Becuase Everything Else Sucks

Apologies are in Order From Me to Everyone

By Manila Ryce
Published Friday, June 13th, 2008, 11:12 pm
Filed under: Personal Posts

Since I’m in Vegas petitioning in 100 degree weather 12 hours a day for the Nader campaign (yes, it stays that hot all night too), I’ve been short on time to properly review posts by guest bloggers. Being desperate for someone to post in my absence, I accepted the offer of another blogger named Caledonian Jim to post. The fault is entirely mine for not reviewing Jim’s posts on his own blog well enough before accepting his invitation, and it would seem that he did not research mine enough either if he thought that his views would fit in.

Usually there is a screening process for new bloggers in which I approve their first few posts before they’re published on the main page, but that did not happen this time. While I appreciate Jim’s willingness to help out, his philosophy obviously did not match that of The Largest Minority. I’ve deleted the post and I do apologize to both him and our loyal readers.

The views of other guest bloggers do not necessarily represent my own, and we do have disagreements amongst ourselves on certain issues (what group of liberals don’t?), but we do all share a common philosophy of liberalism which Jim obviously did not share. Again, I apologize and hope no one got the wrong idea of what The Largest Minority is about. Please don’t think we’ve gone all right-wing on you.

Related Posts

14 Responses to “Apologies are in Order From Me to Everyone”

  1. My article was not intended to be “right-wing” or “anti-liberal” .

    It was trying to highlight inconsistencies and institutionalised prejudices which pertain even amongst groups who “share a common philosophy of liberalism” . And I’m sorry to say that the removal of my article and your published explanation for it amply illustrate my point !

    In my article I condemned either directly or by implication race killings, anti-semitism, Al Qaeda, homophobia and misogyny . So to be accused of attacking liberalism is confusing to say the least ! I specifically mentioned the possibility of the race card being played during your Presidential election, then suggested that an Obama win would be the best counter to such a development - is that anti-liberal ?

    Of course your blog is yours to run as you please - but your very suggestion of “screening processes” and your action in removing my contribution - or rather the reasons you cite for doing so - wouldn’t be out of place on a right-wing blog . So maybe I’ve achieved my objective of highlighting selective political correctness .

    All the best .

    Caledonian Jim
    06/14/08 at 2:31 am

  2. @Caledonian Jim

    I don’t want to get into this Jim, but if that’s your goal…

    “And I’m sorry to say that the removal of my article and your published explanation for it amply illustrate my point !”

    Um, no. This is a liberal blog which posts liberal articles. Everyone has the right to say whatever they want in the comments, but articles themselves are written by actual liberal bloggers. I am responsible for what appears on my blog. If you want to spout off about “reverse racism”, terrorist-loving anti-Semites, and other things which one can hear from Sean Hannity, that’s your business to do on your own blog.

    “I specifically mentioned the possibility of the race card being played during your Presidential election, then suggested that an Obama win would be the best counter to such a development - is that anti-liberal ?”

    You mentioned more than that. Go ahead and re-post the article in the comments section here if you really want to have a full discussion about what was and wasn’t said.

    “Of course your blog is yours to run as you please - but your very suggestion of ’screening processes’ and your action in removing my contribution - or rather the reasons you cite for doing so - wouldn’t be out of place on a right-wing blog .”

    Oh please, this is a blog with less restrictions for comments than nearly any other. I do not require comments to be moderated before posting, nor do i shut down threads or delete comments which are off topic. As I said, you have the right to post whatever you’d like in the comments. The articles, however, are written by people of my choosing whose views I respect. Articles are not the inside of a bathroom stall that anyone with an opinion is entitled to write on. If the fact that I actually try to screen what’s published on the front page of my personal blog makes me seem like Hitler to you then so be it.

    “So maybe I’ve achieved my objective of highlighting selective political correctness .”

    Yeah, you’ve obviously never read this blog. Political correctness is not something we worry much about. Xenophobic right-wing bullshit is.

    Manila Ryce
    06/14/08 at 3:24 am

  3. And the mindset that regards any opinions counter to it’s own as “Xenophobic right-wing bullshit” is the least liberal stance imaginable .

    Attempting to highlight inconsistency and hypocrisy amongst left-wing ( or indeed any ) politicians is not “right wing” . You won’t overcome the forces of right-wing reaction by adopting their methods of censorship and selective outrage . It is this very perception of “Illiberal Liberals” that drives many people away from voting for liberal politicians , straight into the arms of right-wingers . If that happens this November and Obama loses, well you might be able to console yourself by believing you preserved your puritanical credentials but there’ll still be a Republican in the White House .

    Best regards .

    Caledonian Jim
    06/14/08 at 4:03 am

  4. Seeing the accusations being flung about here, I’m sorry I didn’t have a chance to read the article in question. I do think this warrants a more thorough discussion. Could someone repost the article in the comments?

    Andy
    06/14/08 at 5:04 am

  5. Damn: I miss everything…

    BTW: You can always ask me to post on your Blog.

