Thanks.
The In Box can get pretty feisty sometimes and correspondents here occasionally shake their digital fists at one-another. But compared to much of the internet’s political culture, I think we do pretty darn well.
I regularly read comments here that make me think, and that force me to re-evaluate my own position on things.
When I was a kid, my mom’s biggest criticism whenever I mounted my teen-aged soapbox (sometimes I lived whole years at a time up on that box) was that I was being “predictable.”
Ouch.
Well, here at the In Box the conversation often goes beyond the predictable. Just when we think we have each other pigeon-holed, someone surprises us all, often by agreeing or conceding a point, or changing their views.
All of which is a long-winded way of saying thanks to our regular visitors to the In Box, and to the wider circle of occasional correspondents.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Brian,
First, Happy Thanksgiving.
Also, thanks for a forum to make observations about important issues. In general, thoughtful dialog (as opposed to Twitter chatter) is an important ingredient of a working democracy. More specifically, contributions to the discussion have a number of positive aspects. They often broaden the scope of the dialog and they provide contributors the opportunity to clarify their own thoughts (I write so I know what I really think). For many it’s probably also therapy of a sort to unload about the frustrations with the state of public affairs. It won’t change the world or even change many minds, but it is a breath of fresh air in comparison to the echo chambers we find in today’s media.
Thanks for the opportunity to discuss issues ranging from the most local to the international. In Al Gore’s book, “The End Of Reason”, he speaks often and passionately and sometimes mournfully about the, MArketplace of Ideas”, that our forebears envisioned in their newly founded republic. HIs biggest concern is the way in which the media fragmentation of our modern world has caused us to split up into digital tribes, wherein we seek discussion and reflection only with people we already agree with. A forum like this breaks down a few of those walls and fences.