The Government Of Yemen Gets More Than It Bargained For

Blogs CAN make a difference – a REAL difference.

But we’re NOT talking about when every blog (including this one) writes on American politics. In essence, those are really more op-ed pieces or glorified rants that people on the right, left and center do. Who does it influence? Perhaps some journalists (who writes stories) and those who use their computers a lot. Or partisans who read them and use the Internet to try to get their messages across in comments, etc.

We’d love to be able to say that blogs such as Kos, The Moderate Voice, InstaPundit, Centerfield — you name it — are going to sway the electorate. We’d LOVE to say with an absolutely straight face “tens of thousands of you read The Moderate Voice and we’ll therefore help you decide the course of our nation!!!”

But, HONESTLY, blogs are limited on that score — although they can indeed influence opinion makers who read them and journalists who read (and perhaps crib from) them. And they can attract many thoughtful readers who go out in their communities and spread ideas that helped shape their beliefs.

But REAL INFLUENCE? REAL GUTS?

If you want to see it, read this IMPORTANT POST showing how a blogger is focusing on an opposition politician in Yemen. She is having an influence on a political situation — and lives. And it’s clear if you read what she writes that she’s not doing it to try to get an “Instalanche” but because she feels this is one of those personal moments of truth that we all face.

Read Dean Esmay here for a good summary of this and some additional thoughts. If you’re a blogger, do link to her post as Esmay suggests. Forget about being a Democrat, Republican, liberal, conservative or independent. You’re pro-democracy so read it and link. Act on YOUR moment of truth.