    (he says in his maniacal evil voice)

    Bwahahaha

    BuelahMan
    06/14/08 at 6:07 am

  6. Again Jim, you’re obviously not familiar with the blog. We spent most of our time criticizing so-called liberals more than we do the right.

    Andy, I too wish Jim would repost the article here so everyone could read it, but as much as he complains about censorship he has chosen not to accept that invitation to repost. Perhaps then we could have a more substantive discussion about each noble point he claims I censored for being too truthful. Oh well. I have no intention of continuing this myself unless he does post it in full.

    Manila Ryce
    06/14/08 at 10:38 am

  7. I think this is quickly turning into a pointless “who said what” argument, to which I would like to add that I was the first to point out the unusualness of Jim’s article (at least I think I was).

    I’d just like to say one thing in defense of Manila. There is no such thing as “just criticizing politicians,” criticism always comes from a certain standpoint. You can criticize Liberal politicians for being too PC, which is fine, but it was vastly clear from the article that your standpoint was not a liberal one.

    Bernie
    06/14/08 at 11:32 am

  8. Your “invitation to repost” , couched in terms like “noble points” and “complaints about censorship” , does I’m afraid adopt a rather patronising and supercilious tone . And I note you removed my blog from your blogroll too , so you’ve made up your mind already - reposting is pointless .

    Fair enough . You don’t have to justify your views and actions any more than I do . But in passing I’ll say this - if you really think my post was right-wing then the differences between our opinions and perceptions are too great to be bridged . I don’t regard racism and anti-semitism as acceptable just because they’re practised by blacks and left-wing politicians respectively . You may care to disagree, but to call me a xenophobe for condemning xenophobia hardly strenthens your position . But don’t reproach yourself - you’d by no means be the first liberal commentator that ultimately weakens his case by censoring an article rather than actually reading it .

    I wish your blog every success and I’ll continue reading it . Open minds are a pre-requisite for the successful maintenance of democracy .

    Good talking to you .

    Caledonian Jim
    06/14/08 at 11:39 am

  9. @Caledonian Jim

    All this controversy has me intrigued! You should repost. I’d love to read the original article and comment on the real deal as opposed to the discussion around it. If you’d rather keep it off the blog but don’t mind me reading it, email the original post to evmonk@gmail.com.

    evmonk
    06/15/08 at 1:11 am

  10. Yes, Caledonian Jim, repost your original article, lest we all reach the inescapable conclusion that Manila is correct and you are a Caledonian coward.

    Scoppertop
    06/15/08 at 7:59 am

  11. Cowardice doesn’t come into it - I don’t have a copy of the article ! And I don’t know if Manila is able to reproduce it .

    But in any event what’s the point ? I don’t think that it was “right-wing” or “Xenophobic” - Manila does . It’s his blog . I should have thought that a cursory reading of a few days worth of my blog would illustrate that left or right “wings” don’t come into it - I regard all politicians and most persons in positions of authority as blinkered, intolerant and deserving of abuse . Qualities which I must admit however I didn’t expect to find in the proprietor of a ” liberal ” blog .

    Caledonian Jim
    06/15/08 at 4:39 pm

  12. Jim, I wrote this article as an apology to both you and my readers, and attempted to end things on a civil level. You seem more interested in slinging accusations without a shred of evidence to back them up than in engaging in honest discussion. Just another reason why removing you from the list of TLM bloggers was a good decision. Also, the article you posted here was much more hostile than anything you’ve had on your own blog. If you’re not going to repost it (I find it hard to believe a writer left their only copy in a stranger’s possession) then it’s time for you to be on your way. Without the article to back up your claims, you have nothing else to offer in this thread but attacks. Again, thank you for your time. I suggest you finally take this second opportunity to make a half-way gracious exit.

    Manila Ryce
    06/15/08 at 6:32 pm

  13. I agree that the slanging match should stop but you’re being just a little too disingenuous .

    Your original post justifying the removal of my contribution set the tone , as did your first reply to me talking about “Xenophobic right-wing bullshit” . So don’t bother trying to come across now as the reasonable arbiter of taste and decency . And now your fallback position of trying to occupy the moral high ground with phrases like “time for you to be on your way” and “half-gracious exit” just reinforces my view that as long as censorship and patronising asides are the order of the day this isn’t a blog worth contributing to .

    So now presumably we’re both happy .

    Caledonian Jim
    06/16/08 at 3:02 am

  14. While I found the preceding pissing match rather entertaining, I for one have no interest reading the mystery article in question. I don’t know who you are, Jim, and frankly, I really don’t care. If Manilla made the decision to cut you because of whatever reason, then that’s that. No amount of bitching or belly-aching will change it. So buck up, quit your crying, and get your ass onto the comments from time to time, because as I said, it’s entertaining shit!

    PapaFigue
    06/25/08 at 12:08 am

Leave a Reply

Tired of filing this information out everytime you leave a comment at the Largest Minority? Why not register as a user? You also get full access to our forum!

XHTML: You can use these tags: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <code> <em> <i> <strike> <strong>