Today marks four years that The Dees Diversion has been online. When I think about it--and I do think about it--it is extremely discouraging to spend countless hours making a case for such bizarre ideas as treating women as though they were people, just like men; or declaring that fascism is not a good system for our country, or suggesting that the daily torture of millions of farm animals is immoral and should be stopped. Writing about animal rights is especially lonely, since so few liberals care about non-humans enough to fight for their right to live without suffering. In fact, the fight to relieve animal suffering is not a liberal cause; those who are active in it tend to be both conservative and liberal, which is interesting, and which could serve as a link of understanding between opposite camps.

Even blogging about women's tennis can be discouraging, so rampant is sexism within the sports industry and among fans. But it is also fun, and this year, it has been especially gratifying for me now that Amelie Mauresmo, in whom I never lost faith, has won her first two Grand Slam tournaments. Of course, being a fan of Patty Schnyder has been an exercise in patience this year, but what is a fan if not loyal?

On the other hand, now that I no longer live in an urban setting, it is the blogging community that has reminded me daily that I am not alone in banging my head against the wall over everything from stolen elections to illegal invasions to pharmacists who do not dispense pharmaceuticals. I think we keep each other, if not sane, at least away from the edge.

And now, I'm off to have some coffee and blow out my virtual candles.