On this Thanksgiving morning, I’d like to send all of you a message of thanks as Bracing Views on Substack recently passed 1100 subscribers. Whether you’re a “free” subscriber or a paying one, whether you’re a quick reader or an active participant in the comments section, I truly appreciate your time and your interest in my writing.
The highest compliment you can pay an author is to read their work. Those of you who find it engaging, stimulating, and worth commenting on: well, just thank you again for paying me that compliment.
I learn as much from my readers as you learn from me, and indeed I may learn more from my readers because of the comments and messages you send me, so thanks so much for that.
I started writing for TomDispatch in 2007 and soon after turned to blogging at sites like Huff Post. I’ve enjoyed the experience. And I think it helps to keep me sane.
Why do I do it? As I said, sanity is one reason. Another, I think, is vanity in the sense that I believe I have something worthwhile to share with you. Ultimately, I can’t get away from my education as a professor of history. I suppose I still want to “profess” and also to educate, stimulate, and inform.
I’ve been thinking of starting a new feature for readers who’ve paid to subscribe. I have a lot of articles and notes related to when I was teaching history at the collegiate level, and I think I’ll publish a selection, perhaps on a weekly basis. This will be something different from my “normal” free posts where I treat mostly current events about the military, politics, and foreign affairs. I might make it a Saturday morning feature, and hopefully it’ll be an interesting bonus for those who’ve signed on as paid subscribers.
If you’ve read this far, you’ve read enough. Enjoy your day!
Thank you, Bill, for facilitating a lively, vigorous discussion among folks who don't share the pathology of militarism and who don't lust for global hegemony. Your blog is a refreshing antidote to the military madness inflicted on the world by the neocon fanatics who control the National Security State and, thereby, both the national and global agenda. May their days be numbered.
A great Blog.-- wishing you all a happy Thanksgiving as well, beauty, blessings and love. In the vastness of space and the immensity of time it is my joy sharing this planet with all. May you all have happy memories Today and for a long, long time...