A shot of encouragement

I read an article this morning, and it finally pushed me over the edge. It was a good edge, though. Or at least a good place to fall to.

As a young Alaska Native woman, I've found it difficult to find "me" represented even in the citizen-driven World Wide Web. Researching what the Web has to say about Alaska Native health care or Native corporations can become a painful experience. The sheer amount of ignorance and hate that abounds is staggering.

Which is why, when I read the paper, I was so gratified to see something of the voice of sanity. Linda Biegel, known to the Web through her blog "Celtic Diva's Blue Oasis", was chosen as Alaska's blog for the Democratic National Convention in Denver. Her Community Voices column in the Anchorage Daily News talked about her difficulties with racism accusations once the blog choices were announced.

What I expected to read was a lot of defensive attacks and assumptions, but instead, she actually looked at both sides. I didn't even agree with everything she was saying, but there was truth in the writing, and an openness to other's ideas. But what hit me most was with her last paragraph: "I want to be part of the solution and I want to find more writers of color to be contributors to 'Blue Oasis,' especially Alaska Native writers. Alaska's diversity needs to be better represented in the blogosphere."

I had been playing with the idea of a blog for quite a while, but between arguments about, "Oh, the vanity!" and "Could I really find enough to comment on?" the encouragement and challenge posed really struck me. I believe that "Alaska's diversity" needs to be represented, especially the Native voice, but what on earth was I waiting for? No, I certainly won't be the solution to all ills, but it's one of those proverbial small steps, and I'm a leapin'.