Cara Michele Forrest includes a link to her personal blog, Chosen Fast, as part of her listing on the member page of the Homeless Prevention Coalition of Guilford County.

Given that Chosen Fast deals largely with Michele's work as an advocate for the homeless -- one who has gotten some serious results via her blog -- the link seems reasonable and even valuable.

Now the HPCGC wants the link removed, apparently because someone complained about Michele's site. The Coalition's president, Karen Bridges, emailed Michele to say "The HPCGC website is not the place to share your personal opinions and thoughts, particularly ones that are contrary to the success of the Coalition. No one’s trying to stop your advocacy, Michele, but you need to use the proper channels."

Bridges is correct that the Coalition site is not the place for Michele's personal opinions and thoughts, and if Michele was using the Coalition site thusly the HPCGC would have a legitimate complaint.

But such is not the case -- Michele merely links to her own site as part of her personal identification, much as member organizations include links to their sites.

I'm guessing that not every group with a link on the Coalition page is in complete accord with every opinion or strategy advanced at every other listed website, or everything done by the Coalition. Personal blogs, especially those that deal in some large part with the issue of homelessness, should be treated the same way as institutional websites (it should be said that defining criticism or alternative viewpoints as "contrary to the success of the Coalition" is a little creepy).

This realm of blogs and links is new territory for many people and many groups. Chosen Fast may be the first personal blog to come up in this context for the Homeless Coalition, but it is unlikely to be the last. The group has made  a poor decision; let's hope that some good-faith discussion of the issues involved will lead it to rescind its request to kill the link to Chosen Fast.

Comments

[Roch101]

What are the "proper channels?"

[Ed Cone]

Chosen Fast, for one -- and linking to it from the membership listing seems perfectly proper as well.

Op-eds, letters to the editor, talk radio, blog comments -- all seem like proper channels for discussion and disagreement.

A comment or discussion page at the Coalition site would be appropriate, too.

[Roch101]

Agreed, Ed, but methinks that's not what Bridges had in mind. Maybe she'll weigh in here.

[Ed Cone]

It seems to me that there are two issues in play here.

One involves politics within the community dedicated to helping the homeless and fighting homelessness.

The second involves reasonable standards and expectations for links and other details of online publishing.

The second issue is one where common ground might more easily be found, and one that applies in a far broader context than the HPCGC and its members.

The politics drove the second subject into public view, but perhaps the issue of linking can be resolved independently of the political particulars -- and any such resolution can provide a context for addressing some of the politics as well.

Anyone is welcome to comment in this forum, on any aspect of the discussion, but it might be useful to find some common ground on relatively straightfoward publishing practices before delving into public discussions of more complex issues.

[Dr. Mary Johnson]

Good God, Ed, could you muddle it up some more with the verbiage?

Karen Bridges got a complaint (probably from a "VIP") and freaked out. She didn't have the guts/courage to say, "Cara Michelle is a valuable part of this community and this movemment . . . we welcome and are honored by her link to our website. But the opinions she expresses (which we all have the right to have) are her own. If you've got a problem with something she's said or done, take it up with her."

Cara doesn't bite.

My Dad used to say, "If you don't piss someone off occasionally, you're probably not doing your job right." I would say this is especially true with regards to advocacy . . . of any type.

Karen's e-mail demonstrates limited vision and bad leadership. I really do wish some of these people (with their "proper channels") would grow up.

[Ed Cone]

You are so right, Mary -- looking for common ground and practical first steps is no substitute for speculation, invective, and cliches.

[Cara Michele]

"Proper channels" has to do with a larger issue. I found a problem and went to the source. Some people didn't appreciate that. Others received misinformation. That issue is not yet resolved.

"One [issue] involves politics within the community dedicated to helping the homeless and fighting homelessness."

Bingo. But not everybody plays. And there are more people who want unity than there are people creating division. That's why it's important to keep speaking truth.

"I really do wish some of these people (with their 'proper channels') would grow up."

Amen, Mary.

[Ed Cone]

Your blog has earned you the respect and admiration of a lot of people, Michele, and you have been circumspect in criticizing others there.

Clearly the attempt to delink is based on factors beyond the content of the blog itself -- which is yet another reason to take the stand you have taken on that particular issue.

[Dr. Mary Johnson]

Heavy sigh. Edward, the very notion of a "coalition" means that many people (and organizations) with different opinions and points of view can belong or associate. In your usual wordy way, you're advocating the "going along to get along" route (sorry for the "cliche", but if the shoe fits wear it).

Karen Bridges clearly over-reacted to a complaint. She's sucking up to somebody she deems important at the expense of Cara Michelle (despite the fact that everyone knows Cara's motives are pure - and, as you say, she has gotten results). You and I agree that Bridges' decision was a poor one ("common ground"). A "practical first step" is to call her on it.

And I say again (since I don't mince words), the decision was not a sign of good leadership.

Truth to power (Amen back, Cara). Even when it's ugly. Quite frankly the Piedmont-Triad could use a whole lot more of that.

If only there was a blogosphere around here that would do it.

[Bubba]

"Truth to power (Amen back, Cara). Even when it's ugly. Quite frankly the Piedmont-Triad could use a whole lot more of that.

If only there was a blogosphere around here that would do it."

There has been some improvement in that area over the last year or so.

[John D. Young]

Cara not only speaks "truth to power" but she speaks from a deep spiritual center and demonstrates love and compassion. Cara, thanks for your efforts on behalf of the homeless in Greensboro. I think you are the "proper channel."