I am somewhat betwixt and between in these pages of late. As an ex-pat living, teaching and writing in China, I feel guilty when I do not post more often on Chinese affairs. Yet, as an American author, journalist, and teacher of Journalism--at the Beijing Foreign Studies University--I am driven to write about and comment upon the news coming out of America and her wars, both political and military. I have justified this conflict--and it is a conflict, after all, the blogging community I call "home" is in fact China and things Chinese--by my certainty that what happens in America come November, and what happens for the duration of America's wars, will have great impact upon the world. China is the largest single unit of this world, so the affect of things American, politically and militarily, upon China will be substantial at the very least. That is my rationale; I hope you can accept it; I am trying to. I know it drives some readers away from these pages.
I also feel justified in my choice because there are so many excellent bloggers that are reporting emphatically and exceedingly well on China, and the whole of Asia. You know most of the ones I am speaking of, they are sometimes linked to and mentioned in these pages; the others are in my blog roll; and all of them are in the Living in China Blogzine and blogging community. However, there is one blog that I have not mentioned enough, if at all; that is an egregious sin of omission that I must rectify now:
That blog is Simon World; Simon's blog does not only cover matters Chinese and Asian, he makes sure that all of us know what our fellow bloggers are reporting on around Asia. Frankly, I do not know when Simon has time to sleep and maintain his livelihood, but I hope his stamina and dedication holds up, because we need him. In many ways, Simon World is what blogging should be, and will be, if it is going to have the impact upon the flow of information that so many bloggers believe it will.
As a journalist and author from the days before blogging--and even the pc--I do not know how much blogs and blogging will be incorporated into the profession of journalism. I do know that if it does come to play a significant role in the world of news reporting and Op-Ed commentary, it will be because of the efforts of bloggers such as Simon--and not Instapundit. I know I have just offended Simon by offending one of his "models" and perhaps even mentor; but Simon World has the Tennessee law professor beat six ways from Sunday when it comes to intellectual integrity, journalistic instincts, and tenacity in sticking with a story no matter where it might lead.
Oh, I almost forgot, here is Simon's latest edition of:
