Inspired by Dennis Prager’s latest column, I offer a random collection of wishes for the blogosphere in 2005. Keep in mind that most of these, while self-serving, will be helpful to all conservative and Christian bloggers. 
Wish #1 — A conservative Christian blogger with traffic rivaling the Instapundit’s will emerge.
He/she will frequently link to my blog and will be a generous linker of all well-written and like-minded blogs. A right-of-center libertarian will do. A conservative blogger whose faith in Christ is written all over his/her blog would be even better.
Wish #2 — A high-profile and reasonable liberal blogger (with manners) will notice my blog and link to various posts.
Instead of popular (and civil), respected liberal bloggers taking notice (bringing new readers and more exposure), I attract the usual rambling crew of tiny tots who remind me of the mean-spirited kids in high school who disliked me for no apparent reason. But no matter how much I wish for bigger and better, all I get are small, godless, meandering leftists. Boring.
(Update: Pardon my use of the literary device known as hyperbole. Narrow-minded and unfair, I know, but allow me to utilize some of the knowledge I gained while majoring in English as an undergrad.)
Wish #3 — Speaking of godless, meandering leftists, I wish for 2005 that just one of them actually tries to disprove a claim or offer a reasoned argument in response to one of my own. Rather than attacking the assertions I make in my posts, they seem to thrive on being all over me. Yuck.
I suppose I’m inviting more linkage from disgruntled and vacuous writer-wannabes, but these are only wishes after all.
Wish #4 — Moderate bloggers will open the closet door and let the liberal or conservative come out.
Conservative on some issues but liberal on others (tax cuts for “married” homosexuals?)? I don’t get it.
Wish #5 — Since my new blog will not be comment-enabled, perhaps those simply looking for a platform for dissent will be weeded out, and only thoughtful liberals will bother to respond via e-mail.
Wish #6 — Unless they’re paying me to do it, no blogger or blog reader will ever again tell me what I should or shouldn’t blog about.
Readers e-mailing links and post ideas are not included in this wish.
Check back for updates to this growing list…
I’m sorry to inform you that you have unrealistic expectations of liberal bloggers. Not only are there too few blogging liberals who can synthesize an original thought, but those who might be capable are instead handicapped by their inability to acknowledge the possibililty that someone outside their intellectual echo chamber is correct.
It’s ironic that Jesus’s ancient question to Pilate remains unanswered by the bureaucracy.
Comment by James Beam — 12.28.04 @ 9:47 am
Is it possible that most of the Liberals in the blogosphere have not learned how to argue a point and don’t even realize that name calling is not debate? Michael Barone made the point somewhere that the current crop of Liberals do not seem to have a vision for the future.
Comment by Evon Bachaus — 12.28.04 @ 10:09 am
Well in 2005 I will probably retool one of my personal blogs (I have 3 blogs) to reflect my moderate/conservative views. Moderate on some issues, conservative, liberal, and either way depends on the day on other issues.
And to be fair, there is name calling on both, all (if you also want to count way out there groups) sides.
Comment by Marie — 12.28.04 @ 11:09 am
Conservative on some issues but liberal on others? I don’t get it.
Do you really mean that? Because I know a number of people who are conservative on some issues but liberal on others, and I quite understand them. Without even trying hard, I could list dozens of people who are generally liberal on social issues (the government should take care of the poor) but conservative on abortion (it’s murder), for example. And for most of them, both positions would grow out of their understanding of Christian values: take care of the poor and the oppressed, and speak up for those who have no voice.
Now you could argue against their position, and say “It’s not the government’s job, it’s the church’s job,” for example. Fair enough. But they feel they’re being perfectly consistent in their views.
You said, “I don’t get it.” Well, I don’t get what you don’t get.
Comment by Robin Munn — 12.28.04 @ 12:15 pm
Hmm, that last sentence was unclear. What I meant to say was, “I don’t get what it is you don’t get.” In other words, “It seems perfectly rational to me…”
Comment by Robin Munn — 12.28.04 @ 12:16 pm
I don’t think anyone will rival Instapundit because he contacted some of the media early on about his blog, which was unique back then, then had enough exposure to fill the vacuum to the point that others are just imitators.
Comment by mj — 12.28.04 @ 12:24 pm
I forgot to add that because Christian views reflect “the narrow path,” a Christian blog will probably never attain Instapundit’s traffic.
Comment by mj — 12.28.04 @ 12:29 pm
Well–speaking as one of those godless, meandering leftists who wouldn’t recognise a valid argument if I met it on the street–may all your wishes come true!
Comment by Joseph Marshall — 12.28.04 @ 12:46 pm
What makes you think I’m blogging about you, Joseph? I don’t name names. I don’t personally attack individual bloggers, but they personally attack me. I don’t think you’ve ever done that.
Comment by LB — 12.28.04 @ 12:52 pm
Calling liberals names doesn’t seem like the best way to atract civil discourse. But maybe that’s just my godless meanderingness speaking.
Comment by miguel — 12.28.04 @ 1:01 pm
Well…you did say, “all I get” and I’m not above a little leg pulling about such hyperbole.
Happy New Year.
Comment by Joseph Marshall — 12.28.04 @ 1:03 pm
As long as their dogma values Tolerance over principles, and continues to weave Socialism into everything, then we’ll be at opposing ends.
Tolerance allows them to be as freaky as they wanna be, and socialism allows them actions without costs, or at least little cost to them. I try not to live by those rules- they do more harm than good.
Comment by Dave — 12.28.04 @ 1:49 pm
I consider myself a hardcore conservative, but I have some very liberal, and even libertarian, leanings.
