As a long-time reader of DKos I've always had a deep respect and -- yes -- love for the diarist One Pissed Off Liberal.
He's called us to action. He's avoided descending into partisanship and appealed to the higher ideals of love, community and simply 'doing what we know is right'.
He's encouraged us to stand up for the values we believe in -- not rally behind the flag or some cult of personality.
Let's take a moment to say thanks -- and appreciate what he brings to DKos.
This started as an email I was writing to OPOL after reading his recent diary Daily Kos This is my story – I hope that it finds you.
But after I wrote it I felt the best way to show my thanks would simply be to post it in a diary here - both so he could read it here rather than in his email box, but also so I could let others know how I feel and maybe give them a chance to pitch in their feelings as well.
Here goes:
I just wanted to drop a short note to let you know I read the recent 'my story' post you wrote.
I've also followed your writing on DKos for at least a couple years -- to be honest I don't remember when I started noticing your diary but I've been a more or less regular on that site since at least 2004 when I began following Howard Dean's ascent from here in New Hampshire.
From the beginning I've admired your creativity, heart and emotion. Your ability to mix photos/images with your words gives it a real power. I'm a bit of an artist myself (musician) and I've developed an appreciation for how people connect at an emotional level with their audience. You do that. And I admire it.
Moreover, you connect emotionally with a message laden with values I admire. You don't descend into partisanship as much as you appeal to the higher ideals of right and wrong and how we should treat each other. Again, it's something I admire a lot.
With regard to the content of your post -
Dr. King said, "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."
For my part, I think the 'content of your character' is clear - and I want to make sure you realize that that's how I (like probably most DKos readers) will judge you.
Thanks for all you've brought to us here and for the impact you've had on us and on the values of this site.