As executive editor of BlackCommentator.com, Bill Fletcher, Jr. made a number of important positive contributions. I believe the most important was his support for and the development of editorial diversity in BC.

In our statement about diversity we said the following:

Why does BlackCommentator.com present opposing commentaries? Why do we not speak with one, cohesive voice of the �Progressive Black Community?� The answer is: there cannot possibly be just one voice of the Progressive Black Community, nor any other group of people, as long as we revere freedom of thought and speech.

Yes, but shouldn�t a publication take an editorial stand and only publish that which falls within some prescribed editorial opinion? Perhaps that is true of other publications both on the web and in print, but it is not true of BlackCommentator.com. In fact, it is contrary to our core belief of what BC should provide to our readers.

At BC, we firmly believe that it is through discussion and debate of divergent opinions that we gain in understanding, and therefore may be brought closer together - not that we will come to speak with one voice on every issue, but will grow in our critical thinking.

If there is to be a true movement for economic justice, social justice and peace that movement must be made up of individuals who do not agree about every specific issue, but do share the same broad vision. Differences about small, specific issues must be put aside so as many people as possible can join hands to change a system now firmly in the clutches of the corporate government and materialist consumer democracy.

It would appear the tea baggers have done us one big favor. Prior to the arrival of these racist, sexist, war-mongering dupes of the pigs of the power structure, the corporate media ignored virtually all mass protests. The tea bag bunch got their attention. Now we must organize in large numbers and hit the streets showing our anger, militancy and impatience about a system that works best only for the few who have the money. Bill Fletcher pointed the way in his column published last week:

We must make our so-called friends do the right thing.� We must make �em do it.� If we want genuine healthcare reform, make �em do it.� If we want a jobs program, make �em do it.� And if we want collective bargaining for transportation security officers (TSOs), we must make �em do it.

We cannot let the obstructionism of the Republicans, or the complacency of the Democrats, get in our way. We must let no one, and I mean NO ONE, turn us around.

The lessons from history are there and they are clear.� It is now up to us to seize the time and realize the hope that was expressed in the 2008 elections.� Despair has no place in our present or our future.� It never has�and never will

What should be our clarion call...?� MAKE �EM DO IT!!!!

Speaking of Bill on a personal level I must say it has been my pleasure to know him as a friend. He is a loyal person on whom you can count. I look forward to our continued friendship and reading his writings. I know he will continue to make suggestions about the direction of BC because he "can't help himself".

So BlackCommentator.com is now moving ahead with David A. Love as Executive Editor. As Bill mentioned in his "Transition" column this week:

The new Executive Editor is David A. Love, JD, a member of the BC Editorial Board whose column �Color of Law� appears on a regular basis in BC. David is a journalist and human rights advocate based in Philadelphia, and a contributor to The Huffington Post, theGrio, The Progressive Media Project, McClatchy-Tribune News Service, In These Times and Philadelphia Independent Media Center. He also blogs at davidalove.com, NewsOne, Daily Kos, and Open Salon.

David is also a close friend of mine. He has earned college degrees in Asian Studies and Law. He has rejected the high pay of the corporate world to work for human rights. He is a brand new father. David is also the most Internet and computer savvy person on the editorial board and has worked in broadcasting and journalism. He was instrumental in developing BC's move into the world of social networking with the creation of accounts on twitter and Facebook. Therefore, you should expect to see BC increase its outreach across the World Wide Web in the near future.

Hitting the bricks in mass demonstrations is only part of the solution. As I always say, we must contact our elected representatives between elections. Signing petitions is good, but a personal call, letter or email is best. Here are links for you to use reach members of congress and the White House.

For the U.S. House of Representatives: http://www.house.gov/ (enter your zip code in the upper left corner of the page)

For the U.S. Senate: http://senate.gov/ (choose your state using the drop down menu in the upper right corner)

White House Comment Line - 202.456.1111 

White House Switchboard - 202.456.1414

White House Website contact form: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact

BlackCommentator.com Publisher and Chief Technical Officer Peter Gamble, is the recipient of a national Sigma Delta Chi award for public service in journalism and numerous other honors for excellence in reporting and investigative reporting. The �beats� he covered as a broadcast journalist ranged from activism in the streets to the State Department and White House. The lure of a personal computer on his desk inspired a career change in 1985 and an immersion into what he sees as the future of communications. The acquisition of computer programming skills made it possible for Peter to achieve an important level of self-reliance in the technology of the 21st century and to develop BlackCommentator.com. Click here to contact Peter.