I almost forgot that I had a three year blog anniversary on Wednesday.

Something changed on September 11th, 2001. At first I thought it was the world. Now I realize that the world is what it has always been, with a few brief exceptions, chaotic and bloody. Neither has my political philosophy seen any reason to update its principles. A few more buckets in an ocean of blood won't sink the product of 10 000 years of human history.

It is, mostly, I who have changed, and the way I apply my beliefs to the world. How much, I don't know, but I am curious to find out.

Was that me? I usually hate anything I've written more than 6 months ago, but I kind of like the person who wrote the words above. A lot has changed since then, and a lot hasn't. My blog has changed in style from warblog fisking of the wacky left, and my own random research of Islamism, to long political mini-essays and occasional reporting. I've gotten more critical of my own side, Islam critics and war supporters, but this is more a change of attention than a fundamental change of mind.

This blog is still whatever I feel like writing about on my spare time. It's still fun.

And now what? Now we take over the world.

Seriously - I've learned a lot about what one person can and can't do with a blog, what the strengths and weaknesses of the medium are. Enough, I think, to formulate a realistic goal. A goal amateur online media in Norway can work towards: Undermining Norway's mainstream media monopoly.

It sounds difficult, even hopeless, but it's not. I know what I can do with one blog, and what a handful of other Norwegians can do with their blogs. I think I have a good idea of what 100 dedicated Norwegians can do with 100 blogs and web magazines.

So here's my plan. Call it a manifest if you like.

What is our goal? A broad, open public sphere that includes amateur online media. A place where all issues are discussed freely, where all views are represented, where for every large media there are ten smaller ones scrutinizing it and keeping it in check. A place where the border between professional punditry and amateur punditry, professional reporting and amateur reporting, is blurred, where it matters more whether you are right than whether you're being paid and have a diploma on your wall.

Who can join? Anyone with an interest in politics. Anyone who gets into political quarrels with their friends, has ever began an angry letter to the editor, or has groaned over media bias and ignorance. There are many of you, and now is your time. Conditions are changing in your favor.

How do we do it? Any way you like. See or hear anything outrageous? An embarassing mistake, an ugly opinion, or an important story nobody cares about? Let someone know about it: Write to a blogger, post to a web forum, or create your own blog. Write a letter to the editor if you like, but remember that unless it falls within a narrow range of acceptable opinion, they'll ignore it, and you'll have wasted your time.

Remember to spread the word. Let people know that these places exist. If you write about a reporter or politician in a blog or web forum, dig up their e-mail address and let them know about it. They'll ignore you, but they'll know you're there. "First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win."

There are a few things this is not.

This is not a media revolution. There will be no eternal land of milk and honey on the other side, just a more open media community. It will be way short of perfection, but better able to investigate and discuss political issues. These are realistic and moderate goals. American blogs have already achieved many of them.

This is not about any particular ideology. I'm a right-winger. Hans Rustad at document.no is on the left. Who cares? The problem with the media situation in Norway today is uniformity and lack of debate, not leftism. The idea of amateur online media is larger than ideology in the same way that freedom of speech is. I care about my views, but I care even more about creating the conditions for discussing those views.

Impossible? Let's give it another three years, and see how it turns out. I have faith in the medium. All it takes is people and time.

Happy anniversary, Bjørn!

I just realised I passed the two year mark yesterday, and forgot about it.

Blessed anniversary, Bjørn!

Keep the good work and as Al-Jazeera famous slogan goes:

''you are a forum for those who otherwise have none ''

Great idea! I hope people in every country pick up on this. I read German and there are about 3 blogs keeping check on the media. Where is everybody?

Congratulations on your blogoversary. You run a great forum. Yours was the first I posted on--I was very shy back then.

I discovered your blog via Instapundit links. I was searching for answers to explain the anti-Americanism, anti-Zionism, and anti-Judaism that seemed to be expanding rapidly. I've also found other blogs via your blog.

In terms of number of deaths, September 11 was not a great event. Many more people have been killed in natural disasters since then, and the on-going slaughter in Darfur has taken hundreds of thousands.

But September 11 did open up a great yawning abyss that requires analysis and thoughtfulness.
"I have set before you life and death. Therefore, choose life."

This is from the Bible, but I don't remember which part.

Again, thank you for your blog and well run comments section.

I should have added above that if there is one contribution to the world that I can personally make, it will be to end the use of the terms "left wing," "right wing," "conservative," and "liberal."

These terms make discussion ten times more difficult than it would be if people just stated their thoughts and their reasons--factual knowledge, beliefs, heard from a friend, urban legend, whatever.

The terms above also add confusion to discussions that include both Americans and Europeans, since it turns out (to my surprise) that we are more different than I thought before reading various blogs.

God, I want to live in the world you are envisioning. That post reminded me of two phrases from Mill:

"If all mankind minus one were of one opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind." Every time I read that I get mushy. I had the same reaction to what you wrote. The second phrase is:

"Popular opinions, on subjects not palpable to sense, are often true, but seldom or never the whole truth. They are a part of the truth, sometimes a greater, sometimes a smaller part, but exaggerated, distorted, and disjointed from the truths by which they ought to be accompanied and limited."

Here's to the rest of the truth being heard.

Congratulations at reaching the three year mark.

Congratulations, Bjørn! I wish I could write like you do. Your blog is always a great read.

To all who like you I wish them well; all the rest can go to New Jersey

Been a long time reader and have always enjoyed your posts. Congratulations on the anniversary.

Congrats, Bjorn. I can't remember when I started reading you. But I don't regret the time I've spent here since in any way. Keep up the good work.

You should celebrate your anniversary with a trip to Malmo, Sweden.

Congrats, Bjørn. I've already picked up (at least) parts of your vision and there's a small op-ed mentioning you on dilettant.no.

Happy Blogversary! May you have many more.

Thank you for posting your interesting and thoughtful blog.

Congratulations! This is a fantastic forum. I have difficulty getting things done at work simply because I can't stay away from such stimulating and animated commentary. Great job! and thank you!

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Minion of the Great Satan: Three Year Blogiversary, September 27, 2004 07:07 AM

Bjorn Staerk had his three year blogiversary today. Stop by and say hi.