Many years ago, Bernard Bailyn wrote a masterwork on the intellectual atmosphere of pre-revolutionary America entitled, Ideological Origins of the American Revolution. That book was the winner of both the Pulitzer and Bancroft prizes. In that work, and in other studies since, Bailyn shows the power and use of pamphlets — often anonymous or pseudonymous — in shaping opinion in favor of independence. Pamphlets played other roles, too: many were small collections of poetry or religious tracts.
I am quite sure that the objects of criticism in these pamphlets dislike them intensely. So be it; they were part of the tradition of free speech on this continent that continues to this day.
It continues to this day in many forms, including blogs like FREE WHITEWATER. On the main page of my blog, I have listed a very fine, pseudonymous blog, the Foothill Cities Blog, that comments on life in towns in California. Another is daTruthSquad, from New Jersey. (Bloggers often find names for their blogs that seem odd and unusual to non-bloggers, but are very much a part of blogger culture.)
In Wisconsin, there are over one hundred — 100 — local political blogs. Many cities in Wisconsin have one such local, independent blog, and some have a few. They are in Madison, Milwaukee, Racine, Waukesha, Fond du Lac, Whitewater — these blogs are springing up all over the place. (I am not referring to the pale imitations of blogs that are affiliated with local newspapers; I am referring to independent commentary, much like that of early American pamphleteers.)
Naturally, local officials despise these blogs, and consider them an affront. How dare someone write these things? Often they try (unsuccessfully, of course) to suppress the independent commentary, or bemoan its pseudonymous nature, or smear those who write these blogs.
America has returned to her pamphleteering tradition, in a new, electronic form. This form will not go away — it will surely evolve, and grow more robust.
I am sure that this makes life less convenient for public officials who formerly relied on a few complaint local newspapers and their small circle of stodgy, uncreative, reactionary supporters. Those few want their old, easy world back again.
It’s not coming back.
One last point: the only line of advance is forward, by embracing the full and rich constitutional tradition of our beautiful country. I am a small publisher of, from, and for America and what it offers. I am just a common person, but many great people have committed themselves to free commentary undeterred by criticism, personal attacks, etc., etc. Great libertarian heroes, for example, Paine and Mencken, were attacked in all manner of ways. (I am religious where Paine was lukewarm, and Mencken cold, but they are no less admirable as models of free expression.) They believed in what they were doing, kept doing it, and didn’t care what critics thought.
They grew more vigorous over time, not less so. Those who do this sort of thing enjoy it, and prefer the heat of the kitchen. Publishing like this is a romance with both the American and American libertarian ways of life.
Anyone can embrace this way of life, and in doing so, become confirmed in the effort, and better for it. Through blogging, one becomes more American, by drawing closer to the heritage of free expression — attributed, pseudonymous, or anonymous, that America guarantees to all.
Some may dislike these rights, but those who oppose them truly oppose the heritage of the country they profess to love.