The Pakistani Spectator

Question:  Would you please tell us something about you and your site?

Answer:   My name is Debbie Hamilton and my site is Right Truth http://www.righttruth.typepad.com   Right Truth is a place where I can express my views on terrorism, politics, current events, whatever strikes me as important each day.  Mostly I like to share information with my readers.  I received an email from one reader, who called Right Truth a ‘valuable portal of information.’  I like to think that’s true.

Right Truth is a place where all opinions are welcome, where people can share ideas, agree or disagree with each other, and hopefully leave with a better understanding of a particular subject.  At least that’s my hope.

I started reading the internet and blogs seriously after the attacks on America on September 11, 2001.  Like others I was shocked to see the horrors of that day and I wanted to learn all I could about those events, what they meant for Americans and for others around the world.

After finding several sites that I particularly liked, I settled in reading and commenting.  I eventually got so involved in research that I began sending tips to bloggers and became close friends with Chad who wrote for In the Bullpen http://www.inthebullpen.com/  .  He invited me to become a contributing author at his site.  This is the first time I ever considered writing for an internet site.

I found writing enjoyable, an outlet for sharing my personal thoughts and opinions as well as fact, news, commentary from other sources.  A few months later I asked Chad how I could start my own blog, and he was kind enough to help me get started blogging on my own.  I hope him a my thanks and appreciation.

Q.  Do you feel that you continue to grow in your writing the longer you write? Why is that important to you? 

A.  If we stop growing then we start deteriorating.   Therefore I hope I continue to grow.  I would have nothing to offer readers if I got stagnant.

Q.  I’m wondering what some of your memorable experiences are with blogging?

A.  The many friends I have made through the blog and through other blogs.  It’s amazing that people from all around the world can become friends.  There are no barriers any more, unless a particular country cuts their citizens off from the internet.  I have friends all over the world who comment at Right Truth and who email me with tips, their view, good wishes on holidays. 

Bloggers, or Citizen Journalists, are different from other journalists in that we can share personal things when we write.  You might find an article on a terrorist attack, or an election, and then right after that you might find a personal article on something like a wedding anniversary, an illness, a personal achievement, … anything.  Readers share in my life and they share their lives with me.  It’s wonderful!  We hurt when others hurt; we pray for them in times of need; we celebrate with them in good times.

Q.  What do you do in order to keep up your communication with other bloggers?

A.  We communicate via comments at blogs, email, we also have forums, and places like MySpace, FaceBook, etc.  I’ve never really gotten involved in those though.  It takes a lot of time and each of us must decide how much of our private time we will spend away from our real lives.

A.  Politicians have many tools today that they did not have a few elections ago.  The internet makes easy access to voters through websites where voters can get to know candidates, donate money, organize etc.  Politicians use places like YouTube for videos to talk directly to voters.  But probably email access to voters is the biggest help to politicians.

Q.  Do you think that these new technologies are effective in making people more responsive?

A.  Yes.  Informed voters will most likely be more responsive.

A.  That’s a very hard question.  I’m open to changing my mind.  I’m not rigid, but willing to listen to others and if I see I’m wrong on something, I admit it.  I try to back up everything I say with facts and resources.  I’m not trying to change anyone’s mind, I’m simply sharing my views and why I believe like I do.  I’m not pushy.

Actually, I think the readers would be better qualified to answer this question than I am.  You need to ask them.

A.  That’s easy to answer – honesty.  I try to always be honest about everything I do, everything I say and everything I write.  Without that, you have nothing to offer readers.  I must say, honesty at Right Truth and honesty in real life are first and foremost.

A.  There are personal moments that are private, but as related to Right Truth I have to say the attacks September 11, 2001 were the gloomiest.  For many people like me, that day was an awakening.  We had not taken previous attacks on Americans abroad as seriously as we should have.  I feel sure that the terrorists had no idea they were awakening a sleeping giant.  By that I mean individual American citizens and those who support us around the world. 

