Interview with Blogger Mountain Sage

By The Pakistani Spectator • Aug 6th, 2008 • Category: Interviews • No Responses

I currently reside in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Since resigning my position as Director of a small local museum I have done extensive work on my home, started a political message board, and dedicated time to my blog, Mountain Sage. I am now actively seeking employment again. I live in a rural area and my large yard is designated as a wild life refuge. I love to watch and photograph the wild creatures that spend time in my yard. Reading is another one of my passions.
My blog is Mountain Sage: http://themountainsage.wordpress.com
Would you please tell us something about you and your site?

My name is Rebecca and I was born and raised in a small town in the mountains of Virginia. It’s from those beautiful mountains that I took the blogger name of Mountain Sage. I remember having political discussions with my dad from the time I was a teenager and they were sometimes loud and boisterous. We both loved our discussions and continue to have them to this day. My dad is now 81 and a little less boisterous but we still have passionate and heated discussions.
The first presidential election I could vote in was in 1972 – my dad was voting for Nixon and I was voting for McGovern. McGovern lost but I felt vindicated when Nixon resigned – I never let my dad forget I told him Nixon was a crook.

My political activism included giving speeches and circulating petitions to demand the vote for those 18 years old. I protested the Vietnam war. I petitioned the government and supported the fight for women’s rights as well. An interest in politics and activism has been a part of my life.
I guess you could say my blog is just an extension of my discussions with my dad. I’ve always loved to read and write and now with the Internet giving me a platform I can do what I love and actually have other people read it. My blog is at present focused on the 2008 election and in particular the Democratic Primary.

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

I hope I do. I post a lot of news articles to keep the blog fresh and updated but when I do an original opinion piece I put a lot of time and thought into it. I will say it was easier in college when someone else picked the idea and I just wrote about it. That’s the hardest part – deciding what to write about. I think it’s important to me to get more proficient at communicating in writing because I am somewhat shy and writing is an easier form of expression for me than talking.

I’m wondering what some of your memorable experiences are with blogging?
Each time I break a new milestone in the number of views or comments is memorable to me. Every time someone tells me they enjoyed what I wrote is memorable to me. I occasionally get an email from someone thanking me for my blog and that really makes my day.

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

I have a number of blogs I read and comment on pretty much daily. I am also the administrator of a political message board, Capital Hill Forum. The forum offers each member a free blog as well so I’m in constant contact with bloggers who are Capital Hill members. One blogger in particular I have a running private message commentary with – Texas Hill Country. He has been invaluable to me by giving me suggestions on how to get exposure for my blog.
What do you think is the most exciting or most innovative use of technology in politics right now?

As much as I think the use of the Internet and blogging has affected politics, I have to say videos and You Tube have had the greatest effect on politics. Sen. George Allen of Virginia found that out when he was caught on video in his “macaca” moment that ruined his presidential chances. With a $100 video camera or even a cell phone anyone can be a reporter. If they catch someone at the right moment you have a video you can post video and get a million hits on You Tube. That has to make politicians nervous.

Do you think that these new technologies are effective in making people more responsive?
I certainly think it can make politicians and elected officials more accountable. When caught in a moment like I mentioned above one has to respond.

What do you think sets Your site apart from others?
I think one thing I do a little differently from some other blogs is I make numerous posts daily. Sometimes I just post news articles with maybe one opinion piece, but I try to make sure that viewers find at least 2 or 3 new posts every day. I strive to keep the blog fresh, active and up to date. I know I am disappointed when I go to other blogs and their last entry is a week old. I don’t let that happen.

If you could choose one characteristic you have that brought you success in life, what would it be?

I’m not very good at assessing myself but I will say that I was told by a friend that my tombstone will say “she had guts”. And I guess that’s true. I’ve taken outrageous risks in my life that brought me great happiness and I’ve overcome a lot of things that could have destroyed me.
After a long recuperation period from having back surgery I found that I had become phobic about driving and I had always loved to drive. I went for over a year driving no further than around the block. I got weary of the fear so I decided to get over it and I drove 2500 miles cross country by myself. I guess that took guts or maybe it was just stupid, but whatever it was I’m no longer afraid to drive, so it worked.

What was the happiest and gloomiest moment of your life?
The happiest moment of my life is when I married my husband. The gloomiest was when I suffered a miscarriage.

If you could pick a travel destination, anywhere in the world, with no worries about how it’s paid for - what would your top 3 choices be?
My number one choice would be Montana, USA. As you can probably tell I love mountains and the photos I’ve seen of Montana make me yearn to see it.

My number two and three choices would be Ireland and Scotland. I am of Irish and Scot descent and I’ve always been fascinated with stories of both countries. Unlike most people I have no desire to see Paris or London. Big cities just don’t excite me. I’m a country girl through and through.

