My Thanks to Milbloggers

I mentioned in my previous post that I felt like a Milblog groupie at the 2007 Milblogs Conference, but really, I’m just so proud to ‘know’ them and cheer them on. I’ll tell everyone and anyone to go read milblogs if they want to get informed. More than one person, quite sincerely, has asked if I think they’re credible sources. It is a pleasure to be able to say that these folks are nothing if not brutally honest. You never have to read between the lines with this crowd.

If you’re not one for poking around the internet, pick up a copy of “The Blog of War”, by Matthew Currier Burden, creator of www.blackfive.net and probably the most well known milblogger. His book is a narrated selection of blogposts from those in the fight, those fighting to save the lives of the wounded, and those waiting back home. This book should come with a “tissue alert”, but it’s another great intro to the milblogger world. Thanks to Matt for the foresight and skill in putting it together.

Note: Are you surprised that I ran around the conference and got Matt and any of his contributing bloggers that were present to sign my copy of his book? Nope, didn’t think so. Milblog groupie, cheerleader, PR team member reporting for duty…..

And that leads me to something I’d like to say to any service member or family of a service member who blogs and who might read this: THANK YOU.

Your honesty and willingness to share your life and thoughts publicly is a tremendous gift to me, Jane Civilian. I feel a tremendous responsibility to support good decision making by our Federal government, especially when decisions put people’s lives on the line. The windows you offer into your world -- whether you be active duty, medically retired, retired, or former, or mom, dad, wife, husband, brother, sister, daughter or son – your words are my reality check. It’s my duty and privilege to understand the implications of the policies that I support, and y'all are the best sources of info we’ve got. So whether it’s a calling, therapy, better than yelling at the TV, or simply easier than writing 10 letters home, I’m a grateful beneficiary. And please, count me as one of your biggest cheerleaders.

For everyone else, now that I’ve tweaked your interest, check them out. I’ll preface this list of who signed my book with my favorite milblogger’s banner comment:

“The reader will kindly forgive any tendency to rough language or behavior on the part of the site owner… ‘Good people rest peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.’”

http://andisworld.typepad.com/
http://armywifetoddlermom.blogspot.com/
http://www.blackfive.net/
http://docinthebox.blogspot.com/
http://www.thedonovan.com/
http://www.mudvillegazette.com/
http://www.sgthook.com/
http://somesoldiersmom.blogspot.com/
http://tcoverride.blogspot.com/
http://tryingtogrok.mu.nu/

You’re still here?!? Pick one and go read! You’ll be glad you did. Promise.