71% of Respondents Think Seeger Should Receive Nobel Peace Prize

My totally and non-random and non-scientific poll has closed. Seven people voiced their opinion about whether or not American folk singer and icon Pete Seeger should be awarded the Noble Peace Prize. Five respondents opined that he should. Two thought he should not.

To read Peter Drier’s piece about why Pete Seeger Deserves the Nobel Peace Prize, visit The Huffington Post. If you or the five people who think that Seeger ought to receive the Nobel Peace Prize want to learn even more, or become active in the campaign to nominate him, visit A Nobel Peace Prize for Pete Seeger. To sign an electronic petition supporting a Pete Seeger Nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize, go to this link.

I think Seeger is worthy of at least being nominated and perhaps receiving the prize. After all, when was the last time any artist received it or was even nominated? It is about time the awards committee recognized the social transforming power of art, especially music, and its ability to transcend barriers of race, class and nationality. When people are singing together they tend not to shoot each other, torture one another, aim nuclear warheads at others, or otherwise engage in acts of violence.

Why We Blog!

Why do we blog? There were six responses to my casual, unscientific poll posted here for the past week. Respondents could choose multiple answers. Here are the results.

To avoid the loony bin
One respondent or 16%

To fight injustice
One respondent or 16%

As a substitute for therapy
Two respondents or 33%

To know you're not alone
Two respondents or 33%

To tap the creative spirit
All six respondents or 100%

Blogging is a way for me to be creative in a new and exciting medium (at least new and exciting for me). It also offers me a way to be creative in a way different from writing articles for the church newsletter or preaching. Even though I am somewhat restricted by templates as well as my lack of technological savvy, blogging seems less restrictive than other forms of communication. What are your further thoughts?

Why Blog?

The Huffington Post Complete Guide to Blogging reports that “According to the Pew Internet and American Life Project 2006 survey of bloggers, we pretty much write about what we know.”

"A national phone survey of bloggers finds that most are focused on describing their personal experiences to a relatively small audience of readers and that only a small proportion focus their coverage on politics, media, government, or technology. Blogs, the survey finds, are as individual as the people who keep them. However, most bloggers are primarily interested in creative, personal expression – documenting individual experiences, sharing practical knowledge, or just keeping in touch with friends and family."

Tell me why you blog, and I’ll tell you why I blog. Respond to the survey at the top right sidebar. You may select more than one answer. The poll closes at noon on February 20, 2009. The responses are are some suggested by bloggers quoted in The Huffington Post Complete Guide to Blogging pages 21-24.