I’m hardcore conservative mostly in education–we need a liberal (in the classic sense) education in order to make proper life choices. After “man” partook of the fruit of the tree of knowledge we were given freedom of choice. I take this as a god-given right/ability/talent/task/mission, and anytime someone restricts my ability to obtain knowledge–by denying free speech or refusing to show opposing viewpoints or hiding the truth–that person/group/whatever is preventing me from making an informed decision. Mind you, many people in this world don’t really care to make “informed” decisions, would rather allow others to make those decisions, and that is their choice. Not me.
I am most liberal in the sense that I believe in a person’s right of choice; that everyone should be able to live his or her life as he/she chooses as long as that person’s choices do not infringe on anyone else’s ability to choose. If that person’s choice is to be gay, have an abortion, believe or not believe in god, or engage in what others might see as sexual deviancy–that is that person’s choice. We each have to face the god of our beliefs alone; we stand under judgment only with the life we have lived/choices we have made.
I’m quite the libertarian in that I believe in personal responsibility and lack of government interference. The government has no business in charity, the health care system, or retirement funds; these are all things that we as “the people” should take care of, using churches and other charitable organizations to take care of the poor and sick and business (banks and other investments/investors) to take care of our retirement.
What am I? A moderate, conservative, liberal, or libertarian? The label I attach to myself is conservative, but like any label attached to any person–it doesn’t show the whole picture.
Comment by Lornkanaga — 12.28.04 @ 2:03 pm
Check out the NOT funny article at Scrappleface (click my name).
Comment by Rick — 12.28.04 @ 2:14 pm
No comments? I understand after I just deleted a ton of spam from my blog, but too bad. I enjoy the interaction.
Comment by Sherry — 12.28.04 @ 3:42 pm
My wish #1: all those loud mouth liberals who said they were moving out of the country as a result of the election would make good on their word and DO SO!
Comment by Dave in AZ — 12.28.04 @ 8:38 pm
Can #2 happen? I think not.
Rod Stanton
Cerritos
Comment by Rod Stanton — 12.28.04 @ 9:58 pm
Remember, we must try to fully understand the true meaning of the verses of Matthew where the Lord is saying that we should not assume the office of judge and jury, condemn an individual or pass down a decision based on that individual’s faults - or else the same judgment will fall on us. And moreover we must remember the word of God in Luke:
“And he, answering, said, ‘Have love for the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and for your neighbor as for yourself.’”
We should never leap to judge, but look to heal; and that living one’s life by the Golden Rule is very much a life worth living.
Once we have acheived this, the liberals will no longer trouble us.
Peace be with you,
Comment by Father Clem — 12.29.04 @ 12:35 am
La Shawn, I was about to write a post quibbling with some of your thoughts on the liberal half of the blogosphere, but I decided instead to take a cue from your “airport” post, in which you found the good in an unfortunate situation. I may be a godless and meandering liberal, but I always come back to your blog for your thoughtful commentary and graceful writing style. We may disagree on most issues, but your generous spirit is always reflected in your posts and at the very least, I hope your New Year’s wishes for additional traffic are granted!
Comment by Rex — 12.29.04 @ 11:22 am
Father Clem,
The problem with “loving your neighbor as you love yourself” is that many people are self-haters.
Alas, many christian faiths forget that, in order to forgive others, we first must learn how to forgive ourselves. I was in my early twenties before I learned this valuable life lesson.
Comment by Lornkanaga — 12.29.04 @ 11:28 am
Thanks, Rex. That’s very kind of you.
Comment by LB — 12.29.04 @ 11:31 am
Start the New Year with a well centered Carnival !
The 119th Carnival of the Vanities is up at The Radical Centrist. First of all, I love the blog name, and it would have been an excellent name for this blog but I went with “Classical Values” because I’m a…
Trackback by Classical Values — 12.30.04 @ 8:56 am
Happy New Year Lashawn..
I suppose I have only 2 wishes for the coming yr. One is quite serious..the other somewhat in the realm of whimsical immaturity.
The experts say to make your resolutions and wishes specific. Well I say to hell with that. The more general and vague the higher the chance for success. I wish for a stronger understanding and faith of God’s will(the serious one)..I also wish for heaven to have thunderstorms.
God bless you Lashawn on your path. Love Ray..
Comment by Rainmaker — 12.30.04 @ 1:46 pm
I hope God blesses you beyond measure, Ray!
Comment by LB — 12.30.04 @ 1:54 pm
Happy New Year, LaShawn. Hyperbole aside, I wish for all your wishes to come true. My wishes for next year are #1 to come to some sort of understanding for living civilly with my adolescent daughter (This is a constant subject of prayer since she decided about 2 months ago that I hate her in spite of the fact that I still feed and clothe her and even let her out of the house with her friends more than I did at this time a year ago.) #2 to have more opportunities to practice generosity and #3 to glorify God and worship Him in everything I do (that’s the toughie - for instance, how do you worship God when the aforementioned daughter is screaming that you hate her because you asked her to wash the dishes?) You may notice in my wishes that I’ve given up on getting along with those outside my family with whom I disagree politically or otherwise, this year I have learned to practice “blessing those that curse (me)” and pray for them rather than trying to argue or change them. I’ve seen change for the better in many relationships that I thought would never change since I started this practice. God may change more of them one day, but it’s not gonna be on my time table so I have decided not to stress about it.
Comment by MyssiAnn — 12.31.04 @ 12:50 pm
Happy New Year!
Rather than New Year resolutions, Dennis Prager and LaShawn Barber offer up some New Year wishes. And some really good ones, too….
Did you have a good New Year’s Eve? How many resolutions are you planning to abandon today?
Trackback by Darleen's Place — 01.01.05 @ 12:55 pm
For those who would like to follow the military as they aid the tsunami relief effort, go to http://www.pacom.mil
There’s a lot of good stuff there.
Comment by Renee — 01.01.05 @ 10:06 pm