What is your favorite book and why? What’s so Amazing about Grace by Phillip Yancey. The book is a wonderful exploration of the grace and mercy of God and I found it beautiful and comforting. I grew up with a view of a harsh and vengeful God and Yancey completely dispelled that view.

But to be truthful, when I want to relax and just enjoy a good story I love the murder thrillers in the Death series by J.D. Robb.

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

Their eyes. I find that people who have eyes that “laugh” are my favorite people. Sometimes people smile when they don’t mean it, but you can tell it’s fake when the smile doesn’t reach their eyes. When I’m speaking with a person face to face I want them to look me in the eyes.

Is there anyone from your past that once told you you couldn’t write?
No, not really. But then again I didn’t let a lot of people read what I write until I started Capital Hill and my blog Mountain Sage. I got great grades in my college writing classes and a lot of encouragement from the instructors.

How bloggers can benefit from blogs financially?

I wish I knew. I know some bloggers have ads on their blog and some sell merchandise on their blog but right now my blog does not afford me any financial gain. I’m really just enjoying writing right now, but since I’m unemployed if I could somehow make a living writing I would be thrilled.

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

To some extent, yes. It takes a lot of time to keep a blog fresh on a daily basis. As I said earlier, I am unemployed right now, although I have plenty of other demands on my life to keep me busy. Blogging is something I MAKE time for because I enjoy it. Even if you don’t have a lot of time if you are consistent in posting to your blog you can be successful.

What role can bloggers of the world play to make this world more friendlier and less hostile?
We can reach out to each other and try to find the things we have in common. I think we all, no matter our age, race, sex, nationality or religion, want the same basic things. We all want to be loved, to love, to feel secure and happy. I think when we search out others who we may be extremely different from and find a way to connect we are making a little dent in the misunderstandings and fear that keep us all separated.

Who are your top five favourite bloggers?

In that top five on my list would have to be Texas Hill Country I mentioned earlier. Native Americans against Obama would be another. Not Your Sweetie, Annie in NYC and Something Wild and Unruly are also blogs that I visit on a daily basis. That’s a tough question because there are so many great blogs out there!

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

I guess I’ve gotten the most comments on the opinion piece Yes We Can, but Will We? The piece is a look at how the younger voters who were so enthused about Barack Obama are starting to lose that enthusiasm and aren’t certain they will be voting in November.

What is your perception about Pakistan and its people?
I view Pakistan as a country of great beauty but also great suffering and struggle. Of course, as an American, much of what I hear about Pakistan has to do with terrorism so I don’t know as much about Pakistan as I should or would like to.

Have you ever become stunned by the uniqueness of any blogger?
Yes, I have to say that the beauty of the Native Americans Against Obama blog stunned me. They post beautiful original videos.

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

Probably the basic quality of life. Being a citizen of the United States I enjoy a standard of living that a lot of people don’t enjoy. Even America’s poor live better than many people around the world. I took that for granted until I lived in Arizona, 7 miles from the Mexican border. I would often go to Mexico with my husband for lunch or to shop and I was appalled by the living conditions. I enjoyed the Mexican people greatly and was saddened to see how hard the lives of many of them are. And yet, I’m sure even Mexico’s standard of living is superior to some developing countries.

What is the future of blogging?

I think blogging will continue to grow, but I would like to see some bloggers be more careful in what they post. There are blogs that are filled with what I can only call libel and gossip. I think bloggers should always be aware that when they write about a person it should be as factual as it can be or they should make it clear that what they are posting is an opinion and opinion only.

You have also got a blogging life, how has it directly affected both your personal and professional life?
Since I don’t really have a professional life at the moment, the only way it has affected that is I spend more time blogging than I do job hunting, which isn’t good. As for my personal life I think blogging has helped me stay involved with larger groups and has helped me at expressing myself. My blogging my political opinions gives my husband and friends, who have no interest in politics, a break from hearing about it.

What are your future plans?

Well, I once wrote a book and did nothing with it except give it to a group who used it as a study guide. I’d like to write a book and actually attempt to have it published. In my last job I formatted, edited and did the graphics for a book that was published so I now have some experience that will help me with my own project. I’m just not sure exactly what that project is yet.

Any Message you want to give to the readers of The Pakistani Spectator?
I hope I’ve given you a little glimpse into my life and that I can get a glimpse into yours. My blog is always open to your comments and I hope you will visit it and share your experiences with my readers and me.
I wish each of you prosperity, good health and peace. I hope that your country can rise above its challenges and take its rightful place in the world.

Best regards,

Mountain Sage