ongoing Gulf War, I criticized those who flip-flopped with every news bulletin, those who equivocated on the question of war, those who were prepared to give a Democrat — any Democrat — a blank check in a run against George W. Bush without demanding that the party show accountability.

Alas, I wonder like Mary Beth if I have done enough to address the failures of my allies and for pretty much the same reasons:

Is it fear which paralyzes me? People will be angry with me. They’ll boycott my blog. They’ll harangue me in other blog’s comments. And besides, I actually dislike confrontation. If I wait long enough, someone with more backbone than I will address the situation.

I stand behind Mary Beth on the issue of plagiarism. But I know the cost you can play to speaking your mind about what is written on other blogs. More than once I’ve been cut off for addressing concerns like questioning reasons for going to peace marches, alcoholism, speaking up to other bloggers who used nasty names like “whinebag” against sufferers of the disease of major depression, and, more recently, to civil rights advocates who turned wishy washy once the war began. Sometimes I’ve made mistakes and misrepresented opinions when doing this. I’ve apologized unequivocably when I have and still lost friends for it. Whether I am right or wrong, the anger of the “offended” party is a terrible thing to face.

What can I do for Mary Beth other than say that I stand with her? Not a lot. Regardless of what happens, she will feel alone every time someone attacks her for “breaking ranks”. But she will feel more alone if no one says anything.

Mary Beth, it’s courageous to try, no matter how feebly. You’re no slouch and no coward. Those who have stood up to those they don’t agree with have no idea of the pain and the price you pay for standing up to those who are your friends and allies in the struggle against oppression.