I am reading the book Unlikely Heroes the stories of how the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals transformed the South via the "dirty work" of implementing Brown v. Board of Education. It is a fascinating account of how a few judges transformed the South via the enforcement (and development) of civil rights law. It is an epic account of American history and American jurisprudence. It serves to remind us that it takes courage to change institutionalized hatred, and the history of this social experiment we call America is full of people that were willing to put their lives and reputations on the line for their convictions. The fact that institutionalized hatred has all but disappeared in America is a testimony to their courage. We owe them a debt of gratitude.

That their efforts bore fruit is undeniable. Progress has been made and should be celebrated, however that doesn't mean that the war on hatred is over, it has morphed into a more clever guerrilla warfare of a different sort. We owe it to these judges, the foot soldiers that supported them, and others in "high places" that provided the required support at critical times to continue to fight the good fight. The weight of history is on our side but the enemy still has plenty of ammunition left and we must remain "forever vigilant."

How does the Web figure into all of this? It is clear that it is citizen journalists that have taken up the responsibility of the "daily watch." This war has nothing to do with left or right and everything to do with right and wrong. In such a war, to borrow a phrase from the boss, there can be "no retreat and no surrender"...therefore blog on because millions of small voices can make a sound powerful enough to conquer all obstacles.