Jill Carroll Released

Check this out. Sound familiar?

Now do you see why I get so frustrated when people in the class don't bother to listen to what I have to say?

And then there's this.

When Jill Carroll was released, she gave an interview to the "Iraqi Islamist Party." In it she said that she was treated quite well by her captors -- never thrreatened, allowed to go to the bathroom. Some people were less than pleased by that. Those more generous in nature allowed that it might be "Stockholm Syndrome," a psychological condtion where captives come to sympathize with their captors. To those less generous it was proof that Carroll was a collaborationaist and a typical America-hating liberal journalist.

It turns out that although she had been released by her captors, being with the Iraqi Islamist Party did not make her feel entirely free, so she said what she thought they would like to hear (and did not say what she was pretty sure they wouldn't want to hear).

The blog entry linked to above -- and I know it's a long one for some of you -- is more a mediation on the role and purpose of the whole blogosphere more than on Ms. Carroll.

What most bloggers don't care to totally admit is this:

Weblogs are an incredible opportunity. Today, anyone can now become a journalist, an investigative reporter, and editor and a publisher. They don't have to navigate themselves through corporate and office politics to become a commentator. They don't have to kowtow to a corporation to get their info and views published. All it takes is a computer and a blogsite. And, to a certain extent, having no shame.

Which is what we have seen in the Jill Carroll case. . .

The impact of blogs, in fact, hasn't been shown to be huge in terms of moving political mountains (yet). But the impact of blogs CAN on those about whom blogs are writing.

Apart from that, there is the huge issue of credibility.

If each time a weblog screeches that X person hates America or X person is a fascist it gets kind of old — unless you are a member of a choir that wants to hear the same song over and over. There's nothing wrong with that — but it does NOT enhance the credibility of blogs.

But if you don't mind spending 10 minutes and using some of those areas of your brain that might be a little dusty, click over. It'll be worth it.