Friday, January 26, 2007

A Brief Note.

Having given some thought to our exchanges with Mark Shea this past week, I think I'm quite ready to admit that a blog dedicated to frequently satirical criticism of one individual is not the ideal forum for discussing the most serious issues of the day. I'm not sure whether there's a better alternative for what we want to say; the suggestion to "get a life" is essentially to tell us to shut the hell up, but despite the purported hyperbole about our criticizing font choices, we have often had very substantive criticisms both about Rod Dreher's positions and the way he defends those positions as a confessing Christian and as a professional writer.

Reconciliation -- agreeing to disagree amicably, without that entailing either side's being silent -- would be great, but it would require far more than what we contra's could do on our own.

(Even our making peace with Mark would require, I believe, understanding on his part that passion about what we believe and irritation at Rod's writing doesn't translate to hatred.)

Until such time as this blog no longer seems necessary, we will continue to write what we think is right. We will go on vacation and even draw this blog to a close on our timetable, not Mark's and not Rod's.

3 Comments:

Blogger kathleen said...

i have been reminded recently at the rodblog, and repeatedly at the shea blog, that we are not the only targets for their ire. they are nasty to any comboxer who doesn't tow the party line, not just us. (conveniently for them, many instances of their nastiness are deleted into the ether) it tempts me, *it sorely tempts me*, to behave in such a way that i would deserve it. Though i have gone overboard (arguably) a couple of times, they ain't seen NOTHIN' -- they should be assured that i am, indeed, pulling some punches. lucky for them, i do have a conscience (such as it is).

2:41 PM  
Blogger kathleen said...

TOE the line. lordy

2:42 PM  
Blogger kathleen said...

PS: The above is not a threat by the way.

at this late date, i think i speak for all when i say that the only reason this blog persists (it has been near death many many times) is the fact that our arguments are so rudely shut down, even shouted down, at the blogs in question. Dreher, and now Shea, are doing a fabulous job feeding the beast they most despise.

3:06 PM  

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