That’s the point of Right Truth, to awaken Americans to the threat that exists from terrorists around the world.  The threat exists, people need to be aware, they need to be alert, and that’s what I try to do – share information.

The happiest moment of my life has nothing to do with Right Truth and everything to do with my husband and my marriage.  Without this beautiful relationship and this wonderful man, I would not be the person I am.  I’m very thankful for that.

Q.  Do you think [the use of Twitter and other social networking tools by politicians] is bandwagon jumping or what?

A.  Not for me, I’ve tried some of these and they are not for me.  I do know there are many folks who love these sites and have the time to get deeply involved in them.  I suppose they would be another tool for politicians to use. 

A.  My worry about world travel is safety.  I was talking to my husband yesterday about this very topic.  There are so many places I wanted to visit when I was a teen and young adult that I have not visited yet.  The magnetism of some countries has been diminished by the threats of terrorism today.  I always wanted to visit Africa, the Holy Lands, Australia, Japan,  and China.  I’m sorry to say Pakistan was not on my list, but perhaps one day it will be.

Q.  What is your favorite book and why?

A.  There are so many, I don’t think I could single out one.  I am lucky that publishers contact me, send me books, ask me to read them and write book reviews.  This is a gift, a privilege that Right Truth brings to me and I don’t take it for granted.  Having the trust of individual authors also, who send me copies of their books, often autographed, means a great deal.  You see, again the word ‘trust’ comes into play.  It really is very important.

Q.  What’s the first thing you notice about a person (whether you know them or not)?

A.  Not looks or physical appearance, but the inner person — are they sincere, are they trustworthy?  Is this someone who is shallow, interested only in themselves and their needs and wants?  Time on this earth is valuable and it should not be wasted.   I guess what I’m saying is – are they REAL.

Q.  Is there anyone from your past that once told you you couldn’t write?

A.  No, I don’t remember that happening.  From the time I was in elementary school I worked on the school paper.  I remember my first article was on Russia and Communism and it got great reviews (from 6^th graders and my teachers, ha).

Q.  How can bloggers  benefit from blogs financially?

1. Most bloggers have advertisements on their blogs, tip jars, and some are involved in ‘write for cash’ programs.  This is one thing that makes Right Truth different.  I made a decision when I created Right Truth that I would not do this. You will not find any ads, no pop-ups, no tip jar.  There is nothing to distract from the articles themselves, other than the blogrolls and links in the sidebar to sites that I think are important.  There is nothing soliciting money from any reader.  All I ask for are comments.

17. Is it true that who has a successful blog has an awful lot of time on their hands?

1.  No, this is not true.  You’ve probably heard the old saying, “If you want something done, ask a busy person.”  That is so true for bloggers who have jobs, families, volunteer activities, they are active in politics, local clubs, the military, and more.

   Q.  What are your thoughts on corporate blogs and what do you think the biggest advantages and disadvantages are?

1. I’m sure they serve a purpose, but I don’t feel informed enough to give an honest answer.

   Q.  What role can bloggers of the world play to make this world friendlier and less hostile?

1.  Without blogs, how would individual average citizens from around the world ever get to talk to each other, how would they find each other?  I think bloggers, or Citizen Journalists, may play a role in forging relationships with other countries.  Take Pakistan, or Iran, China, and so many more.  Citizens from countries can read the truth, they can read what the world is saying about them and their country, they can speak out to correct the errors, they can get support from other countries.  Views can be changed, friendships created, information shared.

I have talked with professors at Iranian Universities, I have press people in Pakistan who send updates on the situation there, I have contacts within the military and diplomatic communities who share with me the situations around the world.  I can then share some of this information with readers around the world.  We can truly reach out and touch someone’s life and hopefully make it better.  And people can reach out and help us to understand them.  What could be better than meeting in real life?

Q.  Who are your top five favorite bloggers?

1. I could run into trouble because there are so many valuable bloggers, thousands of them.  Top blogger could mean a lot of things.

Chad Evans of In the Bullpen is top of the list, unfortunately he no longer blogs because the demands of real life demanded his full attention.  It is our loss.

