Interview with Blogger Vergil Keynes of America First
By The Pakistani Spectator • May 7th, 2009 • Category: Interviews • One ResponseMy name is Vergil Keynes, I am 21 years old, live in the Southern United States, and I write for America First with my co-editor, who uses the pseudonym Americafirst1.
The purpose of America First is to encourage discussions of and find solutions for the many difficulties facing the United States, including the increasingly centralised and destructive federal government, the Federal Reserve, illegal immigration, gun control, and any other issues that may arise. Eventually, we hope to build a community of people who can discover solutions for some of these pressing issues.
Do you feel that you continue to grow in your writing the longer you write? Why is that important to you?
Certainly - even great writers like William Faulkner and Ernest Hemingway generally improved as they gained more experience throughout their careers. That’s important because the more experienced I become the better able I am to foster discussion and enlighten and entertain my readers.
I’m wondering what some of your memorable experiences are with blogging?
America First is relatively new and still growing, so most of our great experiences are still ahead of us. However, the recent tax-day protest we attended was rewarding because of the number of like-minded people we met.
What do you do in order to keep up your communication with other bloggers?
Leave comments on their articles. An article by itself is mere commentary, pontificating, but when readers get involved and share their own experiences and suggestions then there is an actual discussion.
What do you think is the most exciting or most innovative use of technology in politics right now?
Twitter and social networking sites, Facebook especially, seem to be the fastest-growing tools at the moment.
Do you think that these new technologies are effective in making people more responsive?
Not as much as some have hoped. Though these technologies can be used to disseminate information faster than ever before, they are more often used for simple entertainment. Furthermore, though blogging has made a great many viewpoints easily accessible, it is easy for someone to read only the material he already agrees with.
What do you think sets Your site apart from others?
Probably the two distinct viewpoints of the editors. I am young and most of my knowledge of what we discuss is formal, while my co-editor, who is older and has run a successful small business for many years, has more real-world knowledge and experience.
If you could choose one characteristic you have that brought you success in life, what would it be?
Hard to say, but probably faith in God more than anything else.
What was the happiest and gloomiest moment of your life?
My happiest moments have generally been time spent reading great literature; the gloomiest have generally been at the deaths of family members.
If you could pick a travel destination, anywhere in the world, with no worries about how it’s paid for - what would your top 3 choices be?
First, Tokyo, Japan, which is the technology capital of the world. Second, Paris, France, because I have always been fascinated by French culture. Third, London, England.
What is your favorite book and why?
Probably The Red Badge of Courage, by Stephen Crane. Besides being very well-written, Crane presented war as it is - not heroic for those actually involved, but terrifying, and he does this simply, without hyperbole.
Is there anyone from your past that once told you you couldn’t write?
No, but I generally do not share my writing with many people.
How bloggers can benefit from blogs financially?
I do not know, because I do not blog for financial gain but rather for enlightenment and entertainment, for both myself and others.
Is it true that who has a successful blog has an awful lot of time on their hands?
Not necessarily, but successful bloggers do have to prioritise how they spend their time if they want to be able to update regularly.
What role can bloggers of the world play to make this world more friendlier and less hostile?
Encourage civil discussion of even controversial issues on their own blogs, and be courteous in their comments on other people’s blogs.
Who are your top five favourite bloggers?
In political issues, I enjoy reading LibertarianChristians.com and The Catholic Guys <thecatholicguys.blogspot.com>
Is there one observation or column or post that has gotten the most powerful reaction from people?
Not yet, but I hope we will begin getting great feedback soon.
What is your perception about Pakistan and its people?
I imagine that the people of Pakistan, like most countries, are not a single homogeneous mass. Instead, they are a large, diverse group of individuals, each with his own opinions and personality. Probably no general statement could apply to everyone.
Have you ever become stunned by the uniqueness of any blogger?
Unfortunately, no - being unique is very difficult.
What is the most striking difference between a developed country and a developing country?
The so-called developed countries often seem engaged in self-destruction. Developing countries, those making real progress, have likely just learned the lessons of mistakes just beginning to be made in the developed countries.
What is the future of blogging?
I predict that it will continue to become a mainstream source of information, but unfortunately will probably be increasingly dominated by a small number of especially popular blogs.
You have also got a blogging life, how has it directly affected both your personal and professional life?
So far they have stayed separate; usually it is my blogging that is affected by my personal and professional life, whether by providing content for the blog or simply forcing me to set the blog aside for a while.
What are your future plans?
To work towards making America First a valuable resource for its community.
Any Message you want to give to the readers of The Pakistani Spectator?
Remember, judge your leaders by their actions, not their words. Politicians may promise “peace” or “democracy” or “change,” but have no intention of working towards any of that. Pay attention, and educate yourself to the best of your ability.
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[...] as part of a series they’re doing with several international bloggers. Go ahead and check it out, and take a look at some of their other interviews while you’re there. Possibly related [...]