I was planning to begin my posts on the FairTax today, as it's a cause near and dear to my heart. However, people are nearer and dearer to my heart than causes, so we're going to scrap plans and change direction:
To begin, let me get an excerpt from a post on The Swash Zone entitled STOP SADISTIC AND SEXIST CYBER-BULLYING … NOW! which was the catalyst for this post:
Internet predators and trolls are known to have a callous disregard for fellow human beings. They troll for sport, amusement, and narcissistic gratification. They use these forums as billboards for graffiti, name-calling, off-topic rants, taunts, and the cyberspace equivalent of road rage. Some predators sink to the level of sadism.
One of our beloved writers, Shaw Kenawe of Progressive Eruptions, has just been diagnosed with cancer. This is her second bout in as many years. She survived a previous bout … without health insurance.
Not merely this recurrence, Shaw has suffered other setbacks as well. Earlier this year, her sister passed away. She worries about another family member who is gravely ill. All told, this has been a very tough year for Shaw.
Now I've personally known Shaw since I launched my poetry blog, when she dropped me an email and introduced herself (rather than just her blog persona). Since then I've added her to my list of liberal blogger buddies (people I argue and torment but respect as people under the political bluster). And a personal attack on her, or anyone I know is sincere in their otherwise wrongheaded beliefs, is something I don't take lightly.
To his credit, the troll in question did pull his last attack post after Shaw's personal tragedies became public. But it shouldn't have to take an uprising by fellow bloggers to shame people into doing what is right.
So if everyone can keep Shaw in their thoughts and prayers as she shows her usual flair for fighting to win the battle (which, having argued politics with her, I can say is a formidable talent), she, all of us who count her as friends would appreciate it.
Get better fast, dear Shaw. I want to be able to give you shit for years to come. :)
8 comments:
Shaw will indeed be in my prayers, she seems to be a tough cookie but it sounds like she has much on her plate.
A very nice post Patrick! Shaw and I have gotten close and I was so saddened to hear about this. She is a tough and brave woman and I know she will beat this!
Thank you, Patrick. You know how I feel about you. We knock heads, but you know I respect how you're dealing with your fatherhood issues. You are special. You know that, because I've said it more than once.
I was somewhat chagrined to have to put my personal problems out there on the net, but the reason I agreed to do so was so that all of us can see that we're not just blog names, but real people dealing with our own human heartaches. We should never cross the line into personal destruction to make any sort of political point.
It is really interesting to note that I had exactly as many conservative bloggers who supported me and were decently kind to me as I did liberal supporters.
That alone gives my heart such joy and optimism--something I really, really needed these last few days.
I am so proud of all of you guys.
And, Patrick, I intend to be around so that you WILL be able to give me shit for years to come!
Patrick, you don't know me, but I have read your blog and your comments on other blogs.
I am a friend of Shaw's and find her to be a truly wonderful, courageous, compassionate lady. I am deeply saddened by this terrible turn of events in her life. She has been through so much, yet she remains optimistic, a lover of life and passionate in her endeavors.
It's inspiring to find many championing her in her time of need. I am hopeful that people will realize, as Shaw mentioned, we are human and life will throw curve balls when we least expect it, so we must never take anything for granted and we should put petty differences aside.
To be fair, to be a troll, I would have the ability to comment on her site.
If you have a problem with me, let me know.
BPB: Not necessarily. But it's our ability to separate our politics from the people that mush them that defines our civility.
If that's true, then you would agree that since I was insulted first that maybe her buddies went a little too far.
bluepitbull said...
If that's true, then you would agree that since I was insulted first that maybe her buddies went a little too far?
YES< I know that I do.
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