Richard of Hyscience http://www.hyscience.com/ and Freedoms Zone http://www.freedomszone.com/    was a big influence on me.  He also gave me my first chance to cross-post articles at his sites.  Each site has numerous authors from around the world and they are both worthy reads.

Phyllis Chesler is a well-known author of books, articles in mainstream media and newcomer to the blogs this past year.  http://pajamasmedia.com/xpress/phyllischesler/

Via her friend and research assistant Fern Sidman, Right Truth has been lucky enough to post her articles in their entirety over the past year.  We wish her great success at her blog.  She has been an inspiration.

Butch at 123Beta http://123beta.blogspot.com/   is a special and long time blog friend.  He has been a great supporter and also a resource for technical questions.  I’m not very good on the technical side of blogging and I have called on him many times with questions.  He never fails to help me out.  Bloggers are a very generous group of people, always willing to share their time and resources with each other and always willing to help out new bloggers.

Always On Watch   http://alwaysonwatch2.blogspot.com/ is a blogger I admire for many reasons.  She has a full life, medical issues, job, family, yet she blogs at her own site and also for several others and is also involved in Blog Talk Radio.  She also takes her personal time to attend seminars on counterterrorism.  She’s a whirlwind and a role model for so many bloggers.

Q.  Is there one observation or column or post that has gotten the most powerful reaction from people?

1. That would be hard to answer, there have been so many.

Q.  What is your perception about Pakistan and its people?

1. I think the people of Pakistan are in a bad situation.  They don’t have a lot of control and are at the mercy of their leaders, the military, the militants and the hard-line religious groups.  I think the average Pakistani citizen probably wants to live his life, raise his children, take care of his home and just live his life.  That’s difficult for them to do I’m sure.  I look forward to learning more about the people through The Pakistani Spectator.

Q.  Have you ever become stunned by the uniqueness of any blogger?

1.  There are two bloggers you I classify as unique, unique being ‘no one else like them’.  The first is Woman Honor Thyself http://www.womanhonorthyself.com/  because of her style of blogging and her use of images.  If you visit her you will see more images than you will find commentary to read.  This is an excellent way of getting her point across to readers in an entertaining way.  She uses pictures, gifs, animations, cartoons, whatever she thinks will do the trick.

The second unique blogger has already been interviewed by The Pakistani Spectator.  She is Courtney of Great Satan’s Girlfriend   http://greatsatansgirlfriend.blogspot.com/  who uses verbal imagery like no other blogger I know.  Courtney’s in depth knowledge of history and world events is amazing for someone so young.  She has the sharp mind and wit of one who has lived many years more than her birth certificate would suggest.  I see great things for this woman

Q.  What is the most striking difference between a developed country and a developing country?

1. I would have to say the freedom that that country’s citizens enjoy. 
   

Q.  What is the future of blogging?

1.  If the politicians and lawmakers will leave the internet alone and not put restrictions on it, I see blogging having a big influence on the future.  Not just the biggest influence, but a positive influence.

Q.  You have also got a blogging life, how has it directly affected both your personal and professional life?

1. I think the blogging makes me a more informed individual, which hopefully makes me a better citizen, a more informed individual.  I apply what I’ve learned through blogging into my real life and hopefully I can do something positive to better the lives of others. 

Q.  What are your future plans?

1. As the saying goes, “Plans are what you make while life passes you by.”  I’m not making plans.  I wake up each day with optimism and faith.  I have faith that God is in control even though it doesn’t always look that way.  I have faith that good will win out over evil.  I have faith that the desires of people to live their lives in peace will defeat the enemies of freedom-loving countries.  I wake up each day with renewed faith and try to grab whatever opportunities come my way.

   Any Message you want to give to the readers of The Pakistani Spectator?

Yes, thank you for this opportunity.  Come and visit our blogs, share your views with us.  Let us get to know you and I hope get to know us.  By ‘us’ I mean Americans and more specifically Conservative Americans who believe in the value of life, in freedom, in democracy, in the rights of individuals and in the power of the truth.