Major Mike

Via comments in an Open Post I meet Major Mike, retired Marine in Beaverton, Oregon. I think that's reason enough to visit his blog, but you'll also find stuff like this:

To veterans?don?t let the MSM use you and your families as you go through your difficult re-habs. They are not doing it to honor you, they are doing it to sell newspapers and air time. Don?t let them drag you and your honor down to their level?insist on a trade?your story for additional, positive coverage of our troops and their heroic efforts in the field.

To the MSM?wise up?good news does sell. Compelling stories of troops in combat sells print. Get the clue. Quit using our vets and their horrific injuries to sell your tripe. Balance your coverage or get out of the business.

But he also has this to say:

If a piece is posted on a blog and nobody reads it?is it really published? I admit I have become increasingly frustrated by the low number of hits on my site, so I took a few days off to feel sorry for myself and contemplate my blogging future. I love the medium, and the latitude to publish on subjects that I want to write about, but if I am not gaining ground with readers, I have to question the value of my time spent at the keyboard. Which I did, and I am still struggling with the question as to whether or not there is a need for my blog, and the types of things I enjoy writing about.

A retired Marine on the Left Coast - in one of the bluest of blue states. That's a guy worth encouraging. Do me a favor - go make his sitemeter scream. Ask him to join the MilBlogs Ring. I'll write up a post for this weekend for all the other Mike's to make sure this never happens again. (Hint: taking advantage of Mudville's daily Open Post is one way.)

Go visit Major Mike!